1981 Danish general election

General elections were held in Denmark on 8 December 1981. The Social Democratic Party remained the largest in the Folketing, with 59 of the 179 seats. Voter turnout was 83% in Denmark proper, 55% in the Faroe Islands and 61% in Greenland.

1981 Danish general election

8 December 1981
All 179 seats in the Folketing 90 seats needed for a majority
Turnout	83.26%
Party Leader Vote % Seats +/– Social Democrats Anker Jørgensen 32.87 59 −9 Conservatives Poul Schlüter 14.45 26 +4 SF Gert Petersen 11.31 21 +10 Venstre Henning Christophersen 11.31 20 −2 Progress Mogens Glistrup 8.91 16 −4 Centre Democrats Erhard Jakobsen 8.28 15 +9 Social Liberals Niels Helveg Petersen 5.12 9 −1 Left Socialists Collective leadership 2.65 5 −1 KrF Christian Christensen 2.31 4 −1 Elected in the Faroe Islands Union Pauli Ellefsen 26.44 1 0 Social Democratic Atli Dam 24.49 1 0 Elected in Greenland Atassut Lars Chemnitz 48.86 1 0 Siumut Jonathan Motzfeldt 37.75 1 0 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below. Prime Minister before Prime Minister-elect Anker Jørgensen Social Democrats Anker Jørgensen Social Democrats

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
Denmark proper
	Social Democrats	1,026,726	32.87	59	–9
	Conservative People's Party	451,478	14.45	26	+4
	Socialist People's Party	353,373	11.31	21	+10
	Venstre	353,280	11.31	20	–2
	Progress Party	278,383	8.91	16	–4
	Centre Democrats	258,522	8.28	15	+9
	Danish Social Liberal Party	160,053	5.12	9	–1
	Left Socialists	82,711	2.65	5	–1
	Christian People's Party	72,174	2.31	4	–1
	Justice Party of Denmark	45,174	1.45	0	–5
	Communist Party of Denmark	34,625	1.11	0	0
	Communist Workers Party	4,223	0.14	0	0
	Socialist Workers Party	2,034	0.07	0	New
	Independents	807	0.03	0	0
Total		3,123,563	100.00	175	0
Valid votes		3,123,563	99.37
Invalid/blank votes		19,881	0.63
Total votes		3,143,444	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		3,775,333	83.26
Faroe Islands
	Union Party	4,393	26.44	1	0
	Social Democratic Party	4,070	24.49	1	0
	Republican Party	3,441	20.71	0	0
	People's Party	3,073	18.49	0	0
	Self-Government	867	5.22	0	0
	Progress and Fisheries Party	773	4.65	0	0
Total		16,617	100.00	2	0
Valid votes		16,617	99.53
Invalid/blank votes		79	0.47
Total votes		16,696	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		30,127	55.42
Greenland
	Atassut	9,223	48.86	1	0
	Siumut	7,126	37.75	1	0
	Independents	2,529	13.40	0	New
Total		18,878	100.00	2	0
Valid votes		18,878	95.33
Invalid/blank votes		925	4.67
Total votes		19,803	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		32,466	61.00
Source: Nohlen & Stöver