Germany 1949 federal election
What was the result of the 1949 federal election in Germany?
CDU/CSU won 139 of 402 seats with 31.0% of the vote. 78.5% of registered voters cast a ballot.
Germany- Held:
- Final result
- ParlGov, read 5 October 2026
Which party won the most seats?
Final results from ParlGov, read : CDU/CSU won 139 of 402 seats with 31.0% of the vote; 78.5% of registered voters cast a ballot.
- Social Democratic Party of Germany 131 29.2%
- Christian Democratic Union of Germany 115 25.2%
- Free Democratic Party 52 11.9%
- Christian Social Union in Bavaria 24 5.8%
- Communist Party of Germany 15 5.7%
- Bavaria Party 17 4.2%
- German Party 17 4.0%
- Centre Party 10 3.1%
- Economic Reconstruction Union 12 2.9%
- Deutsche Reichspartei 5 1.8%
- South Schleswig Voter League 1 0.3%
- Seats won
- Share of the vote
- Christian Democratic Union of Germany115
- Christian Social Union in Bavaria24
- Social Democratic Party of Germany131
- Free Democratic Party52
- Bavaria Party17
- German Party17
- Communist Party of Germany15
- Economic Reconstruction Union12
- Centre Party10
- Deutsche Reichspartei5
- Independents3
- South Schleswig Voter League1
Key numbers
31.0%
Combined share of the vote of CDU/CSU
CDU/CSU won 139 of 402 seats. A majority needs 202.
78.5%
Voter turnout
Seats and votes by party
| Party | Seats | % | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Democratic Party of Germany | 131 | 29.2 | 6,934,975 |
| Christian Democratic Union of Germany | 115 | 25.2 | 5,978,636 |
| Free Democratic Party | 52 | 11.9 | 2,829,920 |
| Christian Social Union in Bavaria | 24 | 5.8 | 1,380,448 |
| Communist Party of Germany | 15 | 5.7 | 1,361,706 |
| Independents | 3 | 4.8 | 1,141,647 |
| Bavaria Party | 17 | 4.2 | 986,478 |
| German Party | 17 | 4.0 | 939,934 |
| Centre Party | 10 | 3.1 | 727,505 |
| Economic Reconstruction Union | 12 | 2.9 | 681,888 |
| Deutsche Reichspartei | 5 | 1.8 | 429,031 |
| Largest party without seats | 0 | 0.9 | 216,749 |
| South Schleswig Voter League | 1 | 0.3 | 75,388 |
Votes by party
- Social Democratic Party of Germany 6,934,975
- Christian Democratic Union of Germany 5,978,636
- Free Democratic Party 2,829,920
- Christian Social Union in Bavaria 1,380,448
- Communist Party of Germany 1,361,706
- Independents 1,141,647
- Bavaria Party 986,478
- German Party 939,934
- Centre Party 727,505
- Economic Reconstruction Union 681,888
- Deutsche Reichspartei 429,031
- Largest party without seats 216,749
- South Schleswig Voter League 75,388
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?
78.5% of the 31,207,620 registered voters cast a ballot (24,495,614 ballots). 23,732,398 of them were valid votes.
How do the votes compare with the seats?
- CDU/CSU31.0% of votes34.6% of seats
- Social Democratic Party of Germany29.2% of votes32.6% of seats
- Free Democratic Party11.9% of votes12.9% of seats
- Bavaria Party4.2% of votes4.2% of seats
- German Party4.0% of votes4.2% of seats
- Communist Party of Germany5.7% of votes3.7% of seats
- Economic Reconstruction Union2.9% of votes3.0% of seats
- Centre Party3.1% of votes2.5% of seats
- Deutsche Reichspartei1.8% of votes1.2% of seats
- South Schleswig Voter League0.3% of votes0.2% of seats
The Gallagher index of disproportionality is 4.9 (0 when seats follow votes exactly); the effective number of parties is 4.8 by votes and 4.0 by seats; CDU/CSU led Social Democratic Party of Germany by 1.8 points of the vote.
Time and source Data as of