Germany 1957 federal election
What was the result of the 1957 federal election in Germany?
CDU/CSU won 270 of 497 seats with 50.2% of the vote. 87.8% 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 270 of 497 seats with 50.2% of the vote; 87.8% of registered voters cast a ballot, up 1.8 points on 1953.
- Christian Democratic Union of Germany 217 +26 seats 39.7% +3.3 points
- Social Democratic Party of Germany 169 +18 seats 31.8% +3.0 points
- Christian Social Union in Bavaria 53 +1 seat 10.5% +1.7 points
- Free Democratic Party 41 −7 seats 7.7% −1.8 points
- All-German Bloc/League of Expellees and Deprived of Rights 0 −27 seats 4.6% −1.3 points
- German Party 17 +2 seats 3.4% +0.1 points
- Deutsche Reichspartei 0 0 seats 1.0% −0.1 points
- 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 Germany 1953 federal election, party by party.
- Christian Democratic Union of Germany217
- Christian Social Union in Bavaria53
- Social Democratic Party of Germany169
- Free Democratic Party41
- German Party17
Key numbers
50.2%
Combined share of the vote of CDU/CSU
CDU/CSU won 270 of 497 seats. A majority needs 249.
+27 seats
Seats gained by CDU/CSU
The largest gain in seats compared with 1953. All-German Bloc/League of Expellees and Deprived of Rights lost 27 seats.
87.8%
Voter turnout
Up 1.8 points on 1953.
Seats and votes by party
| Party | Seats | ± seats | % | ± points | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Democratic Union of Germany | 217 | +26 | 39.7 | +3.3 | 11,875,339 |
| Social Democratic Party of Germany | 169 | +18 | 31.8 | +3.0 | 9,495,571 |
| Christian Social Union in Bavaria | 53 | +1 | 10.5 | +1.7 | 3,133,060 |
| Free Democratic Party | 41 | −7 | 7.7 | −1.8 | 2,307,135 |
| All-German Bloc/League of Expellees and Deprived of Rights | 0 | −27 | 4.6 | −1.3 | 1,374,066 |
| German Party | 17 | +2 | 3.4 | +0.1 | 1,007,282 |
| Deutsche Reichspartei | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | −0.1 | 308,564 |
± is the change against the Germany 1953 federal election, party by party.
Votes by party
- Christian Democratic Union of Germany 11,875,339
- Social Democratic Party of Germany 9,495,571
- Christian Social Union in Bavaria 3,133,060
- Free Democratic Party 2,307,135
- All-German Bloc/League of Expellees and Deprived of Rights 1,374,066
- German Party 1,007,282
- Deutsche Reichspartei 308,564
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?
87.8% of the 35,400,923 registered voters cast a ballot (31,072,894 ballots), up 1.8 points on 1953. 29,905,428 of them were valid votes.
How do the votes compare with the seats?
- CDU/CSU50.2% of votes54.3% of seats
- Social Democratic Party of Germany31.8% of votes34.0% of seats
- Free Democratic Party7.7% of votes8.2% of seats
- German Party3.4% of votes3.4% of seats
- All-German Bloc/League of Expellees and Deprived of Rights4.6% of votes0.0% of seats
The Gallagher index of disproportionality is 4.7 (0 when seats follow votes exactly); the effective number of parties is 2.8 by votes and 2.4 by seats; CDU/CSU led Social Democratic Party of Germany by 18.4 points of the vote.
Time and source Data as of