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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)

More information No., Portrait ...
No. Portrait Name
(birth–death)		 Term of office Party Election Cabinet
coalition		 Monarch
(reign)
Took office Left office Time in office
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 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
Feb.
1853
3 Anders Sandøe Ørsted
(1778–1860)		 21 April 1853 12 December 1854 1 year, 235 days Independent — Ørsted
H
May
1853
4 Peter Georg Bang
(1797–1861)		 12 December 1854 12 October 1855 304 days Independent 1854 Bang
N
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List of council presidents (1855–1918)

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

More information No., Portrait ...
No. Portrait Name
(birth–death)		 Term of office Party Election Cabinet
coalition		 Monarch
(reign)
Took office Left office Time in office
(20) Thumb Carl Theodor Zahle
(1866–1946)		 21 April 1918 30 March 1920 1 year, 344 days Social Liberals — Zahle II
RV		 Christian X
(1912–1947)
1918
22 Thumb Otto Liebe
(1860–1929)		 30 March 1920 5 April 1920 6 days Independent — Liebe
Caretaker government
23 Thumb Michael Pedersen Friis
(1857–1944)		 5 April 1920 5 May 1920 30 days Independent — Friis
Caretaker government
(18) Thumb 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 Thumb Thorvald Stauning
(1873–1942)		 23 April 1924 14 December 1926 2 years, 235 days Social Democrats 1924 Stauning I
S
25 Thumb Thomas Madsen-Mygdal
(1876–1943)		 14 December 1926 30 April 1929 2 years, 137 days Venstre 1926 Madsen-Mygdal
V
(24) Thumb Thorvald Stauning
(1873–1942)
[a]		 30 April 1929 3 May 1942 † 13 years, 3 days Social Democrats 1929 Stauning II
S–RV
1932
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 Thumb Vilhelm Buhl
(1881–1954)		 4 May 1942 9 November 1942 189 days Social Democrats — Buhl I
S–V–K–RV
(national unity)
27 Thumb Erik Scavenius
(1877–1962)		 9 November 1942 29 August 1943 294 days Independent — Scavenius
S–V–K–RV
(national unity)
1943
No Danish government (29 August 1943 – 5 May 1945).[b] Office is assumed by the permanent secretary.
(26) Thumb 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 Thumb Knud Kristensen
(1880–1962)		 7 November 1945 13 November 1947 2 years, 6 days Venstre 1945 Kristensen
V
Frederik IX
(1947–1972)
29 Thumb Hans Hedtoft
(1903–1955)		 13 November 1947 30 October 1950 2 years, 351 days Social Democrats 1947 Hedtoft I
S
30 Thumb Erik Eriksen
(1902–1972)		 30 October 1950 30 September 1953 2 years, 335 days Venstre 1950 Eriksen
V–K
Apr.
1953
(29) Thumb Hans Hedtoft
(1903–1955)
[a]		 30 September 1953 29 January 1955 † 1 year, 122 days Social Democrats Sep.
1953		 Hedtoft II
S
31 Thumb H. C. Hansen
(1906–1960)
[a]		 1 February 1955 19 February 1960 † 5 years, 18 days Social Democrats — Hansen I
S
1957 Hansen II
S–RV–Rfb
32 Thumb Viggo Kampmann
(1910–1976)		 21 February 1960 3 September 1962 2 years, 194 days Social Democrats — Kampmann I
S–RV–Rfb
1960 Kampmann II
S–RV
33 Thumb Jens Otto Krag
(1914–1978)		 3 September 1962 2 February 1968 5 years, 152 days Social Democrats — Krag I
S–RV
1964 Krag II
S
34 Thumb Hilmar Baunsgaard
(1920–1989)		 2 February 1968 11 October 1971 3 years, 251 days Social Liberals 1968 Baunsgaard
RV–K–V
(33) Thumb Jens Otto Krag
(1914–1978)		 11 October 1971 5 October 1972 360 days Social Democrats 1971 Krag III
S
Margrethe II
(1972–2024)
35 Thumb Anker Jørgensen
(1922–2016)		 5 October 1972 19 December 1973 1 year, 75 days Social Democrats — Jørgensen I
S
36 Thumb Poul Hartling
(1914–2000)		 19 December 1973 13 February 1975 1 year, 57 days Venstre 1973 Hartling
V
(35) Thumb Anker Jørgensen
(1922–2016)		 13 February 1975 10 September 1982 7 years, 209 days Social Democrats 1975 Jørgensen II
S
1977
— Jørgensen III
S–V
1979 Jørgensen IV
S
1981 Jørgensen V
S
37 Thumb Poul Schlüter
(1929–2021)		 10 September 1982 25 January 1993 10 years, 137 days Conservative — Schlüter I
K–V–CD–KrF
1984
1987 Schlüter II
K–V–CD–KrF
1988 Schlüter III
K–V–RV
1990 Schlüter IV
K–V
38 Thumb 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 Thumb 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 Thumb Lars Løkke Rasmussen
(born 1964)		 5 April 2009 3 October 2011 2 years, 181 days Venstre — L. L. Rasmussen I
V–K
41 Thumb Helle Thorning-Schmidt
(born 1966)		 3 October 2011 28 June 2015 3 years, 268 days Social Democrats 2011 Thorning-Schmidt I
S–RV–SF
— Thorning-Schmidt II
S–RV
(40) Thumb Lars Løkke Rasmussen
(born 1964)		 28 June 2015 27 June 2019 3 years, 364 days Venstre 2015 L. L. Rasmussen II
V
— L. L. Rasmussen III
V–LA–K
42 Thumb Mette Frederiksen
(born 1977)		 27 June 2019 Incumbent 5 years, 173 days Social Democrats 2019 Frederiksen I
S
2022 Frederiksen II
S–V–M
Frederik X
(since 2024)
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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.

Mette FrederiksenHelle Thorning-SchmidtLars Løkke RasmussenAnders Fogh RasmussenPoul Nyrup RasmussenPoul SchlüterPoul HartlingAnker JørgensenHilmar BaunsgaardJens Otto KragViggo KampmannHans Christian HansenErik EriksenHans HedtoftKnud KristensenErik ScaveniusVilhelm BuhlThomas Madsen-MygdalThorvald StauningMichael Pedersen FriisOtto LiebeKlaus BerntsenCarl Theodor ZahleLudvig Holstein-LedreborgNiels NeergaardJens Christian ChristensenJohan Henrik DeuntzerHannibal SehestedHugo Egmont HørringTage Reedtz-ThottJacob Brønnum Scavenius EstrupChristen Andreas FonnesbechLudvig Holstein-HolsteinborgChristian Emil Krag-Juel-Vind-FrijsDitlev Gothard MonradCarl Edvard RotwittCarl Christian HallCarl Christoffer Georg AndræPeter Georg BangAnders Sandøe ØrstedChristian Albrecht BluhmeAdam Wilhelm Moltke

Graphical timeline

Mette FrederiksenHelle Thorning-SchmidtLars Løkke RasmussenAnders Fogh RasmussenPoul Nyrup RasmussenPoul SchlüterPoul HartlingAnker JørgensenHilmar BaunsgaardJens Otto KragViggo KampmannHans Christian HansenErik EriksenHans HedtoftKnud KristensenErik ScaveniusVilhelm BuhlThomas Madsen-MygdalThorvald StauningMichael Pedersen FriisOtto LiebeKlaus BerntsenCarl Theodor ZahleLudvig Holstein-LedreborgNiels NeergaardJens Christian ChristensenJohan Henrik DeuntzerHannibal Sehested (council president)Hugo Egmont HørringTage Reedtz-ThottJacob Brønnum Scavenius EstrupChristen Andreas FonnesbechLudvig Holstein-HolsteinborgChristian Emil FrijsDitlev Gothard MonradCarl Edvard RotwittCarl Christian HallCarl Christoffer Georg AndræPeter Georg BangAnders Sandøe ØrstedChristian Albrecht BluhmeAdam Wilhelm Moltke

See also

Notes

  1. Died in office.
  2. 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

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