In the up/down counter according to the subject matter of the invention, each decade consists of 4 counting-type dual flip flops (11 to 14) and an additional dual flip flop which only switches to its other position with the fifth and tenth decade up-counting pulses and with the first and sixth decade down-counting pulses. This up/down counter thus supplies the count in 54321 code. During the forward counting, the dual flip flops 11 to 14 successively switch from right to left into their left-hand position and with the fifth up counting pulse jointly into their right-hand position. During the down counting, the dual flip flops 11 to 14 jointly switch to their left-hand position with the first down counting pulse and then successively from left to right into their right-hand position. The drive to the dual flip flops is controlled by circuits 6 and 7. <IMAGE>
