An occupant recognition system for vehicles comprises at least one pressure sensor arranged beneath the foam of a vehicle seat, at least one temperature sensor and an electronic control and/or evaluation unit to which the sensors are connected. Means are provided to match the time behavior, in particular the time behavior present on changes in the ambient temperature, of the output signal of the temperature sensor arranged at a distance from the pressure sensor or from the seat foam to the time behavior of the temperature prevailing in the region of the pressure sensor or of the seat foam.