At stake in this election:

• The office of President of Malawi

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA
• Head of Government: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA
• Assembly: Malawi has a unicameral National Assembly with 193 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 5-year term.
• In the National Assembly 193 members are elected by plurality vote to serve 5-year terms.

Main Candidates in the Presidential race:

• Bingu wa MUTHARIKA*
  • Party: Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)
• John TEMBO
  • Party: Malawi Congress Party (MCP)
• James NYONDO
  • Independent(s): Independent
• Dindi NYASULU
  • Party: Alliance for Democracy (AFORD)
• Stanely MASAULI
  • Party: Republican Party (RP)
• Loveness GONDWE
  • Party: National Rainbow Coalition (NARC)
• Kamuzu CHIBAMBO
  • Party: People's Transformation Party (PETRA)

* DPP was formed in 2005 by separating from the United Democratic Front

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 14,329,056 (2009)
• Registered Voters: 5,870,819 (2009)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 7,194,068 (2009)

·         Is Malawi a signatory to CEDAW: No

·         Has Malawi ratified CEDAW: Yes, accession (12 March 1987)

·         Gender Quota: No, but there are political parties with voluntary gender quotas

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 41 (following the 2009 elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 173 (2014)

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

Disability Data:

·         Is Malawi a signatory to CRPD: Yes (27 September 2007)

·         Has Malawi ratified CRPD: Yes (27 August 2009)

·         Population with a disability: 2,149,358 (est.)