At stake in this election:

• 9 seats in the Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea)

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: King King George TUPOU V
• Head of Government: Prime Minister Feleti (Fred) SEVELE
• Assembly: Tonga has a unicameral Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea) with 32 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• The King is hereditary N/A.
• Prime Minister is appointed by the monarch.
• In the Legislative Assembly (Fale Alea), 14 members are reserved ex officio to serve 3-year terms, 9 members are elected by indirect vote to serve 3-year terms and 9 members are elected by popular vote to serve 3-year terms.

Main parties in the electoral race:

• List: Human Rights and Democracy Movement
  • Leader: N/A
  • Seats won in this election: 4
  • Seats won in last election: 7
• Party: People's Democratic Party (PDP)
  • Leader: N/A
  • Seats won in this election: 2
  • Seats won in last election: 0
• Independent(s): Independents
  • Leader: N/A
  • Seats won in this election: 3
  • Seats won in last election: 2

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 102,816 (2008)
• Registered Voters: N/A

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 51,358 (2008)

·         Is Tonga a signatory to CEDAW: No

·         Has Tonga ratified CEDAW: No

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 1 (following the 2008 elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 100 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: N/A

Disability Data:

·         Is Tonga a signatory to CRPD: Yes (15 November 2007)

·         Has Tonga ratified CRPD: No

·         Population with a disability: 15,422 (est.)