European elections by numbers 427 million EU citizens eligible to vote between May 23 and 26 in all 28 countries in world’s second-largest democratic exercise after India’s elections 751 Members of European Parliament (MEPs) elected to five-year term. 27 of UK’s 73 seats will be redistributed, and total will drop from 751 to 705 if Brexit goes ahead 42.6% Turnout in 2014 was lowest since first election in 1979, when 63% voted. In 2014, Slovakia (13.0%) had lowest turnout while Malta (74.8%) had highest among countries where voting is voluntary 96 / 6 Number of seats allocated to each country depends on size of population. Smallest, Malta (pop: 460,297) has six MEPs while largest, Germany (pop: 82 million) has 96 8 Current number of pan-European groups separated along ideological lines. Each group must have at least 25 MEPs from minimum of seven member states 36.5% Current proportion of female MEPs – up from 16.3% in 1979. Finland (76.9%) has highest proportion while Estonia (under 16.7%) has lowest 708 Legislative acts adopted in 2014-19 parliament. Most pass at first reading, taking average of 18 months €114 million Annual cost to taxpayers of MEPs moving monthly from Brussels to French city of Strasbourg ----------------------------- Sources: www.europarl.europa.eu, Reuters, AFP Picture: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS