Pakistan elections 2024: By the numbers

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As 128 million voters prepare for the February 8 elections, Al Jazeera decodes the key numbers shaping Pakistan.

On February 8, as Pakistan votes in national and provincial elections, the country’s democracy will face its latest test.

It is an election that will decide the next government of the world’s fifth-most populous nation, and the governments of its four provinces — Punjab, Singh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Befittingly, it is also an election of large numbers – very large numbers.

From voters and parties to the economy and more, here’s a guide to Pakistan’s election and to the nation itself, in those numbers.

What’s the election about?

In all, 128 million people registered to vote in the elections to pick 266 representatives on February 8, forming the 16th parliament in a first-past-the-post system. They will also vote to elect the legislatures of the country’s four provinces.

Interactive_Pakistan_elections_Voting at a glance

In the country of 241 million people, two-thirds are below the age of 30. A citizen becomes eligible to vote at the age of 18.

It is also a vast country, spanning mountainous terrain in its north, multiple deserts and a 990km (615 miles) coastline. On February 8, 90,582 polling stations will service voters who want to cast their ballots.

In the contest for the National Assembly are 5,121 candidates. They belong either to Pakistan’s 167 registered political parties or are independents. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan has been barred from using its election symbol, the cricket bat, so its candidates will also be contesting as independents this time.

Only a little more than half of Pakistan’s electorate voted in the 2018 elections.

With a crackdown against Khan’s party ongoing, it is unclear whether the February 8 elections will see a lower turnout or a surge in the form of a silent protest vote in favour of PTI-aligned candidates.

Courtesy Al Jazeera.

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