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. 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 Grand Chancellors (1676–1730)

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Monarch (Reign)
No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Took office	Left office	Duration	Monarch (Reign)
1		Frederik Ahlefeldt (1623–1686) ^[a]	1676	7 July 1686	9–10 years	Christian V (1670–1699)
2		Conrad von Reventlow (1644–1708) ^[a]	26 August 1699	21 July 1708	8 years, 331 days	Frederick IV (1699–1730)
3		Christian Christophersen Sehested (1666–1740)	21 July 1708	20 June 1721	12 years, 335 days
4		Ulrik Adolf Holstein (1664–1737)	20 June 1721	17 October 1730	9 years, 120 days

List of Privy Councillors (1730–1848)

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Monarch (Reign)
No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Took office	Left office	Duration	Monarch (Reign)
1		Iver Rosenkrantz (1674–1745)	17 October 1730	12 May 1735	4 years, 208 days	Christian VI (1730–1746)
2		Johan Ludvig Holstein (1694–1763) ^[b]	12 May 1735	1751	15–16 years	Christian VI (1730–1746)
2		Johan Ludvig Holstein (1694–1763) ^[b]	12 May 1735	1751	15–16 years	Frederick V (1746–1766)
3		Count Johann Hartwig Ernst von Bernstorff (1712–1772)	1751	13 September 1770	18–19 years	Frederick V (1746–1766)
3		Count Johann Hartwig Ernst von Bernstorff (1712–1772)	1751	13 September 1770	18–19 years	Christian VII (1766–1808)
4		Johann Friedrich Struensee (1637–1772)	13 September 1770	17 January 1772	1 year, 127 days
5		Ove Høegh-Guldberg (1731–1808)	17 January 1772	14 April 1784	12 years, 89 days
6		Andreas Peter Bernstorff (1735–1797) ^[a]	14 April 1784	21 June 1797	13 years, 69 days
7		Christian Günther von Bernstorff (1769–1835)	22 June 1797	1810	12–13 years
7		Christian Günther von Bernstorff (1769–1835)	22 June 1797	1810	12–13 years	Frederick VI (1808–1839)
8		Frederik Moltke (1754–1836)	1810	1814	3–4 years
9		Frederik Julius Kaas (1758–1827)	1814	1814	0 years
10		Joachim Godske Moltke (1746–1818)	1814	24 August 1818	3–4 years
11		Ernst Heinrich von Schimmelmann (1747–1831)	24 August 1818	1824	5–6 years
12		Otto Joachim Moltke (1770–1853)	1824	1842	17–18 years
12		Otto Joachim Moltke (1770–1853)	1824	1842	17–18 years	Christian VIII (1839–1848)
13		Poul Christian Stemann (1764–1855)	1842	22 March 1848	5–6 years	Christian VIII (1839–1848)
13		Poul Christian Stemann (1764–1855)	1842	22 March 1848	5–6 years	Frederick VII (1848–1863)

List of prime ministers (1848–1855)

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Election	Party		Cabinet Coalition	Monarch (Reign)
No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Took office	Left office	Duration	Election	Party		Cabinet Coalition	Monarch (Reign)
1		Adam Wilhelm Moltke (1785–1864)	22 March 1848	27 January 1852	3 years, 312 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, 85 days	1852		Independent	Bluhme I H–N
2		Christian Albrecht Bluhme (1794–1866)	27 January 1852	21 April 1853	1 year, 85 days	Feb 1853		Independent	Bluhme I H–N
3		Anders Sandøe Ørsted (1778–1860)	21 April 1853	12 December 1854	1 year, 236 days	—		Independent	Ørsted H
3		Anders Sandøe Ørsted (1778–1860)	21 April 1853	12 December 1854	1 year, 236 days	May 1853		Independent	Ørsted H
4		Peter Georg Bang (1797–1861)	12 December 1854	12 October 1855	305 days	1854		Independent	Bang N

List of Council Presidents (1855–1918)

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Election	Party		Cabinet Coalition	Monarch (Reign)
No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Took office	Left office	Duration	Election	Party		Cabinet Coalition	Monarch (Reign)
(4)		Peter Georg Bang (1797–1861)	12 October 1855	18 October 1856	1 year, 7 days	1855		Independent	Bang N	Frederick VII (1848–1863)
5		Carl Christoffer Georg Andræ (1812–1893)	18 October 1856	13 May 1857	208 days	—		Independent	Andræ H–N
6		Carl Christian Hall (1812–1888)	13 May 1857	2 December 1859	2 years, 204 days	—		National Liberal	Hall I N
6		Carl Christian Hall (1812–1888)	13 May 1857	2 December 1859	2 years, 204 days	1858		National Liberal	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 [da] (1822–1873) Acting Prime Minister	8 February 1860	24 February 1860	17 days	—		Independent	Rotwitt B
(6)		Carl Christian Hall (1812–1888)	24 February 1860	31 December 1863	3 years, 311 days	—		National Liberal	Hall II N
						1861
						1861				Christian IX (1863–1906)
8		Ditlev Gothard Monrad (1811–1887)	31 December 1863	11 July 1864	194 days	—		National Liberal	Monrad N
(2)		Christian Albrecht Bluhme (1794–1866)	11 July 1864	6 November 1865	1 year, 119 days	1864		Independent	Bluhme II H
9		Christian Emil Krag-Juel-Vind-Frijs (1817–1896)	6 November 1865	28 May 1870	4 years, 204 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, 48 days	—		Centre	Holstein-Holsteinborg NG–N
						1872
						1873
11		Christen Andreas Fonnesbech (1817–1880)	14 July 1874	11 June 1875	333 days	—		National Landowners	Fonnesbech NG–N
12		Jacob Brønnum Scavenius Estrup (1825–1913)	11 June 1875	7 August 1894	19 years, 58 days	—		National Landowners	Estrup NG (until 1881) H (from 1881)
						1876
						1879
						May 1881		Højre
						Jul 1881
						1884
						1887
						1890
						1892
13		Tage Reedtz-Thott (1839–1923)	7 August 1894	23 May 1897	2 years, 290 days	—		Højre	Reedtz-Thott H
13		Tage Reedtz-Thott (1839–1923)	7 August 1894	23 May 1897	2 years, 290 days	1895		Højre	Reedtz-Thott H
14		Hugo Egmont Hørring (1842–1909)	23 May 1897	27 April 1900	2 years, 340 days	—		Højre	Hørring H
14		Hugo Egmont Hørring (1842–1909)	23 May 1897	27 April 1900	2 years, 340 days	1898		Højre	Hørring H
15		Hannibal Sehested (1842–1909)	27 April 1900	24 July 1901	1 year, 89 days	—		Højre	Sehested H
16		Johan Henrik Deuntzer (1845–1918)	24 July 1901	14 January 1905	3 years, 175 days	1901		Venstre Reform	Deuntzer V
16		Johan Henrik Deuntzer (1845–1918)	24 July 1901	14 January 1905	3 years, 175 days	1903		Venstre Reform	Deuntzer V
17		Jens Christian Christensen (1856–1930)	14 January 1905	12 October 1908	3 years, 193 days	—		Venstre Reform	Christensen I V
						—			Christensen I V	Frederick VIII (1906–1912)
						1906			Christensen II V
18		Niels Neergaard (1854–1936)	12 October 1908	16 August 1909	309 days	—		Venstre Reform	Neergaard I V
19		Ludvig Holstein-Ledreborg (1839–1912)	16 August 1909	28 October 1909	74 days	1909		Venstre Reform	Holstein-Ledreborg V
20		Carl Theodor Zahle (1866–1946)	28 October 1909	5 July 1910	251 days	—		Social Liberals	Zahle I RV
21		Klaus Berntsen (1844–1927)	5 July 1910	21 June 1913	2 years, 352 days	1910		Venstre	Berntsen V
21		Klaus Berntsen (1844–1927)	5 July 1910	21 June 1913	2 years, 352 days	1910		Venstre	Berntsen V	Christian X (1912–1947)
(20)		Carl Theodor Zahle (1866–1946)	21 June 1913	20 April 1918	4 years, 304 days	1913		Social Liberals	Zahle II RV	Christian X (1912–1947)

List of ministers of State (1918–present)

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Election	Party		Cabinet Coalition	Monarch (Reign)
No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Took office	Left office	Duration	Election	Party		Cabinet Coalition	Monarch (Reign)
(20)		Carl Theodor Zahle (1866–1946)	21 April 1918	30 March 1920	1 year, 345 days	—		Social Liberals	Zahle II RV	Christian X (1912–1947)
(20)		Carl Theodor Zahle (1866–1946)	21 April 1918	30 March 1920	1 year, 345 days	1918		Social Liberals	Zahle II RV
22		Otto Liebe (1860–1929)	30 March 1920	5 April 1920	7 days	—		Independent	Liebe Caretaker government
23		Michael Pedersen Friis (1857–1944)	5 April 1920	5 May 1920	31 days	—		Independent	Friis Caretaker government
(18)		Niels Neergaard (1854–1936)	5 May 1920	23 April 1924	3 years, 355 days	Apr 1920		Venstre	Neergaard II V
						Jul 1920
						Sep 1920
						—			Neergaard III V
24		Thorvald Stauning (1873–1942) ^[a]	23 April 1924	14 December 1926	2 years, 236 days	1924		Social Democrats	Stauning I S
25		Thomas Madsen-Mygdal (1876–1943)	14 December 1926	30 April 1929	2 years, 138 days	1926		Venstre	Madsen-Mygdal V
(24)		Thorvald Stauning (1873–1942)	30 April 1929	3 May 1942	13 years, 4 days	1929		Social Democrats	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	190 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	1943		Independent	Scavenius S–V–K–RV (national unity)
No Danish government (29 August 1943 – 5 May 1945).^[c] Office is assumed by the permanent secretary.
(26)		Vilhelm Buhl (1881–1954)	5 May 1945	7 November 1945	187 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, 7 days	1945		Venstre	Kristensen V
28		Knud Kristensen (1880–1962)	7 November 1945	13 November 1947	2 years, 7 days	1945		Venstre	Kristensen V	Frederick IX (1947–1972)
29		Hans Hedtoft (1903–1955)	13 November 1947	30 October 1950	2 years, 352 days	1947		Social Democrats	Hedtoft I S
30		Erik Eriksen (1902–1972)	30 October 1950	30 September 1953	2 years, 336 days	1950		Venstre	Eriksen V–K
30		Erik Eriksen (1902–1972)	30 October 1950	30 September 1953	2 years, 336 days	Apr 1953		Venstre	Eriksen V–K
(29)		Hans Hedtoft (1903–1955) ^[a]	30 September 1953	29 January 1955	1 year, 122 days	Sep 1953		Social Democrats	Hedtoft II S
31		H. C. Hansen (1906–1960) ^[a]	1 February 1955	19 February 1960	5 years, 19 days	—		Social Democrats	Hansen I S
31		H. C. Hansen (1906–1960) ^[a]	1 February 1955	19 February 1960	5 years, 19 days	1957		Social Democrats	Hansen II S–RV–Rfb
32		Viggo Kampmann (1910–1976)	21 February 1960	3 September 1962	2 years, 195 days	—		Social Democrats	Kampmann I S–RV–Rfb
32		Viggo Kampmann (1910–1976)	21 February 1960	3 September 1962	2 years, 195 days	1960		Social Democrats	Kampmann II S–RV
33		Jens Otto Krag (1914–1978)	3 September 1962	2 February 1968	5 years, 153 days	—		Social Democrats	Krag I S–RV
33		Jens Otto Krag (1914–1978)	3 September 1962	2 February 1968	5 years, 153 days	1964		Social Democrats	Krag II S
34		Hilmar Baunsgaard (1920–1989)	2 February 1968	11 October 1971	3 years, 252 days	1968		Social Liberals	Baunsgaard RV–K–V
(33)		Jens Otto Krag (1914–1978)	11 October 1971	5 October 1972	361 days	1971		Social Democrats	Krag III S
(33)		Jens Otto Krag (1914–1978)	11 October 1971	5 October 1972	361 days	1971		Social Democrats	Krag III S	Margrethe II (since 1972)
35		Anker Jørgensen (1922–2016)	5 October 1972	19 December 1973	1 year, 76 days	—		Social Democrats	Jørgensen I S
36		Poul Hartling (1914–2000)	19 December 1973	13 February 1975	1 year, 58 days	1973		Venstre	Hartling V
(35)		Anker Jørgensen (1922–2016)	13 February 1975	10 September 1982	7 years, 210 days	1975		Social Democrats	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, 138 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, 307 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, 130 days	2001		Venstre	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, 182 days	—		Venstre	L. L. Rasmussen I V–K
41		Helle Thorning-Schmidt (born 1966)	3 October 2011	28 June 2015	3 years, 269 days	2011		Social Democrats	Thorning-Schmidt I S–RV–SF
41		Helle Thorning-Schmidt (born 1966)	3 October 2011	28 June 2015	3 years, 269 days	—		Social Democrats	Thorning-Schmidt II S–RV
(40)		Lars Løkke Rasmussen (born 1964)	28 June 2015	27 June 2019	4 years, 0 days	2015		Venstre	L. L. Rasmussen II V
(40)		Lars Løkke Rasmussen (born 1964)	28 June 2015	27 June 2019	4 years, 0 days	—		Venstre	L. L. Rasmussen III V–LA–K
42		Mette Frederiksen (born 1977)	27 June 2019	Incumbent	4 years, 67 days	2019		Social Democrats	Frederiksen S

Timeline (1848–present)

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

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Died in office.
^ 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.
^ 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

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).

id:Daftar Perdana Menteri Denmark jv:Perdhana Mentri Denmark pl:Premierzy Danii zh:丹麦首相列表

[diedinoffice-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Died in office.

[2] 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.

[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.

[a]

[b]

[c]