Former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has won Austria's snap election and is set to return to office, according to early projections.

His center-right People's Party looks to have about 37 percent of the vote up six percent on the last election.

However he will still need to form a coalition.

Who is Sebastian Kurz? Watch Natalie Carney's guide:

His previous coalition partners- the far-right Freedom Party - saw its share of the vote slump from 26 percent to around 16 percent.

It also looks to have been a bad day for the centre-left Social Democrats who will have their worst-ever showing if the projected 22 percent of votes is confirmed.

The Greens had a much better day, to win at least 13 percent of the vote, which would be their highest-ever share of votes. 

A guide to the Austrian election

An early election was called in May after the far-right Freedom Party pulled out of the ruling coalition following video revelations its leader Heinz-Christian Strache had offered state contracts to a supposed Russian agent in exchange for help winning elections. 

The remaining government, led by Kurz, then succumbed to a no-confidence vote – a historic first for Austria – after barely 17 months in office.

Since then, a government of experts led by Austria's first ever female chancellor, Brigitte Bierlein, has been conducting day-to-day business.

Sunday's election was the country's second in less than two years.