List of Prime Ministers of Denmark

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The Prime Minister of Denmark is the head of government 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 Lars Løkke Rasmussen representing the liberal party Venstre. Lars Løkke Rasmussen took office on 28 June 2015, taking over the position from Helle Thorning-Schmidt, representing the social democratic party Socialdemokraterne.

List of Grand Chancellors (1676–1730)

Key: † Died in office

№		Grand Chancellor	Took office	Left office	Time in office	King
1		Ahlefeldt , FrederikFrederik Ahlefeldt (1623–1686)	1676	7 July 1686 †	9–10 years	Christian V of Denmark
2		von Reventlow, ConradConrad von Reventlow (1644–1708)	26 August 1699	21 July 1708 †	7003325100000000000♠8 years, 330 days	Frederick IV of Denmark
3		Sehested, Christian ChristophersenChristian Christophersen Sehested (1666–1740)	21 July 1708	20 June 1721	7003471700000000000♠12 years, 334 days	Frederick IV of Denmark
4		Holstein, Ulrik AdolfUlrik Adolf Holstein (1664–1737)	20 June 1721	17 October 1730	7003340600000000000♠9 years, 119 days	Frederick IV of Denmark

List of Privy Councillors (1730–1848)

Key: † Died in office

№		Privy Councillor	Took office	Left office	Time in office	King
1		Rosenkrantz, IverIver Rosenkrantz (1674–1745)	17 October 1730	12 May 1735	7003166800000000000♠4 years, 207 days	Christian VI of Denmark (1730 – 1746)
2		Holstein-Ledreborg, Johan LudvigJohan 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		von Bernstorff, Johann Hartwig ErnstCount 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		Struensee, Johann FriedrichJohann Friedrich Struensee (1737–1772)	13 September 1770	17 January 1772	7002491000000000000♠1 year, 126 days	Christian VII of Denmark (1766 – 1808)
5		Høegh-Guldberg, OveOve Høegh-Guldberg (1731–1808)	17 January 1772	14 April 1784	7003447100000000000♠12 years, 88 days	Christian VII of Denmark (1766 – 1808)
6		Bernstorff, Andreas PeterAndreas Peter Bernstorff (1735–1797)	14 April 1784	21 June 1797 †	7003481600000000000♠13 years, 68 days	Christian VII of Denmark (1766 – 1808)
7		von Bernstorff, Christian GüntherChristian 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		Moltke, FrederikFrederik Moltke (1754–1836)	1810	1814	3–4 years	Frederick VI of Denmark (1808 – 1839)
9		Kaas, Fredrik JuliusFredrik Julius Kaas (1758–1827)	1814	1814	0 years	Frederick VI of Denmark (1808 – 1839)
10		Moltke, Joachim GodskeJoachim Godske Moltke (1746–1818)	1814	24 August 1818	3–4 years	Frederick VI of Denmark (1808 – 1839)
11		von Schimmelmann, Ernst HeinrichErnst Heinrich von Schimmelmann (1747–1831)	24 August 1818	1824	5–6 years	Frederick VI of Denmark (1808 – 1839)
12		Moltke, Otto JoachimOtto Joachim Moltke (1770–1853)	1824	1842	17–18 years	Frederick VI of Denmark (1808 – 1839) Christian VIII of Denmark (1839 – 1848)
13		Stemann, Poul ChristianPoul 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

№		Prime Minister	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	Election	Cabinet
1		Moltke, Adam WilhelmAdam Wilhelm Moltke (1785–1864)	22 March 1848	27 January 1852	7003140600000000000♠3 years, 311 days	Independent	— 1849	Moltke I Moltke II Moltke III Moltke IV
2		Bluhme, Christian AlbrechtChristian Albrecht Bluhme (1794–1866)	27 January 1852	21 April 1853	7002450000000000000♠1 year, 84 days	Højre	1852 Feb. 1853	Bluhme I
3		Ørsted, Anders SandøeAnders Sandøe Ørsted (1778–1860)	21 April 1853	12 December 1854	7002600000000000000♠1 year, 235 days	Independent	May. 1853	Ørsted
4		Bang, Peter GeorgPeter Georg Bang (1797–1861)	12 December 1854	12 October 1855	7002304000000000000♠304 days	Independent	1854	Bang

List of Council Presidents (1855–1918)

Council Presidents under Frederik VII (1855–1863)

Key: † Died in office

№		Council President	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	Election	Cabinet
1		Bang, Peter GeorgPeter Georg Bang (1797–1861)	12 October 1855	18 October 1856	7002372000000000000♠1 year, 6 days	Independent	1855	Bang
2		Andræ, Carl Christoffer GeorgCarl Christoffer Georg Andræ (1812–1893)	18 October 1856	13 May 1857	7002207000000000000♠207 days	Independent	—	Andræ
3		Hall, Carl ChristianCarl Christian Hall (1812–1888)	13 May 1857	2 December 1859	7002933000000000000♠2 years, 203 days	National Liberal	1858	Hall I
4		Rotwitt, Carl EdvardCarl Edvard Rotwitt (1812–1860)	2 December 1859	8 February 1860 †	7001680000000000000♠68 days	Bondevennerne	—	Rotwitt
—		Blixen-Finecke, Carl FrederikCarl Frederik Blixen-Finecke (1822–1873) Acting	8 February 1860	24 February 1860	7001160000000000000♠16 days	Independent	—	Rotwitt
(3)		Hall, Carl ChristianCarl Christian Hall (1812–1888)	24 February 1860	31 December 1863	7003140600000000000♠3 years, 310 days	National Liberal	1861	Hall II

Council Presidents under Christian IX (1863–1906)

Key: † Died in office

№		Council President	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	Election	Coalition	Cabinet
5		Monrad, Ditlev GothardDitlev Gothard Monrad (1811–1887)	31 December 1863	11 July 1864	7002193000000000000♠193 days	National Liberal	—	NL	Monrad
6		Bluhme, Christian AlbrechtChristian Albrecht Bluhme (1794–1866)	11 July 1864	6 November 1865	7002483000000000000♠1 year, 118 days	Nonpartisan	1864	H	Bluhme II
7		Frijs, Christian EmilChristian Emil Frijs (1817–1896)	6 November 1865	28 May 1870	7003166400000000000♠4 years, 203 days	National Landowners	Jun.1866 Oct.1866 1869	NG (1865 – 1866) NG–NL	Frijs
8		Holstein-Holsteinborg, LudvigLudvig Holstein-Holsteinborg (1815–1892)	28 May 1870	14 July 1874	7003150800000000000♠4 years, 47 days	Centre	1872 1873	NG–NL	Holstein-Holsteinborg
9		Fonnesbech, Christen AndreasChristen Andreas Fonnesbech (1817–1880)	14 July 1874	11 June 1875	7002332000000000000♠332 days	National Landowners	—	NG–NL	Fonnesbech
10		Estrup, Jacob Brønnum ScaveniusJacob Brønnum Scavenius Estrup (1825–1913)	11 June 1875	7 August 1894	7003699700000000000♠19 years, 57 days	National Landowners Højre	1876 1879 May & Jul.1881 1884 1887 1890 1892	NG (1875 – 1881) H (1881 – 1894)	Estrup
11		Reedtz-Thott, TageTage Reedtz-Thott (1839–1923)	7 August 1894	23 May 1897	7003102000000000000♠2 years, 289 days	Højre	1895	H	Reedtz-Thott
12		Hørring, Hugo EgmontHugo Egmont Hørring (1842–1909)	23 May 1897	27 April 1900	7003106900000000000♠2 years, 339 days	Højre	1898	H	Hørring
13		Sehested, HannibalHannibal Sehested (1842–1924)	27 April 1900	24 July 1901	7002453000000000000♠1 year, 88 days	Højre	—	H	Sehested
14		Deuntzer, Johan HenrikJohan Henrik Deuntzer (1845–1918)	24 July 1901	14 January 1905	7003127000000000000♠3 years, 174 days	Venstre Reform	1901 1903	V	Deuntzer
15		Christensen, Jens ChristianJens Christian Christensen (1856–1930)	14 January 1905	24 July 1908	7003128700000000000♠3 years, 192 days	Venstre Reform	1906	V	Christensen

Council Presidents under Frederik VIII (1906–1912)

№		Council President	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	Election	Cabinet
16		Neergaard, NielsNiels Neergaard (1854–1936)	12 October 1908	16 August 1909	7002308000000000000♠308 days	Venstre	−	Neergaard I
17		Holstein-Ledreborg, LudvigLudvig Holstein-Ledreborg (1839–1912)	16 August 1909	28 October 1909	7001730000000000000♠73 days	Venstre	1909	Holstein-Ledreborg
18		Zahle, Carl TheodorCarl Theodor Zahle (1866–1946)	28 October 1909	5 July 1910	7002250000000000000♠250 days	Social Liberals	−	Zahle I
19		Berntsen, KlausKlaus Berntsen (1866–1946)	5 July 1910	21 June 1913	7003108200000000000♠2 years, 351 days	Venstre	1910	Berntsen

Council Presidents under Christian X (1912–1947)

№		Council President	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	Election	Cabinet
(18)		Zahle, Carl TheodorCarl Theodor Zahle (1866–1946)	21 June 1913	20 April 1918	7003176400000000000♠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

№		Prime Minister	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	Election	Coalition	Cabinet
5		Zahle, Carl TheodorCarl Theodor Zahle (1866–1946)	21 April 1918	30 March 1920	7002709000000000000♠1 year, 344 days	Social Liberals	1918	R	Zahle II
6		Liebe, OttoOtto Liebe (1860–1929)	30 March 1920	5 April 1920	7000600000000000000♠6 days	Independent	–	Caretaker government	Liebe
7		Friis, Michael PedersenMichael Pedersen Friis (1857–1944)	5 April 1920	5 May 1920	7001300000000000000♠30 days	Independent	–	Caretaker government	Friis
8		Neergaard, NielsNiels Neergaard (1854–1936)	5 May 1920	23 April 1924	7003144900000000000♠3 years, 354 days	Venstre	Apr.1920 Jul.1920 Sep.1920	V	Neergaard II Neergaard III
9		Stauning, ThorvaldThorvald Stauning (1873–1942)	23 April 1924	14 December 1926	7002965000000000000♠2 years, 235 days	Social Democrats	1924	S	Stauning I
10		Madsen-Mygdal, ThomasThomas Madsen-Mygdal (1876–1943)	14 December 1926	30 April 1929	7002868000000000000♠2 years, 137 days	Venstre	1926	V	Madsen-Mygdal
(9)		Stauning, ThorvaldThorvald Stauning (1873–1942) [lower-alpha 2]	30 April 1929	3 May 1942 †	7003475100000000000♠13 years, 3 days	Social Democrats	1929 1932 1935 1939	S–R (1929 – 1940) Unity government (1940 – 1942)	Stauning II Stauning III Stauning IV Stauning V Stauning VI
11		Buhl, VilhelmVilhelm Buhl (1881–1954)	4 May 1942	9 November 1942	7002189000000000000♠189 days	Social Democrats	–	Unity government	Buhl I
12		Scavenius, ErikErik Scavenius (1877–1962)	9 November 1942	29 August 1943	7002293000000000000♠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)		Buhl, VilhelmVilhelm Buhl (1881–1954)	5 May 1945	7 November 1945	7002186000000000000♠186 days	Social Democrats	–	Unity government	Buhl II
13		Kristensen, KnudKnud Kristensen (1880–1962)	7 November 1945	13 November 1947	7002736000000000000♠2 years, 6 days	Venstre	1945	V	Kristensen

Prime Ministers under Frederik IX (1947–1972)

№		Prime Minister	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	Election	Coalition	Cabinet
14		Hedtoft, HansHans Hedtoft (1903–1955)	13 November 1947	30 October 1950	7003108200000000000♠2 years, 351 days	Social Democrats	1947	S (1947 – 1950)	Hedtoft I
15		Eriksen, ErikErik Eriksen (1902–1972)	30 October 1950	30 September 1953	7003106600000000000♠2 years, 335 days	Venstre	1950 Apr.1953	V–K (1950 – 1953)	Eriksen
(14)		Hedtoft, HansHans Hedtoft (1903–1955) [lower-alpha 4]	30 September 1953	29 January 1955 †	7002486000000000000♠1 year, 121 days	Social Democrats	Sep.1953	S (1953 – 1955)	Hedtoft II
16		Hansen, Hans ChristianHans Christian Hansen (1906–1960) [lower-alpha 5]	1 February 1955	19 February 1960 †	7003184400000000000♠5 years, 18 days	Social Democrats	— 1957	S (1955 – 1957) S–R–E (1957 – 1960)	Hansen I Hansen II
17		Kampmann, ViggoViggo Kampmann (1910–1976)	21 February 1960	3 September 1962	7002925000000000000♠2 years, 194 days	Social Democrats	— 1960	S–R–E (1960 – 1960) S–R (1960 – 1962)	Kampmann I Kampmann II
18		Krag, Jens OttoJens Otto Krag (1914–1978)	3 September 1962	2 February 1968	7003197800000000000♠5 years, 152 days	Social Democrats	— 1964	S–R (1962 – 1964) S (1964 – 1968)	Krag I Krag II
19		Baunsgaard, HilmarHilmar Baunsgaard (1920–1989)	2 February 1968	11 October 1971	7003134700000000000♠3 years, 251 days	Social Liberals	1968	R–K–V (1968 – 1971)	Baunsgaard
(18)		Krag, Jens OttoJens Otto Krag (1914–1978)	11 October 1971	5 October 1972	7002360000000000000♠360 days	Social Democrats	1971	S (1971 – 1972)	Krag III

Prime Ministers under Margrethe II (1972–present)

№		Prime Minister	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	Election	Coalition	Cabinet
20		Jørgensen, AnkerAnker Jørgensen (1922–2016)	5 October 1972	19 December 1973	7001750000000000000♠75 days	Social Democrats	—	S (1972 – 1973)	Jørgensen I
21		Hartling, PoulPoul Hartling (1914–2000)	19 December 1973	13 February 1975	7002421000000000000♠1 year, 56 days	Venstre	1973	V (1973 – 1975)	Hartling
(20)		Jørgensen, AnkerAnker Jørgensen (1922–2016)	13 February 1975	10 September 1982	7003276600000000000♠7 years, 209 days	Social Democrats	1975 1977 1979 1981	S (1975 – 1978) S–V (1978 – 1979) S (1979 – 1982)	Jørgensen II Jørgensen III Jørgensen IV Jørgensen V
22		Schlüter, PoulPoul Schlüter (born 1929)	10 September 1982	25 January 1993	7003379000000000000♠10 years, 137 days	Conservative People's	1984 1987 1988 1990	K–V–CD–KD (1984 – 1988) K–V–R (1988 – 1990) K–V (1990 – 1993)	Schlüter I Schlüter II Schlüter III Schlüter IV
23		Rasmussen, Poul NyrupPoul Nyrup Rasmussen (born 1943)	25 January 1993	27 November 2001	7003322800000000000♠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 P.N. Rasmussen II P.N. Rasmussen III P.N. Rasmussen IV
24		Rasmussen, Anders FoghAnders Fogh Rasmussen (born 1953)	27 November 2001	5 April 2009	7003268600000000000♠7 years, 129 days	Venstre	2001 2005 2007	V–K (2001 – 2009)	A.F. Rasmussen I A.F. Rasmussen II A.F. Rasmussen III
25		Rasmussen, Lars LøkkeLars Løkke Rasmussen (born 1964)	5 April 2009	3 October 2011	7002911000000000000♠2 years, 181 days	Venstre	—	V–K	L.L. Rasmussen I
26		Thorning-Schmidt, HelleHelle Thorning-Schmidt (born 1966)	3 October 2011	28 June 2015	7003139400000000000♠3 years, 298 days	Social Democrats	2011	S–R–SF (2011 – 2014) S–R (2014 – 2015)	Thorning-Schmidt I Thorning-Schmidt II
(25)		Rasmussen, Lars LøkkeLars Løkke Rasmussen (born 1964)	28 June 2015	Incumbent	7003117900000000000♠3 years, 83 days	Venstre	2015	V (2015 – 2016) V–I–K (since 2016)	L.L. Rasmussen II L.L. Rasmussen III

Timeline (1848–present)

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