At stake in this election:

• 79 seats in the National Assembly (Majlis al-Watani)

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA
• Head of Government: Prime Minister Cheikel Afia Ould Mohamed KHOUNA
• Assembly: Mauritania has a bicameral Legislature consisting of the Senate (Majlis al-Shuyukh) with 56 seats and the National Assembly (Majlis al-Watani) with 79 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 6-year term.
• In the Senate (Majlis al-Shuyukh) 56 members are elected by indirect vote to serve 6-year terms*. In the National Assembly (Majlis al-Watani) 79 members are elected by popular vote to serve 5-year terms.

* Senators are elected by indirect vote by municipal leaders to serve 6-year terms. 17 seats are up for election every two years.

Main parties in the electoral race:

• Party: Democratic and Social Republican Party (PRDS)
  • Leader: Col. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA
  • Seats won in this National Assembly election: 64
  • Seats won in last National Assembly election: 71
• Party: Union of Forces for Progress (UFP)
  • Leader: Mohamed Ould MOLOUD
  • Seats won in this National Assembly election: 4
  • Seats won in last National Assembly election: N/A
• Party: Action for Change (AC)
  • Leader: Massoud Ould BOULKHEIR
  • Seats won in this National Assembly election: 4
  • Seats won in last National Assembly election: 1
• Party: Rally for Democracy and Unity (RDU)
  • Leader: Ahmed Moktar Sidi BABA
  • Seats won in this National Assembly election: 3
  • Seats won in last National Assembly election: 1
• Party: Mauritanian Popular Front (FPM)
  • Leader: Mohamed Lemine
  • Seats won in this National Assembly election: 1
  • Seats won in last National Assembly election: N/A

Last Legislative election:

• National Assembly election last held: October 11 and 18, 1996.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 2,796,502 (2001)
• Registered Voters: 1,028,630 (2001)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 1,395,339 (2001)

·         Is Mauritania a signatory to CEDAW: No

·         Has Mauritania ratified CEDAW: Yes, accession (10 May 2001)

·         Gender Quota: Yes

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 3 (National Assembly) (following the 2001 elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 156 (2014) 

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

Disability Data:

·         Is Mauritania a signatory to CRPD: No

·         Has Mauritania ratified CRPD: Yes, accession (3 April 2012)

·         Population with a disability: 419,475 (est.)