List of prime ministers of Denmark

The Prime Minister of Denmark is the head of government of the Kingdom of Denmark and leader of the Cabinet; since 1918 they have held the title of "Minister of State" (Danish: statsminister). The Prime Minister is formally appointed by the Monarch, who is head of state.

The highest ranking non-monarchial offices prior to 1848 are regarded as predecessors of the modern office of Prime Minister. There have been several titles used; "King's Chancellor", "Chancellor of the Realm", "Grand Chancellor", "Privy Councillor", "Prime Minister", "Council President" and Minister of State, once again. Each Prime Minister since 1848 has been the leader of one or more cabinets (for a complete list see Cabinet of Denmark).

Denmark's current Prime Minister is Mette Frederiksen representing the social democratic party Socialdemokratiet. Mette Frederiksen took office on 27 June 2019, taking over the position from Lars Løkke Rasmussen, representing the liberal party Venstre.

List of Grand Chancellors (1676–1730)

Key: † Died in office

No.		Grand Chancellor	Took office	Left office	Time in office	King
1		Frederik Ahlefeldt (1623–1686)	1676	7 July 1686 †	9–10 years	Christian V of Denmark
2		Conrad von Reventlow (1644–1708)	26 August 1699	21 July 1708 †	8 years, 330 days	Frederick IV of Denmark
3		Christian Christophersen Sehested (1666–1740)	21 July 1708	20 June 1721	12 years, 334 days	Frederick IV of Denmark
4		Ulrik Adolf Holstein (1664–1737)	20 June 1721	17 October 1730	9 years, 119 days	Frederick IV of Denmark

List of Privy Councillors (1730–1848)

Key: † Died in office

No.		Privy Councillor	Took office	Left office	Time in office	King
1		Iver Rosenkrantz (1674–1745)	17 October 1730	12 May 1735	4 years, 207 days	Christian VI of Denmark (1730 – 1746)
2		Johan Ludvig Holstein-Ledreborg (1694–1763) [lower-alpha 1]	12 May 1735	1751	15–16 years	Christian VI of Denmark (1730 – 1746) Frederick V of Denmark (1746 – 1766)
3		Count Johann Hartwig Ernst von Bernstorff (1712–1772)	1751	13 September 1770	18–19 years	Frederick V of Denmark (1746 – 1766) Christian VII of Denmark (1766 – 1808)
4		Johann Friedrich Struensee (1737–1772)	13 September 1770	17 January 1772	1 year, 126 days	Christian VII of Denmark (1766 – 1808)
5		Ove Høegh-Guldberg (1731–1808)	17 January 1772	14 April 1784	12 years, 88 days	Christian VII of Denmark (1766 – 1808)
6		Andreas Peter Bernstorff (1735–1797)	14 April 1784	21 June 1797 †	13 years, 68 days	Christian VII of Denmark (1766 – 1808)
7		Christian Günther von Bernstorff (1769–1835)	22 June 1797	1810	12–13 years	Christian VII of Denmark (1766 – 1808) Frederick VI of Denmark (1808 – 1839)
8		Frederik Moltke (1754–1836)	1810	1814	3–4 years	Frederick VI of Denmark (1808 – 1839)
9		Frederik Julius Kaas (1758–1827)	1814	1814	0 years	Frederick VI of Denmark (1808 – 1839)
10		Joachim Godske Moltke (1746–1818)	1814	24 August 1818	3–4 years	Frederick VI of Denmark (1808 – 1839)
11		Ernst Heinrich von Schimmelmann (1747–1831)	24 August 1818	1824	5–6 years	Frederick VI of Denmark (1808 – 1839)
12		Otto Joachim Moltke (1770–1853)	1824	1842	17–18 years	Frederick VI of Denmark (1808 – 1839) Christian VIII of Denmark (1839 – 1848)
13		Poul Christian von Stemann (1764–1855)	1842	22 March 1848	5–6 years	Christian VIII of Denmark (1839 – 1848)

List of prime ministers (1848–1855)

Prime ministers under Frederik VII (1848–1855)

Key: † Died in office

No.		Prime Minister	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	Election	Cabinet
1		Adam Wilhelm Moltke (1785–1864)	22 March 1848	27 January 1852	3 years, 311 days	Independent	— 1849	Moltke I–II–III–IV
2		Christian Albrecht Bluhme (1794–1866)	27 January 1852	21 April 1853	1 year, 84 days	Højre	1852 Feb. 1853	Bluhme I
3		Anders Sandøe Ørsted (1778–1860)	21 April 1853	12 December 1854	1 year, 235 days	Independent	May. 1853	Ørsted
4		Peter Georg Bang (1797–1861)	12 December 1854	12 October 1855	304 days	Independent	1854	Bang

List of Council Presidents (1855–1918)

Council Presidents under Frederik VII (1855–1863)

Key: † Died in office

No.	Portrait	Council President	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	Election	Cabinet
1		Peter Georg Bang (1797–1861)	12 October 1855	18 October 1856	1 year, 6 days	Independent	1855	Bang
2		Carl Christoffer Georg Andræ (1812–1893)	18 October 1856	13 May 1857	207 days	Independent	—	Andræ
3		Carl Christian Hall (1812–1888)	13 May 1857	2 December 1859	2 years, 203 days	National Liberal	1858	Hall I
4		Carl Edvard Rotwitt (1812–1860)	2 December 1859	8 February 1860 †	68 days	Bondevennerne	—	Rotwitt
—		Carl Frederik Blixen-Finecke (1822–1873) Acting	8 February 1860	24 February 1860	16 days	Independent	—	Rotwitt
(3)		Carl Christian Hall (1812–1888)	24 February 1860	31 December 1863	3 years, 310 days	National Liberal	1861	Hall II

Council Presidents under Christian IX (1863–1906)

Key: † Died in office

No.		Council President	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	Election	Coalition	Cabinet
5		Ditlev Gothard Monrad (1811–1887)	31 December 1863	11 July 1864	193 days	National Liberal	—	NL	Monrad
6		Christian Albrecht Bluhme (1794–1866)	11 July 1864	6 November 1865	1 year, 118 days	Nonpartisan	1864	H	Bluhme II
7		Christian Emil Frijs (1817–1896)	6 November 1865	28 May 1870	4 years, 203 days	National Landowners	Jun.1866 Oct.1866 1869	NG (1865 – 1866) NG–NL	Frijs
8		Ludvig Holstein-Holsteinborg (1815–1892)	28 May 1870	14 July 1874	4 years, 47 days	Centre	1872 1873	NG–NL	Holstein-Holsteinborg
9		Christen Andreas Fonnesbech (1817–1880)	14 July 1874	11 June 1875	332 days	National Landowners	—	NG–NL	Fonnesbech
10		Jacob Brønnum Scavenius Estrup (1825–1913)	11 June 1875	7 August 1894	19 years, 57 days	National Landowners Højre	1876 1879 May & Jul.1881 1884 1887 1890 1892	NG (1875 – 1881) H (1881 – 1894)	Estrup
11		Tage Reedtz-Thott (1839–1923)	7 August 1894	23 May 1897	2 years, 289 days	Højre	1895	H	Reedtz-Thott
12		Hugo Egmont Hørring (1842–1909)	23 May 1897	27 April 1900	2 years, 339 days	Højre	1898	H	Hørring
13		Hannibal Sehested (1842–1924)	27 April 1900	24 July 1901	1 year, 88 days	Højre	—	H	Sehested
14		Johan Henrik Deuntzer (1845–1918)	24 July 1901	14 January 1905	3 years, 174 days	Venstre Reform	1901 1903	V	Deuntzer
15		Jens Christian Christensen (1856–1930)	14 January 1905	24 July 1908	3 years, 192 days	Venstre Reform	1906	V	Christensen

Council Presidents under Frederik VIII (1906–1912)

No.		Council President	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	Election	Cabinet
16		Niels Neergaard (1854–1936)	12 October 1908	16 August 1909	308 days	Venstre Reform	−	Neergaard I
17		Ludvig Holstein-Ledreborg (1839–1912)	16 August 1909	28 October 1909	73 days	Venstre Reform	1909	Holstein-Ledreborg
18		Carl Theodor Zahle (1866–1946)	28 October 1909	5 July 1910	250 days	Social Liberals	−	Zahle I
19		Klaus Berntsen (1844–1927)	5 July 1910	21 June 1913	2 years, 351 days	Venstre	1910	Berntsen

Council Presidents under Christian X (1912–1947)

No.		Council President	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	Election	Cabinet
(18)		Carl Theodor Zahle (1866–1946)	21 June 1913	20 April 1918	4 years, 303 days	Social Liberals	1913	Zahle II

List of ministers of State (1918–present)

Prime ministers under Christian X (1912–1947)

Key: † Died in office

№	Portrait	Prime Minister (Born-Died)	Term			Political Party	Election	Coalition	Cabinet
			Took office	Left office	Duration
5		Carl Theodor Zahle (1866–1946)	21 April 1918	30 March 1920	1 year, 344 days	Social Liberals	1918	R	Zahle II
6		Otto Liebe (1860–1929)	30 March 1920	5 April 1920	6 days	Independent	–	Caretaker government	Liebe
7		Michael Pedersen Friis (1857–1944)	5 April 1920	5 May 1920	30 days	Independent	–	Caretaker government	Friis
8		Niels Neergaard (1854–1936)	5 May 1920	23 April 1924	3 years, 354 days	Venstre	Apr.1920 Jul.1920 Sep.1920	V	Neergaard II–III
9		Thorvald Stauning (1873–1942)	23 April 1924	14 December 1926	2 years, 235 days	Social Democrats	1924	S	Stauning I
10		Thomas Madsen-Mygdal (1876–1943)	14 December 1926	30 April 1929	2 years, 137 days	Venstre	1926	V	Madsen-Mygdal
(9)		Thorvald Stauning (1873–1942) [lower-alpha 2]	30 April 1929	3 May 1942 †	13 years, 3 days	Social Democrats	1929 1932 1935 1939	S–R (1929 – 1940) Unity government (1940 – 1942)	Stauning II–III–IV–V–VI
11		Vilhelm Buhl (1881–1954)	4 May 1942	9 November 1942	189 days	Social Democrats	–	Unity government	Buhl I
12		Erik Scavenius (1877–1962)	9 November 1942	29 August 1943	293 days	Independent	1943	Unity government	Scavenius
No Danish government (29 August 1943[lower-alpha 3] – 5 May 1945). Office is assumed by the permanent secretary.
(11)		Vilhelm Buhl (1881–1954)	5 May 1945	7 November 1945	186 days	Social Democrats	–	Unity government	Buhl II
13		Knud Kristensen (1880–1962)	7 November 1945	13 November 1947	2 years, 6 days	Venstre	1945	V	Kristensen

Prime ministers under Frederik IX (1947–1972)

№	Portrait	Prime Minister (Born-Died)	Term			Political Party	Election	Coalition	Cabinet
			Took office	Left office	Duration
14		Hans Hedtoft (1903–1955)	13 November 1947	30 October 1950	2 years, 351 days	Social Democrats	1947	S (1947 – 1950)	Hedtoft I
15		Erik Eriksen (1902–1972)	30 October 1950	30 September 1953	2 years, 335 days	Venstre	1950 Apr.1953	V–K (1950 – 1953)	Eriksen
(14)		Hans Hedtoft (1903–1955) [lower-alpha 4]	30 September 1953	29 January 1955 †	1 year, 121 days	Social Democrats	Sep.1953	S (1953 – 1955)	Hedtoft II
16		Hans Christian Hansen (1906–1960) [lower-alpha 5]	1 February 1955	19 February 1960 †	5 years, 18 days	Social Democrats	— 1957	S (1955 – 1957) S–R–E (1957 – 1960)	Hansen I–II
17		Viggo Kampmann (1910–1976)	21 February 1960	3 September 1962	2 years, 194 days	Social Democrats	— 1960	S–R–E (1960 – 1960) S–R (1960 – 1962)	Kampmann I–II
18		Jens Otto Krag (1914–1978)	3 September 1962	2 February 1968	5 years, 152 days	Social Democrats	— 1964	S–R (1962 – 1964) S (1964 – 1968)	Krag I–II
19		Hilmar Baunsgaard (1920–1989)	2 February 1968	11 October 1971	3 years, 251 days	Social Liberals	1968	R–K–V (1968 – 1971)	Baunsgaard
(18)		Jens Otto Krag (1914–1978)	11 October 1971	5 October 1972	360 days	Social Democrats	1971	S (1971 – 1972)	Krag III

Prime ministers under Margrethe II (1972–present)

№	Portrait	Prime Minister (Born-Died)	Term			Political Party	Election	Coalition	Cabinet
			Took office	Left office	Duration
20		Anker Jørgensen (1922–2016)	5 October 1972	19 December 1973	1 year, 75 days	Social Democrats	—	S (1972 – 1973)	Jørgensen I
21		Poul Hartling (1914–2000)	19 December 1973	13 February 1975	1 year, 56 days	Venstre	1973	V (1973 – 1975)	Hartling
(20)		Anker Jørgensen (1922–2016)	13 February 1975	10 September 1982	7 years, 209 days	Social Democrats	1975 1977 1979 1981	S (1975 – 1978) S–V (1978 – 1979) S (1979 – 1982)	Jørgensen II–III–IV–V
22		Poul Schlüter (born 1929)	10 September 1982	25 January 1993	10 years, 137 days	Conservative	1984 1987 1988 1990	K–V–CD–KD (1984 – 1988) K–V–R (1988 – 1990) K–V (1990 – 1993)	Schlüter I–II–III–IV
23		Poul Nyrup Rasmussen (born 1943)	25 January 1993	27 November 2001	8 years, 306 days	Social Democrats	— 1994 1998	S–CD–R–KD (1993 – 1994) S–CD–R (1994 – 1996) S–R (1996 – 2001)	P.N. Rasmussen I–II–III–IV
24		Anders Fogh Rasmussen (born 1953)	27 November 2001	5 April 2009	7 years, 129 days	Venstre	2001 2005 2007	V–K (2001 – 2009)	A.F. Rasmussen I–II–III
25		Lars Løkke Rasmussen (born 1964)	5 April 2009	3 October 2011	2 years, 181 days	Venstre	—	V–K	L.L. Rasmussen I
26		Helle Thorning-Schmidt (born 1966)	3 October 2011	28 June 2015	3 years, 298 days	Social Democrats	2011	S–R–SF (2011 – 2014) S–R (2014 – 2015)	Thorning-Schmidt I–II
(25)		Lars Løkke Rasmussen (born 1964)	28 June 2015	27 June 2019	3 years, 364 days	Venstre	2015	V (2015 – 2016) V–I–K (2016 – 2019)	L.L. Rasmussen II–III
27		Mette Frederiksen (born 1977)	27 June 2019	Incumbent	1 year, 226 days	Social Democrats	2019	S (since 2019)	Frederiksen

Timeline (1848–present)

This is a graphical lifespan timeline of prime ministers of Denmark. The prime ministers are listed in order of office.

See also

• Politics of Denmark
• History of Denmark
• List of Danish monarchs
• Lists of incumbents
• Prime Minister of Norway
• Prime Minister of Sweden
• Prime Minister of Finland

Notes

1. Different authorities provide contradictory accounts as to whether the period of Ludvig's occupation of the office in fact overlapped with that of his successor.
2. Thorvald Stauning died in office. His successor was appointed the following day.
3. On 29 August 1943, the Danish government resigned, refusing to grant further concessions to Nazi Germany. All government operations were assumed by the permanent secretaries of the individual departments, and this arrangement lasted until the Liberation of Denmark on 5 May 1945. Since King Christian X never accepted the resignation of the government, it existed de jure until a new cabinet was formed on 5 May 1945.
4. Hans Hedtoft died in office. His successor was appointed three days later.
5. Hans Christian Hansen died in office. His successor was appointed two days later.

References

• List of Danish heads of government from the Prime Ministers Office
• A similar list from the Danish Foreign Ministry, including the PM's party tag
• Lists of Danish governments since 1848
• World Statesmen: Denmark (lists all Danish ruling monarchs from 899 on, and non-monarchial heads of government from 1699 on).