Netherlands 1972 general election
What was the result of the 1972 general election in the Netherlands?
Labour Party won 43 of 150 seats with 27.3% of the vote. 83.5% of registered voters cast a ballot.
Netherlands- Held:
- Final result
- ParlGov, read 5 October 2026
Which party won the most seats?
Final results from ParlGov, read : Labour Party won 43 of 150 seats with 27.3% of the vote; 83.5% of registered voters cast a ballot, up 4.4 points on 1971.
- Labour Party 43 +4 seats 27.3% +2.7 points
- Catholic People's Party 27 −8 seats 17.6% −4.2 points
- People's Party for Freedom and Democracy 22 +6 seats 14.4% +4.1 points
- Anti-Revolutionary Party 14 +1 seat 8.8% +0.3 points
- Political Party of Radicals 7 +5 seats 4.8% +3.0 points
- Christian Historical Union 7 −3 seats 4.8% −1.5 points
- Communist Party of the Netherlands 7 +1 seat 4.5% +0.6 points
- Democrats 66 6 −5 seats 4.2% −2.6 points
- Democratic Socialists '70 6 −2 seats 4.1% −1.2 points
- Reformed Political Party 3 0 seats 2.2% −0.1 points
- Farmers' Party 3 +2 seats 1.9% +0.8 points
- Reformed Political League 2 0 seats 1.8% +0.2 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 Netherlands 1971 general election, party by party.
- Labour Party43
- Catholic People's Party27
- People's Party for Freedom and Democracy22
- Anti-Revolutionary Party14
- Christian Historical Union7
- Communist Party of the Netherlands7
- Political Party of Radicals7
- Democratic Socialists '706
- Democrats 666
- Farmers' Party3
- Reformed Political Party3
- Pacifist Socialist Party2
- Reformed Political League2
- Unnamed party with one seat1
Key numbers
27.3%
Share of the vote won by Labour Party
Labour Party won 43 of 150 seats. A majority needs 76.
+6 seats
Seats gained by People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
The largest gain in seats compared with 1971. Catholic People's Party lost 8 seats.
83.5%
Voter turnout
Up 4.4 points on 1971.
Seats and votes by party
| Party | Seats | ± seats | % | ± points | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour Party | 43 | +4 | 27.3 | +2.7 | 2,021,454 |
| Catholic People's Party | 27 | −8 | 17.6 | −4.2 | 1,305,401 |
| People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | 22 | +6 | 14.4 | +4.1 | 1,068,375 |
| Anti-Revolutionary Party | 14 | +1 | 8.8 | +0.3 | 653,609 |
| Political Party of Radicals | 7 | +5 | 4.8 | +3.0 | 354,829 |
| Christian Historical Union | 7 | −3 | 4.8 | −1.5 | 354,463 |
| Communist Party of the Netherlands | 7 | +1 | 4.5 | +0.6 | 330,398 |
| Democrats 66 | 6 | −5 | 4.2 | −2.6 | 307,048 |
| Democratic Socialists '70 | 6 | −2 | 4.1 | −1.2 | 304,714 |
| Reformed Political Party | 3 | 0 | 2.2 | −0.1 | 163,114 |
| Farmers' Party | 3 | +2 | 1.9 | +0.8 | 143,239 |
| Reformed Political League | 2 | 0 | 1.8 | +0.2 | 131,236 |
The other parties and groups
| Party | Seats | ± seats | % | ± points | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacifist Socialist Party | 2 | 0 | 1.5 | +0.1 | 111,262 |
| Unnamed party with one seat | 1 | 0.9 | 67,658 | ||
| Middle Party | 0 | −2 | 0.6 | −0.9 | 41,262 |
± is the change against the Netherlands 1971 general election, party by party.
Votes by party
- Labour Party 2,021,454
- Catholic People's Party 1,305,401
- People's Party for Freedom and Democracy 1,068,375
- Anti-Revolutionary Party 653,609
- Political Party of Radicals 354,829
- Christian Historical Union 354,463
- Communist Party of the Netherlands 330,398
- Democrats 66 307,048
- Democratic Socialists '70 304,714
- Reformed Political Party 163,114
- Farmers' Party 143,239
- Reformed Political League 131,236
- Pacifist Socialist Party 111,262
- Unnamed party with one seat 67,658
- Middle Party 41,262
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?
83.5% of the 8,916,947 registered voters cast a ballot (7,445,287 ballots), up 4.4 points on 1971. 7,394,045 of them were valid votes.
How do the votes compare with the seats?
- Labour Party27.3% of votes28.7% of seats
- Catholic People's Party17.6% of votes18.0% of seats
- People's Party for Freedom and Democracy14.4% of votes14.7% of seats
- Anti-Revolutionary Party8.8% of votes9.3% of seats
- Political Party of Radicals4.8% of votes4.7% of seats
- Christian Historical Union4.8% of votes4.7% of seats
- Communist Party of the Netherlands4.5% of votes4.7% of seats
- Democrats 664.2% of votes4.0% of seats
- Democratic Socialists '704.1% of votes4.0% of seats
- Reformed Political Party2.2% of votes2.0% of seats
- Farmers' Party1.9% of votes2.0% of seats
- Reformed Political League1.8% of votes1.3% of seats
The Gallagher index of disproportionality is 1.2 (0 when seats follow votes exactly); the effective number of parties is 6.8 by votes and 6.4 by seats; Labour Party led Catholic People's Party by 9.7 points of the vote.
Time and source Data as of