At stake in this election:

• 57 seats in the Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa)

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ
• Head of Government: President Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ
• Assembly: Costa Rica has a unicameral Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa) with 57 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 4-year term.
• In the Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa) 57 members are elected by direct popular vote.

Main parties in the electoral race:

• Party: Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC)
  • Leader: Luis Manuel CHACON
  • Seats won in this election: 19
  • Seats won in last election: 27
• Party: National Liberation Party (PLN)
  • Leader: Sonia PICADO
  • Seats won in this election: 17
  • Seats won in last election: 0
• Party: Citizens Action Party (PAC)
  • Leader: Otton SOLIS
  • Seats won in this election: 14
  • Seats won in last election: N/A
• Party: Libertarian Movement (PML)
  • Leader: Otto GUEVARA
  • Seats won in this election: 6
  • Seats won in last election: 2
• Party: Other Parties
  • Leader: N/A
  • Seats won in this election: 1
  • Seats won in last election: N/A

Last Legislative election:

• Legislative elections were last held on February 1, 1998.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 4,063,208
• Registered Voters: 2,279,851 ( 2002 )

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 2,024,735 (2002)

·         Is Costa Rica a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (17 July 1980)

·         Has Costa Rica ratified CEDAW: Yes (4 April 1986)

·         Gender Quota: Yes

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 18 (following 2002 elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 69 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Low (2014)

Disability Data:

·         Is Costa Rica a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)

·         Has Costa Rica ratified CRPD: Yes (1 October 2008)

·         Population with a disability: 609,481 (est.)