At stake in this election:

• The office of President of Sao Tome and Principe

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Miguel TROVOADA
• Head of Government: Prime Minister Guilherma Posser da COSTA
• 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 Candidates in the Presidential race:

• Fradique de MENEZES
  • Party: Independent Democratic Action / Acção Democrática Independente
• Manuel Pinto da COSTA
  • Party: Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe / Movimento de Libertação de São Tomé e Príncipe
• Carlos TINY
  • Party: N/A
• Victor MONTEIRO
  • Party: N/A
• Francisco Fortunato PIRES
  • Party: N/A

Last Presidential election:

• Presidential Elections were last held on June 30 and July 21, 1996. Miguel TROVADA won with 52.74% of the vote.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 140,003 (2001)
• Registered Voters: 61,159 (2001)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 70,494 (2001)

·         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 1998 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: 21,000 (est.)