Belgium 1981 federal election
What was the result of the 1981 federal election in Belgium?
Flemish Christian Peoples Party / Christian Democrats & Flemish won 43 of 212 seats with 19.3% of the vote. 94.5% of registered voters cast a ballot.
Belgium- Held:
- Final result
- ParlGov, read 5 October 2026
Which party won the most seats?
Final results from ParlGov, read : Flemish Christian Peoples Party / Christian Democrats & Flemish won 43 of 212 seats with 19.3% of the vote; 94.5% of registered voters cast a ballot, down 0.4 points on 1978.
- Flemish Christian Peoples Party / Christian Democrats & Flemish 43 −14 seats 19.3% −6.8 points
- Party of Liberty and Progress / Flemish Liberals and Democrats 28 +6 seats 12.9% +2.6 points
- Socialist Party 35 +3 seats 12.7% −0.3 points
- Socialist Party 26 0 seats 12.4% 0.0 points
- People's Union 20 +6 seats 9.8% +2.8 points
- Liberal Reformist Party 24 +10 seats 8.6% +2.7 points
- Humanist Democratic Centre 18 −7 seats 7.1% −3.0 points
- Respect for Labour 3 +2 seats 2.7% +1.8 points
- Ecolo 2 2.5%
- Francophone Democratic Front 6 −5 seats 2.5% −1.7 points
- Communist Party of Belgium 2 −2 seats 2.3% −1.0 points
- Groen 2 2.3%
- Seats won
- Change on the previous election at the right
- Share of the vote
- Share at the previous election
- Change in points at the right
Changes are against the Belgium 1978 federal election, party by party.
- Flemish Christian Peoples Party / Christian Democrats & Flemish43
- Socialist Party35
- Party of Liberty and Progress / Flemish Liberals and Democrats28
- Socialist Party26
- Liberal Reformist Party24
- People's Union20
- Humanist Democratic Centre18
- Francophone Democratic Front6
- Respect for Labour3
- Communist Party of Belgium2
- Ecolo2
- Groen2
- Walloon Rally2
- Flemish Block / Flemish Interest1
Key numbers
19.3%
Share of the vote won by Flemish Christian Peoples Party / Christian Democrats & Flemish
Flemish Christian Peoples Party / Christian Democrats & Flemish won 43 of 212 seats. A majority needs 107.
+10 seats
Seats gained by Liberal Reformist Party
The largest gain in seats compared with 1978. Flemish Christian Peoples Party / Christian Democrats & Flemish lost 14 seats.
94.5%
Voter turnout
Down 0.4 points on 1978.
Seats and votes by party
| Party | Seats | ± seats | % | ± points | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flemish Christian Peoples Party / Christian Democrats & Flemish | 43 | −14 | 19.3 | −6.8 | 1,165,155 |
| Party of Liberty and Progress / Flemish Liberals and Democrats | 28 | +6 | 12.9 | +2.6 | 776,882 |
| Socialist Party | 35 | +3 | 12.7 | −0.3 | 765,055 |
| Socialist Party | 26 | 0 | 12.4 | 0.0 | 744,586 |
| People's Union | 20 | +6 | 9.8 | +2.8 | 588,430 |
| Liberal Reformist Party | 24 | +10 | 8.6 | +2.7 | 516,291 |
| Humanist Democratic Centre | 18 | −7 | 7.1 | −3.0 | 430,712 |
| Respect for Labour | 3 | +2 | 2.7 | +1.8 | 163,725 |
| Ecolo | 2 | 2.5 | 153,008 | ||
| Francophone Democratic Front | 6 | −5 | 2.5 | −1.7 | 150,616 |
| Communist Party of Belgium | 2 | −2 | 2.3 | −1.0 | 138,992 |
| Groen | 2 | 2.3 | 138,526 |
The other parties and groups
| Party | Seats | ± seats | % | ± points | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walloon Rally | 2 | −2 | 1.7 | −1.2 | 103,087 |
| Flemish Block / Flemish Interest | 1 | 0 | 1.1 | −0.3 | 66,422 |
| Workers' Party of Belgium | 0 | 0 | 0.7 | −0.1 | 40,446 |
± is the change against the Belgium 1978 federal election, party by party.
Votes by party
- Flemish Christian Peoples Party / Christian Democrats & Flemish 1,165,155
- Party of Liberty and Progress / Flemish Liberals and Democrats 776,882
- Socialist Party 765,055
- Socialist Party 744,586
- People's Union 588,430
- Liberal Reformist Party 516,291
- Humanist Democratic Centre 430,712
- Respect for Labour 163,725
- Ecolo 153,008
- Francophone Democratic Front 150,616
- Communist Party of Belgium 138,992
- Groen 138,526
- Walloon Rally 103,087
- Flemish Block / Flemish Interest 66,422
- Workers' Party of Belgium 40,446
ParlGov lists parties with at least 1 percent of the vote or 2 seats, so the rows do not add up to the valid votes.
How many people voted?
94.5% of the 6,877,466 registered voters cast a ballot (6,502,070 ballots), down 0.4 points on 1978. 6,025,027 of them were valid votes. The lowest turnout since 1974 in our data.
How do the votes compare with the seats?
- Flemish Christian Peoples Party / Christian Democrats & Flemish19.3% of votes20.3% of seats
- Socialist Party12.7% of votes16.5% of seats
- Party of Liberty and Progress / Flemish Liberals and Democrats12.9% of votes13.2% of seats
- Socialist Party12.4% of votes12.3% of seats
- Liberal Reformist Party8.6% of votes11.3% of seats
- People's Union9.8% of votes9.4% of seats
- Humanist Democratic Centre7.1% of votes8.5% of seats
- Francophone Democratic Front2.5% of votes2.8% of seats
- Respect for Labour2.7% of votes1.4% of seats
- Ecolo2.5% of votes0.9% of seats
- Communist Party of Belgium2.3% of votes0.9% of seats
- Groen2.3% of votes0.9% of seats
The Gallagher index of disproportionality is 4.1 (0 when seats follow votes exactly); the effective number of parties is 9.0 by votes and 7.6 by seats; Flemish Christian Peoples Party / Christian Democrats & Flemish led Party of Liberty and Progress / Flemish Liberals and Democrats by 6.4 points of the vote.
Time and source Data as of