At stake in this Referendum:

• Whether Presidential term limits should be abolished; whether presidential powers should be expanded; and whether a 60-member Senate should be created.

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Mamadou TANDJA
• Head of Government: President TANDJA Mamadou
• Assembly: Niger has a unicameral National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) with 113 seats. ***

*** See the Niger country page for electoral system details on the National Assembly.

Main provisions in the Referendum:

• Removal of presidential term limits, Absolute executive power of the President, Creation of an upper house of the legislature.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 15,672,194 (2009)
• Registered Voters: 6,045,140 (August 2009)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 7,786,106 (2009)

·         Is Niger a signatory to CEDAW: No

·         Has Niger ratified CEDAW: Yes, accession (8 October 1999)

·         Gender Quota: Yes

·         Female candidates in this election: N/A

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 14 (following the 2004 elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 188 (2014)

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

Disability Data:

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

·         Has Niger ratified CRPD: Yes (24 June 2008)

·         Population with a disability: 2,350,829 (est.)