Updated September 2018
| Country | Timeline | President | Legislative | Regional/Local | Referenda |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| algeria | Last election | 17 Apr 2014 | People's National Assembly: 4 May 2017; Council of the Nation: half 29 Dec 2015 (indirect/appointed) | 23 Nov 2017 | 17 Sep 1999 Voters endorse presidential peace plan to end 7 yrs of civil violence |
| Next election | 2019 | People's National Assembly: 2022 Council of the Nation: 2018 (half, indirect/appointed) |
2022 | ||
| Term | 5 yrs | People's National Assembly: 5 yrs Council of the Nation: 6 (half every 3 yrs) |
5 yrs | ||
| angola | Last election | 23 Aug 2017 | 23 Aug 2017 | Not held | |
| Next election | 2022 | 2022 | ? | ||
| Term | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | ||
| benin | Last election | 1st rnd: 6 Mar 2016; 2nd rnd: 20 Mar 2016 | NA: 26 Apr 2015 | 31 May 2015 | |
| Next election | 2021 | NA: 2019 | 2021 | ||
| Term | 5 yrs | NA: 4 yrs | 6 yrs | ||
| botswana | Last election | Late 2014 by NA |
NA: 24 Oct 2014 | 24 Oct 2014 | 4 Oct 1997 Constitutional amendments to establish an Independent Electoral Commission approved |
| Next election | 2019 by National Assembly |
National Assembly: 2019 | 2019 | ||
| Term | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | ||
| burkina faso | Last election | 29 Nov 2015 | NA: 29 Nov 2015 | 22 May 2016 | |
| Next election | 2020 | NA: 2020 | 2021 | ||
| Term | 5 yrs | NA: 5 yrs | 5 yrs | ||
| burundi | Last election | 1st Rnd: 26 Jun 2015; 2nd Rnd: 27 Jul 2015 | NA 5 Jun 2015 SEN 17 Jul 2015 (indirect) |
Local 5 Jun 2015; Collines 24 Aug 2015 | 17 May 2018: Allow president to stand for 4th term, increase presidental term to two 7 year consecutive terms; reintroduce Prime Minister, vice-presidents reduced from two to one |
| Next election | 2020 | NA 2020 SEN 2020 (indirect) |
Local 2020; Collines 2020 | ||
| Term | 5 yrs | NA & SEN: 5 yrs | 5 yrs | ||
| cameroon | Last election | 11 Oct 2004 | NA 30 Sep 2013; Senate: 30 Sep 2013 | 30 Sep 2013 | |
| Next election | 7 Oct 2018 | NA: Postponed from late 2018 to 2019; Senate (indirect): 25 Mar 2018 | Postponed from late 2018 to 2019 | ||
| Term | 7 yrs | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | ||
| cape verde | Last election | 2 Oct 2016 | NA: 20 Mar 2016 | 2011 | |
| Next election | 2021 | NA: 2021 | 2020 | ||
| Term | 5 yrs | NA: 5 yrs | 4 yrs | ||
| central african republic | Last election | 1st rnd 27 Dec 2015; 2nd Round 14 Feb 2016 | 1st rnd 14 Feb 2016; 2nd Round 31 Mar 2016 (postponed from 27 Mar 2016) | local authorities appointed by president | Constitutional referendum 13 Dec 2015 |
| Next election | 2021 | 2021 | |||
| Term | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | |||
| chad | Last election | 1st rnd: 10 April 2016; 2nd rnd: 9 May 2016 | NA: 1st rnd: 10 April 2016; 2nd rnd: 9 May 2016 | 22 Jan 2012 | |
| Next election | 2021 | Nov 2018 | Nov 2018? | ||
| Term | 5 yrs | NA: 4 yrs | 4 yrs | ||
| comoros | Last election | 1st rnd: 21 Feb 2016; 2nd rnd 16 Apr 2016 | Union Assembly: 1st Rnd: 25 Jan 2015 2nd Rnd: 22 Feb 2015 |
Islands Governors: 16 Apr 2016 Island Assemblies: 2016 |
30 Jul 2018 constitutional ammendment to allow two 5-year presidential terms, instead of only one. 17 May 2009 constitutional amendments approved: Increased term of president to 5 yrs, abolished rotating presidency, concentrated power in Union government, reduce powers and costs of the island’s governments (Island Presidents become Island Governors), Islam became state religion |
| Next election | 2021 | Union Assembly: 2020 | Islands Governors : 2021 Island Assemblies: 2022 |
||
| Term | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | Islands Governors & Assemblies: 4 yrs | ||
| Ivory Coast | Last election | 25 Oct 2015 | National Assembly: Dec 2016 Senate: 24 Mar 2018 |
21 Apr 2013 | 23 Jul 2000 Constitution approved |
| Next election | 2020 | National Assembly: 2021 Senate: 2023? |
No data | ||
| Term | 5 yrs | National Assembly: 5 yrs Senate: 5 yrs? |
5 yrs | ||
| democratic republic of congo | Last election | 28 Nov 2011 | NA: 28 Nov 2011 Senate: 19 Jan 2007 (indirect by PA) |
PA: 25 Feb 2012 Local: 31 Jan 2013 |
18 Dec 2005 New Constitution approved |
| Next election | Postponed to 23 Dec 2018 from Nov 2016 | NA: Postponed to 23 Dec 2018 from Nov 2016 Senate: Postponed to 23 Dec 2018 from Nov 2016 (indirect by PA) |
PA: Postponed to 23 Dec 2018 from Nov 2016 Local: postponed to 2019 (?) from Nov 2016 |
||
| Term | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | |||
| djibouti | Last election | 8 Apr 2016 | NA: 22 Feb 2013 | Regional Assemblies & Communes 24 Feb 2017 | |
| Next election | 2022 | NA: 23 Feb 2018 | RA & Communal: 2022 | ||
| Term | 6 yrs | NA: 5 yrs | RA & Communal: 5 yrs | ||
| egypt | Last election | 26-27 May 2014 | PA: Oct-Dec 2015 Shura Council (abolished 2014): Jan 2012 |
May 2008 | Second half of January 2014: New Constitution |
| Next election | First round 26-28 Mar 2018 Run Off 24-26 Apr 2018 | HR: 2020 | 2019 | ||
| Term | 4 yrs | PA: 5 yrs SC: 6 yrs; half replaced every three year. |
4 yrs | ||
| equatorial guinea | Last election | 24 Apr 2016 | House of People's Representatives & Senate: 12 Nov 2017 | 12 Nov 2017 | Constiutional referendum 13 Nov 2011; allows encumbent additional two terms, creates vice-presidency |
| Next election | 2023 | HPR: 2022 | 2022 | ||
| Term | 7 yrs | HPR: 5 yrs | 5 yrs | ||
| eritrea | Last election | 1993 interim president |
May 1997 Transitional NA formed |
May 2003 | 23-25 Apr 1993 Independence for the Autonomous Region of Eritrea approved |
| Next election | indefinitely postponed from 2001 | ||||
| Term | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | ||
| ethiopia | Last election | 2013 by House of People's Representatives | HPR: 24 May 2015 HoF: 2013 (indirect) |
Local: 2013 RSCs: 24 May 2015 |
|
| Next election | 2019 by House of People's Representatives | House of People's Representatives: 2020 House of the Federation (indirect): 2018 |
Regional State Councils: 2018 Local: 2018 or 2019 |
||
| Term | 6 yrs | 5 yrs (both Houses) | Regional State Councils & Local: 5 yrs | ||
| gabon | Last election | 27 Aug 2016 | National Assembly: 17 Dec 2011 Senate: Dec 2014 |
No data | |
| Next election | 2023 | National Assembly: Oct2018 (postponed from Dec 2016, 29 Jul 2017 and 20 Apr 2018) Senate: 2020 |
|||
| Term | 7 yrs | National Assembly: 5 yrs Senate 6 yrs |
|||
| the gambia | Last election | 1 Dec 2016 | National Assembly: 6 Apr 2017 | 2 Apr 2013 | |
| Next election | 2021 | National Assembly: 2022 | 12 Apr 2018 | ||
| Term | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 4 yrs | ||
| ghana | Last election | 7 Dec 2016 | National Assembly: Dec 2016 | District, Local & Unit: 3 Mar 2015 | before April 2016: Constitutional referendum, as well as abolishment of death penalty and parliamentary ratification (within 72 hours and with two-thirds majority) required for presidential declaration of war |
| Next election | 7 Dec 2020 | National Assembly: Dec 2020 | District, Local & Unit: 2019 | ||
| Term | 4 yrs | 4 yrs | 4 yrs | ||
| guinea | Last election | 11 Oct 2015 | National Assembly: 28 Sep 2013 | 28 Sep 2013 | 11 Nov 2001 Constitutional amendment to remove presidential Termlimits and increase term to 7 yrs approved |
| Next election | 2022 | National Assembly: Sep 2018 | 4 Feb 2018 | ||
| Term | 7 yrs | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | ||
| guinea-bissau | Last election | 1st round: 28 Jun 2009 2nd round: 26 Jul 2009 |
People's National Assembly & Senate 14 Apr 2014 (postponed from 24 Nov 2013) | There are no local governments | |
| Next election | 2019 | People's National Assembly & Senate: 18 Nov 2018 | |||
| Term | 5 yrs | 4 yrs | |||
| kenya | Last election | 8 Aug 2017 - election annulled Rerun 26 Oct 2017 |
National Assembly, Senate & County Assemblies: 8 Aug 2017 | 8 Aug 2017 | 4 Aug 2010: Draft proposes more power for Prime Minister and less for President, devolution of power to regions and introduction of Senate and Supreme Court |
| Next election | 2022 | National Assembly, Senate & County Assemblies: 2022 | 2022 | ||
| Term | 5 yrs | NA 5 yrs | 5 yrs | ||
| lesotho | Last Election | Monarchy: no presidential election | National Assembly: 3 Jun 2017 | 30 Sep 2017 (postponed from 2016) | |
| Next election | 2022 | 2022 | |||
| Term | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | |||
| liberia | Last election | 1st Rnd: 10 Oct 2017; 2nd Rnd 26 De 2017 | House of Representatives: 10 Oct 2017 Senate (half): 10 Oct 2017 |
30 Nov 2008 | 23 Aug 2011: Constitutional amendments |
| Next election | 10 Oct 2023 | House of Representatives: 2023 Senate (half): 2023 |
? | ||
| Term | 6 yrs | HR 6 yrs SEN 6 yrs |
|||
| libya | Last election | Constituent Assembly: 20 Feb 2014 | |||
| next election | 10 Dec 2018 | 10 Dec 2018 | ? | ||
| madagascar | Last election | 1st Rnd: 25 Oct 2013; 2nd Rnd: 25 Sep 2013 | NA: 20 Dec 2013 Senate: 29 Dec 2015 (indirect) |
Local: 17 Jul 2015 | On new Constitution scheduled for 12 Aug 2010, but then postponed to 17 Nov 2010 |
| Next election | 1st rnd: 7 Nov 2018; 2nd Rnd 19 Dec 2018 | NA: Postponed from late 2018 to early 2019 Senate: 2020, after local |
Provincial, regional & local: postponed to 2019 from 2017 | ||
| Term | 5 yrs | NA 5 yrs Senate: 5 yrs |
5 yrs | ||
| malawi | Last election | 20 May 2014 | National Assembly: 20 May 2014 | 20 May 2014 | 14 Jun 1993 Introduction of a multi-party system approved by voters |
| Next election | 20 May 2019 | National Assembly: 20 May 2019 | 20 May 2019 | ||
| Term | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | ||
| mali | Last election | 1st rnd 28 Jul 2013; 2nd rnd 11 Aug 2013 | NA: 1st rnd 24 Nov 2013; 2nd rnd 15 Dec 2013 | 25 Oct 2015 | Constitutional Referendum: 9 Jul 2017 |
| Next election | 1st rnd 29 Jul 2018; 2nd rnd 12 Aug 2018 | NA: No data | Local & Communal: 2018? (postponed from 17 Dec 2017) Regional 2018(?) |
||
| Term | 5 yrs | NA: 5 yrs | 5 yrs | ||
| mauritania | Last election | 21 Jun 2014 | NA: National Assembly: 1st rnd 1 Sep 2018; 2nd rnd: 15 Sep 2018 Senate (1/3 members): 12 Oct 2013 |
Local and regional: 1st rnd: 1 Sep 2018; 2nd rnd: 15 Sep 2018 | 25 Jun 2006 New constitution approved by electorate |
| Next election | Early (March?) 2019 | National Assembly: 2023 Senate (1/3 members): 2019 |
Local and regional: 2023 | ||
| Term | 5 yrs | NA 5 yrs SEN 6 yrs (1/3 retires every 2 yrs) |
5 yrs | ||
| mauritius | Last election | 2013 by National Assembly | National Assembly: 2015 | Local: 2012? Rodrigues Regional Assembly: 5 Feb 2012 |
|
| Next election | 2018 by National Assembly | National Assembly: 2020 | Local: 2012? Rodrigues Regional Assembly: 5 Feb 2012 |
||
| Term | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | Local: 5 yrs; Rodrigues Regional Assembly: 5 yrs | ||
| morocco | Last election | Monarchy. PM appointed by monarch after legislative elections | Assembly of Representatives: 7 Oct 2016 Assembly of Councillors: 2 Oct 2015 |
Local & regional 4 Sep 2015 | 1 Jul 2011 Constitutional referendum |
| Next election | Assembly of Representatives: 7 Oct 2016 Assembly of Councillors: 2021 |
2021 | |||
| Term | Assembly of Representatives 5 yrs; Assembly of Councillors 6 yrs (indirect) | 6 yrs | |||
| mozambique | Last election | 15 Oct 2014 | 15 Oct 2014 | Local: 20 Nov 2013 Provincial: 15 Oct 2014 |
|
| Next election | 15 Oct 2019 | 15 Oct 2019 | Local: 10 Oct 2018 Provincial: 15 Oct 2019 |
||
| Term | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | ||
| namibia | Last election | 28 Nov 2014 | National Assembly: 28 Nov 2014 National Council: Dec 2015 (indirect) |
Regional Council: 27 Nov 2015 Local: 27 Nov 2015 |
|
| Next election | 2019 | National Assembly: 2019 National Council: 2020 (indirect by Regional Councils) |
Regional Council: 2020 Local: 2020 |
||
| Term | 5 yrs | National Assembly 5 yrs; National Council 5 yrs | Regional Council 5 yrs; Local: 5 yrs | ||
| niger | Last election | 1st rnd: 21 Feb 2016; 2nd rnd: 20 Mar 2016 | NA: 21 Feb 2016 | 31 Jan 2011 | 24 Oct 2010 new constitution |
| Next election | 2021 | 2021 | Postponed to 2019 from 8 Jan 2017 | ||
| Term | 5 yrs | NA: 5 yrs | 5 yrs | ||
| nigeria | Last election | 28 Mar 2015 | NA & Senate: 28 Mar 2015 | State Assemblies, governors & Local: 11 Apr 2015 | |
| Next election | 16 Feb 2019 | NA & Senate: 16 Feb 2019 | State Assemblies, governors & Local: 2 Mar 2019 | ||
| Term | 4 yrs | 4 yrs | 4 yrs | ||
| republic of the congo | Last election | 20 March 2016 | SEN 2014 (indirect) NA Rnd 1: 16 Jul 2017; Rnd 2: 30 Jul 2017 |
29 Jun 2008 | 20 Jan 2002 New Constitution approved |
| Next election | 2023 | NA 2022 Senate (1/3) Oct 2018 (indirect) |
? | ||
| Term | 7 yrs | NA 5 yrs SEN 6 yrs |
6 yrs | ||
| rwanda | Last election | 3-4 Aug 2017 | Chamber of Deputies: Sep 2013 Senate: Mar 2016 (indirect) |
Local: Feb & Mar 2016 | 18 Dec 2015, constitutional amendment extending number of presidential terms 26 May 2003, New constitution approved |
| Next election | Aug 2024 | Chamber of Deputies: 2-4 Sep 2018 Senate: 2024 (indirect) |
Local: 2021 | ||
| Term | 7 yrs | CD: 5 yrs Senate: 8 yrs |
5 yrs | ||
| são tomé and príncipe | Last election | 1st rnd: 17 Jul 2016; 2nd rnd: 7 Aug 2016 | NA: 12 Oct 2014 | Regional & Local: 12 Oct 2014 | |
| Next election | 2021 | National Assembly: 7 Oct 2018 | Regional & Local: 7 Oct 2018 | ||
| Term | 5 yrs | NA: 4 yrs | 5 yrs | ||
| senegal | Last election | 1st rnd: 26 Feb 2012 2 nd rnd: 18 Mar 2012 |
National Assembly: 30 Jul 2017 | Regional & Local: 29 Jun 2014 | 20 Mar 2016, approved by 62% of voters Shortening of the presidential term from seven years to five years and other changes |
| Next election | 24 Feb 2019 | National Assembly: 2022 | Regional & Local: 2019 | ||
| Term | 7 yrs | NA: 5 yrs | Regional & Local: 5 yrs | ||
| seychelles | Last election | 3-5 Dec 2015 | NA 8-10 Sep 2016 | Local authorities are appointed by the government | 15 – 18 June 1993 New Constitution approved |
| Next election | 2020 | NA 2021 | |||
| Term | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | |||
| sierra leone | Last election | 1st Rnd: 7 Mar 2018 2nd Rnd: Postponed to 31 Mar 2018 from 27 Mar 2018 |
House of Representatives: 7 Mar 2018 | 7 Mar 2018 | |
| Next election | 2023 | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Term | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 4 yrs | ||
| somalia | Last election | Postponed to 8 Feb 2017 from 22 Jan 2017 and 28 Dec 2016 (by parliament) | Lower House: 22 Dec 2016 (indirect) Upper House: 25 Sep 2016 (indirect) |
none | |
| Next election | 2022 | Lower House: 2021 Upper House: 2021 (indirect) |
no data | ||
| Term | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | no data | ||
| somaliland (autonomous region) |
Last election | 13 Nov 2017 | HR: Cancelled 27 Mar 2017 | 15 Dec 2002 | |
| Next election | 2022 | House of Representatives & Senate: 28 Apr 2019 | 28 Apr 2019 | ||
| Term | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | ||
| south africa | Last Election | 2014 by NA | NA: 7 May 2014 | PL: 7 May 2009 Local: 3 Aug 2016 |
17 Mar 1992 Whites approve the continuation of the white government’s negotiations for a new majority government constitution |
| Next election | 2019 (by NA) | NA: 2019 | PL: 2019 Local: 2021 |
||
| Term | 5 yrs | NA: 5 yrs | PL & Local: 5 yrs | ||
| south sudan | Last election | 9 Jul 2010 | SSA: 9 Jul 2010 | State and local: 9 Jul 2010 | 9 Jan 2011: Referendum due on whether southern autonomous region is remain part of Sudan or to succeed |
| Next election | By 31 Dec 2018 | By 31 Dec 2018 | By 31 Dec 2018 | ||
| Term | 5 yrs | SSA: 5 yrs | 5 yrs | ||
| sudan | Last election | 2 Apr 2015 | CS & NA: 2 Apr 2015 | State Legislatures, State Governors, local: 2 Apr 2015 | |
| Next election | 2020 | CS & NA: 2020 | State Legislatures, State Governors, local: 2020 | ||
| Term | 5 yrs | NA 5 yrs CS 6 yrs |
5 yrs | ||
| swaziland | Last election | Monarchy: no presidential election. | House of Assembly: Primary: 24 Aug 2013; Secondary: 20 Sep 2013 | Urban local: 3 Nov 2012 Tinkhundla: 20 Sep 2013 |
|
| Next election | House of Assembly: Primary: 18 Aug 2018; Secondary: 21 Sep 2018 | Urban local: Sept 2018 Tinkhundla: Sept 2018 |
|||
| Term | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | |||
| togo | Last election | 15 Apr 2015 | National Assembly: 21 July 2013 | ||
| Next election | 2020 | National Assembly: 31 Jul 2018 | Postponed from late 2017 to Jun or 2018 | ||
| Term | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | |||
| tunisia | Last election | 23 Nov 2014 | Chamber of Deputies: 26 Oct 2014 Chamber of Councillors: 26 Oct 2014 |
Local & regional: Postponed to 7 Dec 2017 from 26 Mar 2017 | |
| Next election | 2019 | Chamber of Deputies: 2019 Chamber of Councillors: 2019 |
Municipal: 6 May 2018 | ||
| Term | 5 yrs | Chamber of Deputies: 5 yrs Chamber of Councillors: 6 yrs |
5 yrs | ||
| united republic of tanzania | Last Election | 25 Oct 2015 | 25 Oct 2015 | Zanzibar House of Representatives & Zanzibar President: ZEC annulled 25 Oct 2015 election, no rerun date set; Local: 25 Oct 2015 | 30 Apr 2015: Adoption of new Constitution to replace that of 1977 |
| Next election | 2020 | 2020 | Zanzibar House of Representatives & Zanzibar President & Local: 2020 | ||
| Term | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | Zanzibar House of Representatives & Zanzibar President & Local: 5 yrs | ||
| uganda | Last election | 18 Feb 2016 | NA: 18 Feb 2016 | 18 Feb 2016 | |
| Next election | 2021 | NA: 2021 | 2021 | ||
| Term | 5 yrs | NA: 5 yrs | 5 yrs | ||
| zambia | Last Election | 11 Aug 2016 | National Assembly: 11 Aug 2016 | 11 Aug 2016 | 11 Aug 2016 Constitutional amendments to amend Bill of Rights fails |
| Next election | 2021 | National Assembly: 2021 | 2021 | ||
| Term | 5 yrs | National Assembly: 5 yrs | 5 yrs | ||
| zimbabwe | Last election | 31 Jul 2013 | House of Assembly & Senate: 31 Jul 2013 | 31 Jul 2013 | Constitutional referendum, 16 Mar 2013 |
| Next election | 30 Jul 2018 | House of Assembly & Senate: 30 Jul 2018 | 30 Jul 2018 | ||
| Term | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | 5 yrs | ||
