At Stake in this Election: 

• The Rwandan Presidency 

Government Structure:  

• Chief of State: Paul KAGAME (since 22 April 2000) 

• Head of Government: Édouard NGIRENTE (since 30 August 2017) 

• Assembly: bicameral Parliament with a 26-seat Senate (Sénat) and an 80-seat Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des Députés)

Electoral System: 

• The President is directly elected by plurality vote and may serve up to two 5-year terms. 

• The Prime Minister is appointed by the president. 

• In the Senate, 12 members are indirectly elected by local councils, 8 are appointed by the president, 4 are appointed by the Political Organizations Forum, and 2 are selected by institutions of higher learning. All 26 members serve 8-year terms.  

• In the Chamber of Deputies, 53 members are directly elected by proportional representation vote, 24 women are selected by special interest groups, and 3 members are selected by youth and disability groups. All 80 members serve 5-year terms.

Last Election:  

In the 2017 presidential election, Paul Kagame (RPF) won with 98.79% of the vote. Voter turnout was 98%.

Information for Voters: 

Igikorwa cyo kwiyamamaza: Ibyo wamenya ku mategeko n'amabwiriza abigenga / What you need to know about the rules and regulations (in Kinyarwanda)

Key Deadlines: 

• Candidate filing deadline: May 30th, 2024 

• Voter registration deadline: June 13th, 2024

Main Candidates in this Election:  

• Paul KAGAME 

• Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) 

• Frank HABINEZA 

• The Democratic Green Party of Rwanda (DGPR / IRDKI) 

• Phillipe MPAYIMANA 

• Independent

Population and Registered Voters: 

• Population: 13,776,698 (2022 est.) 

• Registered Voters: 9,012,789 (2024) 

Gender Data: 

• Female Population:  7,035,658 (2022 est.) 

• CEDAW Status: Signed 1 May 1980, Ratified 2 March 1981 

• Gender Quota:  Yes, at least 30% of members in the House of Deputies must be women and 30% of Senators must also be women.  

• Female Candidates in this election: No 

• Number of Female Legislators (pre-election): 49 out of 80 (61%) in the House of Deputies and 9 out of 26 (35%) in the Senate  

• Human Development Index (HDI) Position: 0.548, Low (2022)  

• Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: 19%, High (2023) 

Disability Data: 

• CRPD Status: Signed 15 December 2008, Ratified 14 January 2009  

• Projected population with a disability: 5% 

IFES Resources: 

• Does IFES have a presence in Rwanda: No 

• Election Access: Yes