A vacuum pump (1) comprising a pump chamber casing (5) accommodating two co-operating rotors (2, 3) which are respectively arranged on a shaft (8, 9). A bearing/gear chamber (6) is disposed adjacent to the pump chamber casing (5) in which the rotor shafts (8, 9) are cantilevered and provided with a synchronisation gear (17). A drive motor (25) whose drive shaft (28) extending parallel to the rotor shafts (8, 9) and is provided with a drive gear (35). A gear stage (37) is disposed between the drive shaft (28) and one of the rotor shafts (8, 9). In order to provide a machine of this type which can be embodied in a compact form, the drive gear (35) of the drive shaft (28) engages directly with a driven gear (36) on one of the rotor shafts (8, 9), forming the gear stage (37).