List of Ministers of the Interior (Denmark)

This is a list of Interior Ministers of Denmark since the establishment of the Danish Ministry of the Interior in 1848. The Ministry was abolished in 2007 with most of the portfolio becoming part of a new Ministry of Welfare. It was reestablished in 2009.

List of Interior Ministers (1848–present)[]

Interior ministers under Frederick VII (1848–1863)[]

No.	Portrait	Minister of the Interior	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	Cabinet
1		Bang, Peter GeorgPeter Georg Bang (1797–1861)	16 November 1848	21 September 1849	309 days	Independent	Moltke I Moltke II
2		Bang, Peter Georg [da] (1814–1902)	21 September 1849	13 July 1851	1 year, 295 days	Independent	Moltke II
3		Tillisch, rederik Ferdinand [da] (1801–1889)	13 July 1851	27 January 1852	198 days	Independent
(1)		Bang, Peter GeorgPeter Georg Bang (1797–1861)	27 January 1852	21 April 1853	1 year, 84 days	Independent
4		Ørsted, Anders SandøeAnders Sandøe Ørsted (1778–1860)	21 April 1853	29 April 1854	1 year, 8 days	Independent
(3)		Tillisch, rederik Ferdinand [da] (1801–1889)	29 April 1854	12 December 1854	227 days	Independent
(1)		Bang, Peter GeorgPeter Georg Bang (1797–1861)	12 December 1854	18 February 1856	4 years, 68 days	Independent
5		Simony, Carl Frederik [da] (1806–1872)	18 February 1856	4 June 1856	107 days	National Liberal
6		Unsgaard, Iver Johannes [da] (1798–1872)	4 June 1856	18 October 1856	136 days	Independent
7		Krieger, Andreas FrederikAndreas Frederik Krieger (1817–1893)	18 October 1856	1 August 1858	1 year, 287 days	National Liberal
(6)		Unsgaard, Iver Johannes [da] (1798–1872)	1 August 1858	6 May 1859	278 days	Independent
(7)		Krieger, Andreas FrederikAndreas Frederik Krieger (1817–1893)	6 May 1859	2 December 1859	210 days	National Liberal
8		Krieger, Andreas Frederik [da] (1817–1884)	2 December 1859	24 February 1860	84 days	National Liberal
9		Monrad, Ditlev GothardDitlev Gothard Monrad (1811–1887)	24 February 1860	15 September 1861	1 year, 172 days	National Liberal
10		Lehmann, Peter MartinPeter Martin Orla Lehmann (1810–1870)	15 September 1861	31 December 1863	2 years, 138 days	Bondevennerne

Interior ministers under Christian IX (1863–1906)[]

No.	Portrait	Minister of the Interior	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	Cabinet
11		Nutzhorn, Carl [da] (1828–1899)	31 December 1863	10 May 1864	131 days	Independent	Monrad
12		Carlsen, Hans Rasmussen [da] (1810–1887)	10 May 1864	11 July 1864	62 days	Independent	Monrad
(3)		Tillisch, rederik Ferdinand [da] (1801–1889)	11 July 1864	6 November 1865	1 year, 118 days	Independent
13		Estrup, Jacob Brønnum ScaveniusJacob Brønnum Scavenius Estrup (1825–1913)	6 November 1865	22 September 1869	3 years, 320 days	National Landowners	Frijs
14		Haffner, WolfgangWolfgang von Haffner (1810–1887)	22 September 1869	28 May 1870	248 days	National Landowners	Frijs
15		Fonnesbech, Christen AndreasChristen Andreas Fonnesbech (1817–1880)	28 May 1870	14 July 1874	4 years, 47 days	National Landowners
16		Tobiesen, Fritz [da] (1829–1908)	14 July 1874	11 June 1875	332 days	Independent
17		Skeel, Erik [da] (1818–1884)	11 June 1875	29 August 1884	9 years, 79 days	Højre	Estrup
18		Finsen, Hilmar [da] (1824–1886)	29 August 1884	8 August 1885	344 days	Højre	Estrup
19		Finsen, HilmarHans Peter Ingerslev (1831–1896)	8 August 1885	15 January 1894	8 years, 160 days	Højre	Estrup
20		Hørring, Hugo EgmontHugo Egmont Hørring (1842–1909)	15 January 1894	23 May 1897	3 years, 128 days	Højre	Reedtz-Thott
21		Bardenfleth, Vilhelm [da] (1850–1933)	23 May 1897	28 August 1899	2 years, 97 days	Højre	Hørring
22		Bramsen, Ludvig Ernst [da] (1847–1914)	28 August 1899	24 July 1901	1 year, 330 days	Højre	Sehested
23		Sørensen, EnevoldEnevold Sørensen (1850–1920)	24 July 1901	14 January 1905	6 years, 174 days	Venstre Reform	Deuntzer
24		Berg, Sigurd [da] (1868–1921)	14 January 1905	12 October 1908	6 years, 174 days	Venstre Reform	–II

Interior ministers under Frederik VIII (1906–1912)[]

No.	Portrait	Minister of the Interior	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	Cabinet
25		Berntsen, KlausKlaus Berntsen (1866–1946)	12 October 1908	28 October 1909	1 year, 16 days	Venstre Reform
26		Munch, Peter RochegunePeter Rochegune Munch (1870–1948)	28 October 1909	5 July 1910	250 days	Social Liberals
27		Jensen-Sønderup, Jens [da] (1862–1949)	5 July 1910	21 June 1913	2 years, 351 days	Venstre

Interior ministers under Christian X (1912–1947)[]

No.	Portrait	Minister of the Interior	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	Cabinet
28		Rode, OveOve Rode (1867–1933)	21 June 1913	30 March 1920	6 years, 283 days	Social Liberals	Zahle II
29		Rode, Ove [da] (1868–1945)	30 March 1920	5 April 1920	6 days	Nonpartisan	Liebe
30		Vedel, Henrik [da] (1867–1932)	5 April 1920	5 May 1920	30 days	Nonpartisan	Friis
(24)		Berg, Sigurd [da] (1868–1921)	5 May 1920	11 July 1921 †	1 year, 67 days	Venstre
31		Krag, Oluf Christian [da] (1870–1942)	18 July 1921	23 April 1924	2 years, 287 days	Venstre	–
32		Hauge, Christen Nielsen [da] (1870–1940)	23 April 1924	14 December 1926	2 years, 235 days	Social Democrats	Stauning I
(31)		Krag, Oluf Christian [da] (1870–1942)	14 December 1926	30 April 1929	2 years, 137 days	Nonpartisan
33		Dahlgaard, BertelBertel Dahlgaard (1887–1972)	30 April 1929	8 July 1940	11 years, 69 days	Social Liberals	Stauning II Cabinet–III––
34		Kristensen, KnudKnud Kristensen (1880–1962)	8 July 1940	9 November 1942	2 years, 93 days	Venstre	Stauning VI Cabinet Buhl I Cabinet
35		Jørgensen, JørgenJørgen Jørgensen (1888–1974)	9 November 1942	29 August 1943	324 days	Social Liberals	Scavenius
No Danish government in between 29 August 1943 (1943-08-29) and 5 May 1945 (1945-05-05). Office is assumed by the permanent secretary.
(34)		Kristensen, KnudKnud Kristensen (1880–1962)	5 May 1945	7 November 1945	186 days	Venstre	Buhl II
36		Kjær, Ejnar MartinEjnar Martin Kjær (1893–1947)	7 November 1945	18 June 1947 †	1 year, 223 days	Venstre	Kristensen

Interior ministers under Frederik IX (1947–1972)[]

No.	Portrait	Minister of the Interior	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	Cabinet
37		Arnth-Jensen, Niels [da] (1883–1966)	30 June 1947	13 November 1947	136 days	Venstre	Kristensen
38		Andersen, Alsing EmanuelAlsing Emanuel Andersen (1893–1962)	13 November 1947	23 November 1947	10 days	Social Democrats
39		Smørum, Jens [da] (1891–1976)	23 November 1947	30 October 1950	2 years, 341 days	Social Democrats
40		Møller, Aksel [da] (1906–1958)	30 October 1950	30 September 1953	2 years, 335 days	Conservative
41		Kjærbøl, Johannes [da] (1885–1973)	30 September 1953	30 August 1955	1 year, 334 days	Social Democrats
42		Petersen, CarlCarl Petersen (1894–1984)	30 August 1955	28 May 1957	1 year, 271 days	Social Democrats
43		Olesen, Søren [da] (1891–1973)	28 May 1957	18 November 1960	3 years, 174 days	Justice
44		Knudsen, Hans Rynkeby [da] (1903–1962)	18 November 1960	7 September 1961	293 days	Social Democrats
45		Jensen, Lars Peter [da] (1909–1986)	7 September 1961	26 September 1964	3 years, 19 days	Social Democrats
46		Hækkerup, Hans Erling [da] (1907–1974)	26 September 1964	2 February 1968	3 years, 129 days	Social Democrats
47		Sørensen, Poul Clorius [da] (1904–1969)	2 February 1968	29 June 1969 †	1 year, 147 days	Conservative
48		Toft, Hans Carl [da] (1914–2001)	11 July 1969	11 October 1971	2 years, 92 days	Conservative
49		Jensen, EgonEgon Jensen (1922–1985)	11 October 1971	19 December 1973	2 years, 69 days	Social Democrats

Interior ministers under Margrethe II (1972–present)[]

No.	Portrait	Name (Born-Died)	Term			Political Party	Government
			Took office	Left office	Duration
Minister of the Interior (Indenrigsminister)
50		Sørensen, Jacob [da] (1915–1990)	19 December 1973	13 February 1975	1 year, 56 days	Venstre	Hartling Cabinet
(49)		Jensen, EgonEgon Jensen (1922–1985)	13 February 1975	30 August 1978	3 years, 198 days	Social Democrats
51		Enggaard, KnudKnud Enggaard (born 1929)	30 August 1978	26 October 1979	1 year, 57 days	Venstre
52		Rasmussen, Henning [da] (1926–1997)	26 October 1979	10 September 1982	2 years, 319 days	Social Democrats
53		Holberg, Britta Caroc [da] (1941–2022)	10 September 1982	12 March 1986	3 years, 183 days	Venstre
(51)		Enggaard, KnudKnud Enggaard (born 1929)	12 March 1986	10 September 1987	1 year, 182 days	Venstre
54		Pedersen, ThorThor Pedersen (born 1945)	10 September 1987	25 January 1993	5 years, 137 days	Venstre	––
55		Weiss, BirteBirte Weiss (born 1941)	25 January 1993	20 October 1997	4 years, 268 days	Social Democrats	Poul Nyrup Rasmussen I Cabinet–II–III
56		Simonsen, ThorkildThorkild Simonsen (born 1926)	20 October 1997	23 February 2000	2 years, 126 days	Social Democrats	Poul Nyrup Rasmussen III Cabinet–IV
57		Jespersen, KarenKaren Jespersen (born 1947)	23 February 2000	27 November 2001	1 year, 277 days	Social Democrats	Poul Nyrup Rasmussen IV Cabinet
Minister of the Interior and Health (Indenrigs- og sundhedsminister)
58		Rasmussen, Lars LøkkeLars Løkke Rasmussen (born 1964)	27 November 2001	23 November 2007	5 years, 361 days	Venstre	Anders Fogh Rasmussen I Cabinet–II
Dismantled, role placed within the Ministry of Social Affairs
-		Jespersen, KarenKaren Jespersen (born 1947)	23 November 2007	7 April 2009	1 year, 135 days	Venstre	Anders Fogh Rasmussen III Cabinet
Ministry of the Interior and Social Affairs (Indenrigs- og Socialminister)
59		Ellemann, KarenKaren Ellemann (born 1969)	7 April 2009	23 February 2010	322 days	Venstre	Lars Løkke Rasmussen I Cabinet
Minister of the Interior and Health (Indenrigs- og sundhedsminister)
60		Haarder, BertelBertel Haarder (born 1944)	23 February 2010	3 October 2011	1 year, 222 days	Venstre	Lars Løkke Rasmussen I Cabinet
Ministry of Economy and the Interior (Økonomi- og Indenrigsministeriet)
61		Vestager, MargretheMargrethe Vestager (born 1968)	3 October 2011	2 September 2014	2 years, 334 days	Social Liberals	Thorning-Schmidt I Cabinet–II
62		Østergaard, MortenMorten Østergaard (born 1976)	2 September 2014	28 June 2015	299 days	Social Liberals	Thorning-Schmidt II Cabinet
Ministry of Social Affairs and the Interior (Social- og Indenrigsministeriet)
(59)		Ellemann, KarenKaren Ellemann (born 1969)	28 June 2015	28 November 2016	1 year, 153 days	Venstre	Lars Løkke Rasmussen II Cabinet
Ministry of Economy and the Interior (Økonomi- og Indenrigsministeriet)
63		Ammitzbøll-Bille, Simon EmilSimon Emil Ammitzbøll-Bille (born 1977)	28 November 2016	27 June 2019	2 years, 211 days	Liberal Alliance	Lars Løkke Rasmussen III Cabinet
Minister for Social Affairs and the Interior (Social- og indenrigsminister)
63		Astrid Krag (born 1982)	27 June 2019	21 January 2021	1 year, 208 days	Social Democrats	Frederiksen Cabinet
Minister for and Interior (Bolig- og indenrigsminister)
64		Kaare Dybvad (born 1984)	21 January 2021	Incumbent	1 year, 57 days	Social Democrats	Frederiksen Cabinet

Notes[]

• Frederik Tobiesen was often referred to by his nickname Frits Tobiesen.
• From November 1918 to March 1920, Thorvald Stauning (Minister without Portfolio) assumed the Interior Minister's duties regarding the so-called Interior Ministry's Social Department Regarding Worker's Relations. ([1]), but he was not awarded the title of minister.
• 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 total of three ministers died in office. Their successors were not appointed immediately.
• Some tasks were transferred to the Ministry of Health in 1987.
• The Ministry of Health was shut down in 2001, and some tasks transferred to the Ministry of the Interior, which were then renamed to the Ministry of the Interior and Health.

Sources[]

• The Danish Ministry of the Interior. A history of the ministry
• The Danish Ministry of the Interior. A list of ministers^{[permanent dead link]}
• Lists of Danish governments since 1848