At stake in this election:

• 72 seats in the National Assembly

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Hifikepunye POHAMBA
• Head of Government: Prime Minister Nahas ANGULA
• Assembly: Namibia has a bicameral Legislature consisting of the National Council with 26 seats and the National Assembly with 72 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by plurality vote to serve a 4-year term.
• In the National Council 26 members are elected by indirect vote to serve 6-year terms*. In the National Assembly, 72 members are elected through a closed-list proportional representation system to serve 5-year terms and 6 members are appointed head of government.**

* Two members are chosen from each of the 13 regional councils by members of those councils.

** There are 13 multi-member constituencies corresponding to Namibia's regions. The President may appoint up to 6 additional, non-voting members.

Main parties in the electoral race:

• Party: South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO)
  • Leader: Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA
  • Seats won in last National Assembly election: 55
• Party: Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP)
  • Leader: Hifikepunye POHAMBA
  • Seats won in last National Assembly election: 0
• Party: Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia (DTA of Namibia)
  • Leader: Katuutire KAURA
  • Seats won in last National Assembly election: 7
• Party: National Unity Democratic Organisation (NUDO)
  • Leader: N/A
  • Seats won in last National Assembly election: N/A
• Party: United Democratic Front (UDF)
  • Leader: Justus GAROEB
  • Seats won in last National Assembly election: 2
• Party: All People's Party (APP)
  • Leader: N/A
  • Seats won in last National Assembly election: 0
• Party: Republican Party (RP)
  • Leader: N/A
  • Seats won in last National Assembly election: N/A
• Party: Congress of Democrats (COD)
  • Leader: Ben ULENGA
  • Seats won in last National Assembly election: 7
• Party: South West Africa National Union (SWANU)
  • Leader: Usutuaije MAAMBERUA
  • Seats won in last National Assembly election: 0
• Party: Monitor Action Group (MAG)
  • Leader: Kosie PRETORIUS
  • Seats won in last National Assembly election: 1
• Party: Democratic Party of Namibia
  • Leader: N/A
  • Seats won in last National Assembly election: 0
• Party: Namibia Democratic Movement Of Change (DMC)
  • Leader: N/A
  • Seats won in last National Assembly election: N/A
• Party: National Democratic Party
  • Leader: N/A
  • Seats won in last National Assembly election: 0
• Party: Communist Party of Namibia
  • Leader: Attie BEUKES
  • Seats won in last National Assembly election: 0

Population and Registered Voters:

• Population: 2,152,357 (2009)
• Registered Voters: not available

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 1,107,505 (2009)

·         Is Namibia a signatory to CEDAW: No

·         Has Namibia ratified CEDAW: Yes, accession (23 November 1992)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: No

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 19 (National Assembly) following the 2009; 7 (National Council) following the 2004 elections

·         Human Development Index Position: 126

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Low

Disability Data:

·         Is Namibia a signatory to CRPD: Yes (25 April 2007)

·         Has Namibia ratified CRPD: Yes (4 December 2007)

·         Population with a disability: 322,853 (est.)