At Stake in this Election:

• All 87 seats in the Maldivian People’s Council

Government Structure:

• Chief of State: President Mohamed MUIZZI (since 17 November 2023)
• Head of Government: President Mohamed MUIZZI (since 17 November 2023)
• Assembly: unicameral People's Council (ރައްޔިތުންގެ މަޖިލިސް / Rayyithunge Majlis) with 87 seats

Electoral System:

• The President is elected by absolute majority vote through a two-round system and may serve up to two 5-year terms.
• In the People's Council, 87 members are elected by plurality vote in single-member constituencies to serve 5-year terms. There are no term limits.

Last Election:

In the 2019 legislative election, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) won a majority in the People’s Council with 65 seats. Three additional parties and seven independents also won seats. Voter turnout was 81.32%.

Information for Voters:

The 2024 Parliamentary Elections – Material /  ރައްޔިތުންގެ މަޖިލީހުގެ އިންތިޚާބު 2024 މެޓީރިއަލް (In Dhivehi)

New/Unique in this Election:

The election date was rescheduled from 17 March to 21 April 2024 to avoid coinciding with Ramadan.

Key Deadlines:

• Candidate filing deadline: 14 February 2024
• Voter registration deadline: N/A, voter registration is passive

Main Parties in this Election:

• Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)
  • Seats won in last election: 65 out of 87
• Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM)
  • Seats won in last election: 8 out of 87 (in coalition with the PNC)
• People’s National Congress (PNC)
  • Seats won in last election: 8 out of 87 (in coalition with the PPM)
• Jumhuri Party (JP)
  • Seats won in last election: 5 out of 87
• Maldives Development Alliance (MDA)
  • Seats won in last election: 2 out of 87
• Adhaalath Party (AP)
  • Seats won in last election: 0 out of 87
• The Democrats
  • Seats won in last election: 0 out of 87
• Maldives Reform Movement (MRM)
  • Seats won in last election: 0 out of 87
• Maldives National Party (MNP)
  • Seats won in last election: 0 out of 87
• Maldives Thirdway Democrats (MTD)
  • Seats won in last election: 0 out of 87

Population and Registered Voters:

• Population: 523,790 (2022)
• Registered Voters: 284,887 (2024)

Gender Data:

• Female Population: 222,470 (2022)
• CEDAW Status: Ratified (by accession) 1 July 1993
• Gender Quota:  No
• Female Candidates in this election: Yes
• Number of Female Legislators (pre-election): 4 out of 80 (5%) in the People’s Majlis
• Human Development Index (HDI) Position: 0.762, High, Rank 87 (2022)
• Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Not available

Disability Data:

• CRPD Status: Signed 2 October 2007, Ratified 5 April 2010
• Projected population with a disability: 83,806 (2022 est.)

IFES Resources:

• Does IFES have a presence in the Maldives: Yes, office
• Election Snapshot: Yes
• Election Access: Yes
• Election Judgements: Yes, 1 judgement and 3 resources