Germany

Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections

Background

Election date(s) The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
26.09.2021
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
26.10.2021
Timing of election Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections The expected date at which the next elections should take place, based on law or practice.
30.09.2025
Number of seats at stake Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
736
Scope of elections Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
Full renewal

Candidates

Total number of candidates Total number of people who registered as candidates for election. Does not include people who stood as candidates to become "substitute members".
6,211
Notes
In addition to 4,186 men and 2,024 women, one other person (diverse) stood for the 2021 elections.
Number of male candidates Number of male candidates
4,186
Number of female candidates Number of female candidates
2,024
Percentage of women candidates The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women candidates by the total number of candidates.
32.59%
Number of parties contesting the election This field may include either the number of parties contesting the election, or the number of coalitions/electoral alliance.
47
Number of other candidates Number of other candidates
1

Voter turnout

Registration Number of people registered to vote
61,181,072
Votes Number of people who actually voted
46,854,508
Voter turnout The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of people who actually voted by the number of people registered to vote
76.58%

Results

About the election Short description of the context and results of the election.
The 2021 elections led to the first powershift in 16 years. The Social Democratic Party (SPD), led by Mr. Olaf Scholz, became the largest party in the new 736-member legislature (see note). The SPD won nine more seats than the ruling coalition, which comprised the Christian Democratic Union (CDU, led by Ms. Armin Laschet) and Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU). The Green Party (co-led by Ms. Annalena Baerbock and Mr. Robert Habeck) sharply increased its share of seats and became the third largest party. The percentage of women increased from 30.75 per cent (218 women out of 709 members) to 34.92 per cent (257 women out of 736 members). Two transgender women won seats for the first time in Germany. On 26 October, the newly elected Bundestag held its first session and elected Ms. Bärbel Bas (SPD) as its new Speaker. She became the first woman to hold the post since 1998.

On 7 December, the SPD, the Green Party and the Free Democratic Party (FDP, led by Mr. Christian Lindner) officially signed a deal to form a coalition government. On 8 December, the Bundestag elected Mr. Scholz as the new Chancellor. He replaced Ms. Angela Merkel (CDU), who had held the post since 2005. Amongst others, the coalition deal aims to accelerate the green transition, allow multiple citizenship and lower the voting age from 18 to 16.

Note: 
In addition to the 598 statutory seats, there are a total of 138 additional seats, including 34 overhang seats. (See note on overhang seats in the Other Notes section).
Number of parties winning seats The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
8
Percentage of parties winning seats The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of parties which won parliamentary representation by the number of parties contesting the election.
17.02%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of seats won by the largest party by the number of seats at stake in the election.
27.99%
Alternation of power after elections The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.
Yes
Number of parties in government The government may be formed by one or more political parties
3
Names of parties in government The government may be formed by one or more political parties
Social Democratic Party (SPD), Green Party, Free Democratic Party (FDP)
Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political groups winning seats breakdown
Political group Total Overhang seats Other extra seats
Social Democratic Party (SPD) 206 10 26
Christian Democratic Union (CDU) 152 12 18
Green Party 118 0 24
Free Democratic Party (FDP) 92 0 16
Alternative for Germany (AfD) 83 1 13
Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU) 45 11 0
Left Party (Die Linke) 39 0 7
The South-Schleswigian Voters’ Association 1 0 0
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
479
Number of women elected
257
Percentage of women elected The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected in the election and the number of seats at stake at the election.
34.92%
Other notes
Note on the overhang seats:
The statutory number of the German Bundestag is 598, of which 299 members are elected under the majority (first-past-the post) system and the remaining seats are filled through the proportional representation system using the party list. If a party wins more seats in the majority system (the first vote) than the results of the proportional representation system (second vote) would normally entitle it to keep the additional seats, called "overhang seats" (Überhangmandate). 
Based on the 2013 amendments to the Federal Electoral Act, if a party gets overhang seats, extra seats (also known as balance seats) can be attributed to the party to ensure complete proportionality of the share of votes for all parties nationwide. 
In 2021, there were a total of 138 additional seats, including 34 overhang seats. The 2021 legislature thus comprises 736 seats in all up from 709 in the 2017 legislature. The 2017 legislature had included 111 additional seats of which 46 were overhang seats.
Women Directly Elected
257

New legislature

Total number of men after the election The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
479
Total number of women after the election The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
257
First-term parliamentarians The number of members who are assuming their parliamentary mandate for the first time following the election or renewal, regardless of their mode of designation.
281
Date of the first session The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
26.10.2021
First Speaker of the new legislature
First Speaker of the new legislature First name of the Speaker of the new legislature following the election or renewal.
Bärbel Bas (Female)
Political party
Social Democratic Party (SPD)
Date of election
26.10.2021