North Rhine-Westphalia state election 2027: polls, forecast and date
Average of each pollster's latest poll from the past 120 days, as of 23 September 2026 (today). Next election: 25 April 2027; see also the North Rhine-Westphalia state election 2027 forecast.
- CDU30.5%-5.2
- AfD19.5%+14.1
- Grüne16.5%-1.7
- SPD15.5%-11.2
- Linke7.0%+4.9
- FDP4.0%-1.9
- Others7.0%+1.0
Dashed line: electoral threshold of 5%. Lighter area: statistical margin of error of a single poll. Change compared with the election result of 15 May 2022.
Averaging the 2 latest polls for the North Rhine-Westphalia state election, CDU leads with 30.5%, followed by AfD on 19.5%.
- Lead at the topCDU 11.0 points ahead of AfD
- Around the 5% thresholdFDP 4.0%
- Movement over 120 daysCDU −3.2 · AfD +2.2 · SPD −1.8
- Two-party majoritiesCDU + AfD · CDU + Grüne · CDU + SPD
- Current governmentCDU + Grüne: 96 of 181 seats, majority
- Basis2 pollsters, latest poll 23 September 2026
These polls feed into the average
Each pollster's latest poll from the past 120 days, averaged without weighting. Older polls by the same pollster are replaced.
| Pollster | Published | CDU | AfD | Grüne | SPD | Linke | FDP | Others |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forsa | 23 Sep 2026 | 29 | 22 | 18 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 6 |
| Infratest dimap | 28 Jun 2026 | 32 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 8 |
House effects: which pollster rates whom higher?
Since 23 September 2024, Forsa has measured AfD on average 2.9 points above the average of the other pollsters, Forsa has measured SPD on average 2.5 points below the average of the other pollsters, Forsa has measured CDU on average 1.9 points below the average of the other pollsters.
Adjusted for these house effects, CDU would stand at 32.1% instead of 30.5%, AfD would stand at 18.3% instead of 19.5%, SPD would stand at 16.4% instead of 15.5%. The current average is therefore shaped by which pollsters published most recently.
| Pollster | Polls | CDU | AfD | Grüne | SPD | Linke | FDP | Ø abs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forsa | 4 | -1.9 | +2.9 | +1.4 | -2.5 | ±0 | -0.7 | 1.6 |
| Infratest dimap | 4 | -1.3 | -0.5 | +0.3 | +0.7 | +0.8 | +0.2 | 0.6 |
| INSA | 3 | -1.8 | +0.5 | -1.0 | +1.7 | +1.3 | +1.2 | 1.3 |
| Raw average | 30.5% | 19.5% | 16.5% | 15.5% | 7.0% | 4.0% | ||
| Adjusted for house effects | 32.1%(+1.6) | 18.3%(-1.2) | 15.7%(-0.8) | 16.4%(+0.9) | 6.6%(-0.4) | 4.3%(+0.3) |
Positive: the pollster measures the party higher than the other pollsters' rolling 120-day average on the same day. Only pollsters with at least 3 polls since 23 September 2024.
Seat distribution in the Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia
Under Sainte-Laguë, the 181 seats would split into 62 for CDU, 40 for AfD, 34 for Grüne, 31 for SPD, 14 for Linke. FDP would fall short of the threshold. Regular size 181 seats, excluding overhang and compensatory seats. Electoral threshold 5 per cent.
Which coalitions would have a majority?
All two- and three-party alliances with a projected majority. Alliances that merely extend a smaller majority coalition are hidden. The arithmetic says nothing about whether a coalition is politically feasible.
- CDU + AfD102 of 181
- CDU + GrüneGovernment96 of 181
- CDU + SPD93 of 181
- AfD + Grüne + SPD105 of 181
How secure are the majorities?
Polls have errors, so we recalculate the seat distribution 3,000 times with randomly varied values. The spread for each party follows from the sampling error of the average and from how far the final polls before earlier elections actually missed. The result: the probability that an alliance would have a majority, that a party clears the threshold and who becomes the largest party. This is not an election forecast but an assessment of the current polling picture.
Majority in parliament
- CDU + GrüneGovernment79%
- CDU + AfD96%
- CDU + SPD67%
- AfD + Grüne + SPD99%
- AfD + Grüneunder 1%
- AfD + SPDunder 1%
- Grüne + SPDunder 1%
Clearing the electoral threshold
- FDP (±1.1)18%
- Linke (±1.8)86%
3,000 simulations. Spread per party from the sampling error of the average and the historical deviation of polls from election results. Method.
Polling trend since 13 October 2024
Accuracy ahead of the election on 15 May 2022
Before the North Rhine-Westphalia state election on 15 May 2022, Institut Wahlkreisprognose came closest to the result with an average error of 1.4 points per party, YouGov was furthest away with 2.8 points. All pollsters underestimated CDU (by 4.0 points on average) and underestimated Grüne (by 2.0 points on average). Official result according to the returning officer. All elections since 2017 in the pollster comparison.
| Pollster | Poll dated | CDU | SPD | Grüne | FDP | AfD | Linke | Ø abs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result 15 May 2022 | 35.7% | 26.7% | 18.2% | 5.9% | 5.4% | 2.1% | ||
| Institut Wahlkreisprognose | 13 May 2022 (2 days before) | -2.7 | +1.8 | -1.7 | +0.1 | +1.1 | +0.9 | 1.4 |
| Forsa | 4 May 2022 (11 days before) | -3.7 | +1.3 | -1.2 | +1.1 | +0.6 | +0.9 | 1.5 |
| Forschungsgruppe Wahlen | 12 May 2022 (3 days before) | -3.7 | +2.3 | -1.2 | +0.1 | +1.6 | +0.9 | 1.6 |
| Civey | 12 May 2022 (3 days before) | -3.7 | +2.3 | -2.2 | +1.1 | +1.6 | +0.9 | 2.0 |
| INSA | 12 May 2022 (3 days before) | -3.7 | +1.3 | -2.2 | +2.1 | +1.6 | +0.9 | 2.0 |
| Infratest dimap | 5 May 2022 (10 days before) | -5.7 | +1.3 | -2.2 | +2.1 | +2.6 | +0.9 | 2.5 |
| YouGov | 13 May 2022 (2 days before) | -4.7 | +1.3 | -3.2 | +4.1 | +1.6 | +1.9 | 2.8 |
Positive: the poll was above the result. Each pollster's last poll within 30 days before the election.
All polls for the North Rhine-Westphalia state election
98 polls since 10 February 2017. Pollsters: Forsa, Infratest dimap, INSA, Institut Wahlkreisprognose, YouGov, Civey, Forschungsgruppe Wahlen, Mentefactum.
| Pollster | Published | CDU | AfD | Grüne | SPD | Linke | FDP | Others |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forsa | 23 Sep 2026 | 29 | 22 | 18 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 6 |
| Infratest dimap | 28 Jun 2026 | 32 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 8 |
| INSA | 8 May 2026 | 34 | 17 | 15 | 18 | 9 | 4 | 3 |
| Forsa | 22 Apr 2026 | 32 | 20 | 17 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 8 |
| Infratest dimap | 1 Feb 2026 | 35 | 15 | 13 | 20 | 6 | 4 | 7 |
| INSA | 23 Nov 2025 | 36 | 16 | 12 | 19 | 7 | 5 | 5 |
| INSA | 22 Aug 2025 | 35 | 16 | 13 | 18 | 8 | 4 | 3 |
| Forsa | 9 Jul 2025 | 38 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| Infratest dimap | 29 Jun 2025 | 39 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 3 |
| Forsa | 12 Dec 2024 | 41 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
| Infratest dimap | 13 Oct 2024 | 40 | 13 | 14 | 18 | – | 3 | 8 |
| Forsa | 5 Aug 2024 | 40 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 8 |
| Infratest dimap | 28 Apr 2024 | 38 | 11 | 17 | 19 | – | 5 | 7 |
| Forsa | 27 Mar 2024 | 37 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 2 | 4 | 8 |
| Infratest dimap | 5 Nov 2023 | 35 | 14 | 18 | 18 | – | 5 | 10 |
| Institut Wahlkreisprognose | 3 Sep 2023 | 33.5 | 18 | 16.5 | 19.5 | 2 | 4.5 | 6 |
| Infratest dimap | 18 Jun 2023 | 32 | 15 | 16 | 22 | 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Forsa | 16 Jun 2023 | 37 | 13 | 14 | 21 | 3 | 5 | 7 |
| INSA | 3 May 2023 | 36 | 9 | 17 | 22 | 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Forsa | 30 Mar 2023 | 38 | 8 | 17 | 20 | 4 | 5 | 8 |
| Forsa | 3 Feb 2023 | 36 | 8 | 18 | 22 | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| Institut Wahlkreisprognose | 12 Nov 2022 | 31 | 12.5 | 19 | 24.5 | 1.5 | 5.5 | 6 |
| Infratest dimap | 23 Oct 2022 | 32 | 9 | 22 | 23 | – | 5 | 9 |
| Forsa | 30 Sep 2022 | 36 | 9 | 20 | 21 | 3 | 5 | 6 |
| INSA | 25 Aug 2022 | 36 | 5 | 21 | 22 | 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Institut Wahlkreisprognose | 1 Jul 2022 | 37 | 6 | 15.5 | 27.5 | 2 | 6 | 6 |
| YouGov | 13 May 2022 | 31 | 7 | 15 | 28 | 4 | 10 | 5 |
| Institut Wahlkreisprognose | 13 May 2022 | 33 | 6.5 | 16.5 | 28.5 | 3 | 6 | 6.5 |
| Civey | 12 May 2022 | 32 | 7 | 16 | 29 | 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Forschungsgruppe Wahlen | 12 May 2022 | 32 | 7 | 17 | 29 | 3 | 6 | 6 |
| INSA | 12 May 2022 | 32 | 7 | 16 | 28 | 3 | 8 | 6 |
| INSA | 10 May 2022 | 31 | 7 | 16 | 29 | 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Institut Wahlkreisprognose | 6 May 2022 | 30 | 7 | 16.5 | 29.5 | 2.5 | 9 | 5.5 |
| Forschungsgruppe Wahlen | 6 May 2022 | 30 | 7 | 18 | 28 | 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Infratest dimap | 5 May 2022 | 30 | 8 | 16 | 28 | 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Forsa | 4 May 2022 | 32 | 6 | 17 | 28 | 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Institut Wahlkreisprognose | 2 May 2022 | 30.5 | 6 | 16.5 | 31 | 2.5 | 9 | 4.5 |
| Infratest dimap | 24 Apr 2022 | 31 | 7 | 16 | 30 | 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Civey | 22 Apr 2022 | 29 | 7 | 17 | 30 | 2 | 9 | 6 |
| Institut Wahlkreisprognose | 22 Apr 2022 | 31 | 7.5 | 15 | 31.5 | 2.5 | 6.5 | 6 |
The 40 latest of 98 polls. Every poll has its own page; see all polls in the chronicle.
The North Rhine-Westphalia state election at a glance
At the last North Rhine-Westphalia state election on 15 May 2022, CDU became the largest party with 35.7%, defending first place from 2017. The biggest move compared with 2017: Grüne gained 11.8 points.
North Rhine-Westphalia is governed by CDU and Grüne. On the current polling average this alliance would win 96 of 181 seats and would keep its majority.
98 polls for the North Rhine-Westphalia state election have been published since 10 February 2017, 5 of them this year. Most come from Infratest dimap (28), Forsa (21), INSA (17). Recently a new poll has appeared every 73 days on average.
The next North Rhine-Westphalia state election is scheduled for 25 April 2027. The term is 5 years, and anyone aged 18 or over is eligible to vote.
- With 128 constituencies, the largest share of seats here goes to constituency winners; overhang and compensatory seats are the rule, and in 2022 the Landtag had 195 members.
Results: 15 May 2022 · 14 May 2017. Pollster accuracy.
- Parliament
- Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia
- Seats
- 181 (regular size)
- Constituencies
- 128
- Threshold
- 5 per cent
- Seat allocation
- Sainte-Laguë/Schepers
- Votes
- two votes: first vote for the constituency, second vote for the state list
- Term
- 5 years
- Voting age
- 18 years
- Last election
- 15 May 2022
- Next election
- 25 April 2027
- Government
- CDU, Grüne
- State capital
- Düsseldorf
North Rhine-Westphalia: largest party by district
Second votes at the 2025 federal election in the districts and independent cities. Tap to open the district result with all municipalities. State election results by municipality will follow once the state returning officer provides them in machine-readable form.
All districts and municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia · Map of Germany
Districts, cities and constituencies in North Rhine-Westphalia
Every district with all its municipalities, the largest cities with their 2025 federal election result, and the constituencies with their directly elected seat.
Districts and independent cities
The largest cities
- KölnCDU 22.2%
- DüsseldorfCDU 28.0%
- DortmundSPD 23.7%
- EssenCDU 26.5%
- DuisburgSPD 25.5%
- BochumSPD 24.5%
- MünsterGrüne 26.6%
- BonnCDU 26.2%
- BielefeldCDU 23.2%
- WuppertalCDU 24.5%
- AachenGrüne 24.3%
- MönchengladbachCDU 30.6%
- GelsenkirchenAfD 24.7%
- KrefeldCDU 28.8%
- OberhausenSPD 24.6%
- Mülheim an der RuhrCDU 28.9%
Constituencies at the 2025 federal election
All constituencies in North Rhine-Westphalia as a list · All districts and municipalities
Pollsters
Which pollsters survey the North Rhine-Westphalia state election and when they last did.
- Forsa15 Mar 2017
- Infratest dimap19 Feb 2017
- INSA5 Mar 2017
- Institut Wahlkreisprognose31 Oct 2021
- YouGov25 Apr 2017
- Civey5 Mar 2017
- Forschungsgruppe Wahlen10 Feb 2017
- Mentefactum25 Nov 2018