At stake in this election:

• 55 seats in the National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional)

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Fradique de MENEZES 
• Head of Government: Prime Minister Evaristo CARVALHO
• Assembly: Sao Tome and Principe has a unicameral National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional) with 55 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 5-year term.
• In the National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional) 55 members are elected by direct popular vote to serve 5-year terms.

Main parties in the electoral race:

• Party: Movement for the Freedom on Sao Tome and Principe (MLSTP/PSD)
  • Leader: Francisco Fortunas PIRES
  • Seats won in last election: 31
• Party: Independent Democratic Action (ADI)
  • Leader: Carlos NEVES
  • Seats won in last election: 16
• Party: Democratic Convergence Party-Reflection Group (PCD/GR)
  • Leader: Armindo AGUIAR
  • Seats won in last election: 8
• Party: Other Parties
  • Leader: N/A
  • Seats won in last election: N/A

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 143,085 (2002)
• Registered Voters: 60,961 (2002)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 72,029 (2002)

·         Is São Tomé a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (31 October 1995)

·         Has São Tomé ratified CEDAW: Yes (3 June 2003)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 5 (following the 2002 elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 143 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A

Disability Data:

·         Is São Tomé and Príncipe a signatory to CRPD: N/A

·         Has São Tomé and Príncipe ratified CRPD: Yes, accession (5 November 2015)

·         Population with a disability: 21,462 (est.)