At stake in this election:

• The office of President of Costa Rica

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen
• Head of Government: President Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen
• Assembly: Costa Rica has a unicameral Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa) with 57 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 4-year term.
• In the Legislative Assembly (Asamblea Legislativa) 57 members are elected by direct popular vote to serve 4-year terms.

Main Candidates in the Presidential race:

• Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ Echeverria
  • Party: Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC)
• Jose Miguel CORRALES
  • Party: National Liberation Party (PLN)
• Other candidates
  • Party: N/A

Last Presidential election:

• The last presidential election was held on February 6, 1994. Jose Maria FIGUERES Olsen received 49.7% of the vote and thus defeated Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ Echeverria, his closest competitor with 47.5% of the vote.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 3,767,369 (1998)
• Registered Voters: 2,045,980 (1998)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 1,874,942 (1998)

·         Is Costa Rica a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (17 July 1980)

·         Has Costa Rica ratified CEDAW: Yes (4 April 1986)

·         Gender Quota: Yes

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 11 (following 1998 elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 69 (2014)

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

Disability Data:

·         Is Costa Rica a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)

·         Has Costa Rica ratified CRPD: Yes (1 October 2008)

·         Population with a disability: 565,105 (est.)