| Country: | Austria |
| Flag Year: | state |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Previous Election: | 1970 Austrian legislative election |
| Previous Year: | 1970 |
| Next Election: | 1975 Austrian legislative election |
| Next Year: | 1975 |
| Seats For Election: | All 183 seats in the National Council of Austria |
| Majority Seats: | 92 |
| Election Date: | 10 October 1971 |
| Image1: | Kreisky-Koechler-Vienna-1980 Crop.jpg |
| Leader1: | Bruno Kreisky |
| Party1: | Social Democratic Party of Austria |
| Last Election1: | 48.42%, 81 seats |
| Seats1: | 93 |
| Seat Change1: | 12 |
| Popular Vote1: | 2,280,168 |
| Percentage1: | 50.04% |
| Swing1: | 1.62pp |
| Party2: | Austrian People's Party |
| Last Election2: | 44.69%, 78 seats |
| Seats2: | 80 |
| Seat Change2: | 2 |
| Popular Vote2: | 1,964,713 |
| Percentage2: | 43.11% |
| Swing2: | 1.58pp |
| Image3: | 3x4.svg |
| Leader3: | Friedrich Peter |
| Party3: | Freedom Party of Austria |
| Last Election3: | 5.52%, 6 seats |
| Seats3: | 10 |
| Seat Change3: | 4 |
| Popular Vote3: | 286,473 |
| Percentage3: | 6.29% |
| Swing3: | 0.77pp |
| Chancellor | |
| Before Election: | Bruno Kreisky |
| Before Party: | Social Democratic Party of Austria |
| After Election: | Bruno Kreisky |
| After Party: | Social Democratic Party of Austria |
Early parliamentary elections were held in Austria on 10 October 1971,[1] following electoral reforms intended to benefit smaller parties. The number of seats in the National Council was increased from 165 to 183, and the proportionality of the seat distribution was increased as well.[2]
The Socialist Party, which had governed as a minority government since 1970, won 93 of the 183 seats, a majority of two. Voter turnout was 92.4%.[3] It was the first time that the Socialists had won an absolute majority at an election. They also won just over half of the vote, something no Austrian party had previously achieved in a free election. Socialist leader Bruno Kreisky remained Chancellor.