List of heads of government of Denmark

The Prime Minister of Denmark is the head of government of the Kingdom of Denmark and leader of the Cabinet. The Prime Minister is formally appointed by the Monarch, who is head of state.

The first four heads of government were titled premierminister (lit. 'prime minister'), between 1855 and 1920 the title was Konseilspræsident (lit. 'council president'). Since 1920, the title has been Danish: statsminister (lit. 'Minister of State').^[1]

Denmark's current prime minister is Mette Frederiksen representing the social democratic party Social Democrats. Mette Frederiksen took office on 27 June 2019, taking over the position from Lars Løkke Rasmussen, representing the liberal party Venstre. Frederiksen is also the second female prime minister in the history of the country, after fellow socialist party colleague Helle Thorning-Schmidt who served from 2011 to 2015.

List of prime ministers (1848–1855)

No.	Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Term of office			Party		Election	Cabinet coalition	Monarch (reign)
No.	Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party		Election	Cabinet coalition	Monarch (reign)
1		Adam Wilhelm Moltke (1785–1864)	22 March 1848	27 January 1852	3 years, 311 days		Independent	—	Moltke I H–N	Frederick VII (1848–1863)
								—	Moltke II H
								1849	Moltke II H
								—	Moltke III H
								—	Moltke IV H
2		Christian Albrecht Bluhme (1794–1866)	27 January 1852	21 April 1853	1 year, 84 days		Højre [da]	1852	Bluhme I H–N
2		Christian Albrecht Bluhme (1794–1866)	27 January 1852	21 April 1853	1 year, 84 days		Højre [da]	Feb. 1853	Bluhme I H–N
3		Anders Sandøe Ørsted (1778–1860)	21 April 1853	12 December 1854	1 year, 235 days		Independent	—	Ørsted H
3		Anders Sandøe Ørsted (1778–1860)	21 April 1853	12 December 1854	1 year, 235 days		Independent	May 1853	Ørsted H
4		Peter Georg Bang (1797–1861)	12 December 1854	12 October 1855	304 days		Independent	1854	Bang N

List of council presidents (1855–1918)

No.	Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Term of office			Party		Election	Cabinet coalition	Monarch (reign)
No.	Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party		Election	Cabinet coalition	Monarch (reign)
(4)		Peter Georg Bang (1797–1861)	12 October 1855	18 October 1856	1 year, 6 days		Independent	1855	Bang N	Frederick VII (1848–1863)
5		Carl Christoffer Georg Andræ (1812–1893)	18 October 1856	13 May 1857	207 days		Bondevennerne	—	Andræ H–N
6		Carl Christian Hall (1812–1888)	13 May 1857	2 December 1859	2 years, 203 days		National Liberal	—	Hall I N
6		Carl Christian Hall (1812–1888)	13 May 1857	2 December 1859	2 years, 203 days		National Liberal	1858	Hall I N
7		Carl Edvard Rotwitt (1812–1860) ^[a]	2 December 1859	8 February 1860 †	69 days		Bondevennerne	—	Rotwitt B
—		Carl Frederik Blixen-Finecke (1822–1873) Acting	8 February 1860	24 February 1860	16 days		Independent	—	Rotwitt B
(6)		Carl Christian Hall (1812–1888)	24 February 1860	31 December 1863	3 years, 310 days		National Liberal	—	Hall II N
								1861
								1861		Christian IX (1863–1906)
8		Ditlev Gothard Monrad (1811–1887)	31 December 1863	11 July 1864	193 days		National Liberal	—	Monrad N
(2)		Christian Albrecht Bluhme (1794–1866)	11 July 1864	6 November 1865	1 year, 118 days		Højre [da]	1864	Bluhme II H
9		Christian Emil Krag-Juel-Vind-Frijs (1817–1896)	6 November 1865	28 May 1870	4 years, 203 days		National Landowners	—	Frijs NG (until 1866) NG–N (from 1866)
								Jun. 1866
								Oct. 1866
								1869
10		Ludvig Holstein-Holsteinborg (1815–1892)	28 May 1870	14 July 1874	4 years, 47 days		Centre	—	Holstein-Holsteinborg NG–N
								1872
								1873
11		Christen Andreas Fonnesbech (1817–1880)	14 July 1874	11 June 1875	332 days		National Landowners	—	Fonnesbech NG–N
12		Jacob Brønnum Scavenius Estrup (1825–1913)	11 June 1875	7 August 1894	19 years, 57 days		National Landowners	—	Estrup NG (until 1881) H (from 1881)
								1876
								1879
							Højre	May 1881
								Jul. 1881
								1884
								1887
								1890
								1892
13		Tage Reedtz-Thott (1839–1923)	7 August 1894	23 May 1897	2 years, 289 days		Højre	—	Reedtz-Thott H
13		Tage Reedtz-Thott (1839–1923)	7 August 1894	23 May 1897	2 years, 289 days		Højre	1895	Reedtz-Thott H
14		Hugo Egmont Hørring (1842–1909)	23 May 1897	27 April 1900	2 years, 339 days		Højre	—	Hørring H
14		Hugo Egmont Hørring (1842–1909)	23 May 1897	27 April 1900	2 years, 339 days		Højre	1898	Hørring H
15		Hannibal Sehested (1842–1909)	27 April 1900	24 July 1901	1 year, 88 days		Højre	—	Sehested H
16		Johan Henrik Deuntzer (1845–1918)	24 July 1901	14 January 1905	3 years, 174 days		Venstre Reform	1901	Deuntzer V
16		Johan Henrik Deuntzer (1845–1918)	24 July 1901	14 January 1905	3 years, 174 days		Venstre Reform	1903	Deuntzer V
17		Jens Christian Christensen (1856–1930)	14 January 1905	12 October 1908	3 years, 192 days		Venstre Reform	—	Christensen I V
								—	Christensen I V	Frederik VIII (1906–1912)
								1906	Christensen II V
18		Niels Neergaard (1854–1936)	12 October 1908	16 August 1909	308 days		Venstre Reform	—	Neergaard I V
19		Ludvig Holstein-Ledreborg (1839–1912)	16 August 1909	28 October 1909	73 days		Venstre Reform	1909	Holstein-Ledreborg V
20		Carl Theodor Zahle (1866–1946)	28 October 1909	5 July 1910	250 days		Social Liberals	—	Zahle I RV
21		Klaus Berntsen (1844–1927)	5 July 1910	21 June 1913	2 years, 351 days		Venstre	1910	Berntsen V
21		Klaus Berntsen (1844–1927)	5 July 1910	21 June 1913	2 years, 351 days		Venstre	1910	Berntsen V	Christian X (1912–1947)
(20)		Carl Theodor Zahle (1866–1946)	21 June 1913	20 April 1918	4 years, 303 days		Social Liberals	1913	Zahle II RV	Christian X (1912–1947)

List of prime ministers (1918–present)

No.	Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Term of office			Party		Election	Cabinet coalition	Monarch (reign)
No.	Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party		Election	Cabinet coalition	Monarch (reign)
(20)		Carl Theodor Zahle (1866–1946)	21 April 1918	30 March 1920	1 year, 344 days		Social Liberals	—	Zahle II RV	Christian X (1912–1947)
(20)		Carl Theodor Zahle (1866–1946)	21 April 1918	30 March 1920	1 year, 344 days		Social Liberals	1918	Zahle II RV
22		Otto Liebe (1860–1929)	30 March 1920	5 April 1920	6 days		Independent	—	Liebe Caretaker government
23		Michael Pedersen Friis (1857–1944)	5 April 1920	5 May 1920	30 days		Independent	—	Friis Caretaker government
(18)		Niels Neergaard (1854–1936)	5 May 1920	23 April 1924	3 years, 354 days		Venstre	Apr. 1920	Neergaard II V
								Jul. 1920
								Sep. 1920
								—	Neergaard III V
24		Thorvald Stauning (1873–1942)	23 April 1924	14 December 1926	2 years, 235 days		Social Democrats	1924	Stauning I S
25		Thomas Madsen-Mygdal (1876–1943)	14 December 1926	30 April 1929	2 years, 137 days		Venstre	1926	Madsen-Mygdal V
(24)		Thorvald Stauning (1873–1942) ^[a]	30 April 1929	3 May 1942 †	13 years, 3 days		Social Democrats	1929	Stauning II S–RV
								1932	Stauning II S–RV
								1935	Stauning III S–RV
								1939	Stauning IV S–RV
								—	Stauning V S–V–K–RV (national unity)
								—	Stauning VI S–V–K–RV (national unity)
26		Vilhelm Buhl (1881–1954)	4 May 1942	9 November 1942	189 days		Social Democrats	—	Buhl I S–V–K–RV (national unity)
27		Erik Scavenius (1877–1962)	9 November 1942	29 August 1943	294 days		Independent	—	Scavenius S–V–K–RV (national unity)
27		Erik Scavenius (1877–1962)	9 November 1942	29 August 1943	294 days		Independent	1943	Scavenius S–V–K–RV (national unity)
No Danish government (29 August 1943 – 5 May 1945).^[b] Office is assumed by the permanent secretary.
(26)		Vilhelm Buhl (1881–1954)	5 May 1945	7 November 1945	186 days		Social Democrats	—	Buhl II S–V–K–RV–DS–DKP (national unity)
28		Knud Kristensen (1880–1962)	7 November 1945	13 November 1947	2 years, 6 days		Venstre	1945	Kristensen V
28		Knud Kristensen (1880–1962)	7 November 1945	13 November 1947	2 years, 6 days		Venstre	1945	Kristensen V	Frederik IX (1947–1972)
29		Hans Hedtoft (1903–1955)	13 November 1947	30 October 1950	2 years, 351 days		Social Democrats	1947	Hedtoft I S
30		Erik Eriksen (1902–1972)	30 October 1950	30 September 1953	2 years, 335 days		Venstre	1950	Eriksen V–K
30		Erik Eriksen (1902–1972)	30 October 1950	30 September 1953	2 years, 335 days		Venstre	Apr. 1953	Eriksen V–K
(29)		Hans Hedtoft (1903–1955) ^[a]	30 September 1953	29 January 1955 †	1 year, 122 days		Social Democrats	Sep. 1953	Hedtoft II S
31		H. C. Hansen (1906–1960) ^[a]	1 February 1955	19 February 1960 †	5 years, 18 days		Social Democrats	—	Hansen I S
31		H. C. Hansen (1906–1960) ^[a]	1 February 1955	19 February 1960 †	5 years, 18 days		Social Democrats	1957	Hansen II S–RV–Rfb
32		Viggo Kampmann (1910–1976)	21 February 1960	3 September 1962	2 years, 194 days		Social Democrats	—	Kampmann I S–RV–Rfb
32		Viggo Kampmann (1910–1976)	21 February 1960	3 September 1962	2 years, 194 days		Social Democrats	1960	Kampmann II S–RV
33		Jens Otto Krag (1914–1978)	3 September 1962	2 February 1968	5 years, 152 days		Social Democrats	—	Krag I S–RV
33		Jens Otto Krag (1914–1978)	3 September 1962	2 February 1968	5 years, 152 days		Social Democrats	1964	Krag II S
34		Hilmar Baunsgaard (1920–1989)	2 February 1968	11 October 1971	3 years, 251 days		Social Liberals	1968	Baunsgaard RV–K–V
(33)		Jens Otto Krag (1914–1978)	11 October 1971	5 October 1972	360 days		Social Democrats	1971	Krag III S
(33)		Jens Otto Krag (1914–1978)	11 October 1971	5 October 1972	360 days		Social Democrats	1971	Krag III S	Margrethe II (1972–2024)
35		Anker Jørgensen (1922–2016)	5 October 1972	19 December 1973	1 year, 75 days		Social Democrats	—	Jørgensen I S
36		Poul Hartling (1914–2000)	19 December 1973	13 February 1975	1 year, 57 days		Venstre	1973	Hartling V
(35)		Anker Jørgensen (1922–2016)	13 February 1975	10 September 1982	7 years, 209 days		Social Democrats	1975	Jørgensen II S
								1977	Jørgensen II S
								—	Jørgensen III S–V
								1979	Jørgensen IV S
								1981	Jørgensen V S
37		Poul Schlüter (1929–2021)	10 September 1982	25 January 1993	10 years, 137 days		Conservative	—	Schlüter I K–V–CD–KrF
								1984	Schlüter I K–V–CD–KrF
								1987	Schlüter II K–V–CD–KrF
								1988	Schlüter III K–V–RV
								1990	Schlüter IV K–V
38		Poul Nyrup Rasmussen (born 1943)	25 January 1993	27 November 2001	8 years, 306 days		Social Democrats	—	P. N. Rasmussen I S–CD–RV–KrF
								1994	P. N. Rasmussen II S–CD–RV
								—	P. N. Rasmussen III S–RV
								1998	P. N. Rasmussen IV S–RV
39		Anders Fogh Rasmussen (born 1953)	27 November 2001	5 April 2009	7 years, 129 days		Venstre	2001	A. F. Rasmussen I V–K
								2005	A. F. Rasmussen II V–K
								2007	A. F. Rasmussen III V–K
40		Lars Løkke Rasmussen (born 1964)	5 April 2009	3 October 2011	2 years, 181 days		Venstre	—	L. L. Rasmussen I V–K
41		Helle Thorning-Schmidt (born 1966)	3 October 2011	28 June 2015	3 years, 268 days		Social Democrats	2011	Thorning-Schmidt I S–RV–SF
41		Helle Thorning-Schmidt (born 1966)	3 October 2011	28 June 2015	3 years, 268 days		Social Democrats	—	Thorning-Schmidt II S–RV
(40)		Lars Løkke Rasmussen (born 1964)	28 June 2015	27 June 2019	3 years, 364 days		Venstre	2015	L. L. Rasmussen II V
(40)		Lars Løkke Rasmussen (born 1964)	28 June 2015	27 June 2019	3 years, 364 days		Venstre	—	L. L. Rasmussen III V–LA–K
42		Mette Frederiksen (born 1977)	27 June 2019	Incumbent	5 years, 180 days		Social Democrats	2019	Frederiksen I S
								2022	Frederiksen II S–V–M
								2022	Frederiksen II S–V–M	Frederik X (since 2024)

Timeline (1848–present)

This is a graphical lifespan timeline of prime ministers of Denmark. The prime ministers are listed in order of office, with prime ministers serving multiple premierships listed in order of their first.

Graphical timeline

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Died in office.
^ 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.

References

^ "Statsministre siden 1848". stm.dk (in Danish). Ministry of the State. Retrieved 7 November 2022.

List of Danish heads of government from the Prime Ministers Office

[diedinoffice-2] Died in office.

[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.

[1] "Statsministre siden 1848". stm.dk (in Danish). Ministry of the State. Retrieved 7 November 2022.

[1]

[a]

[b]