List of heads of government of Norway

This is a list of heads of government of Norway. In the modern era, the head of government has the title prime minister (statsminister). At various times in the past, the highest governmental title has included steward (rigsstatholder), viceroy (vicekonge) and first minister (førstestatsraad)

Until 1873, the King of the personal union between Sweden and Norway governed Norway through two cabinets: one in Stockholm and another in Christiania (now Oslo). The newly created Stockholm cabinet consisted of a prime minister and two ministers, whose role was to convey the attitudes of the Christiania cabinet to the Swedish King. The cabinet in Christiania was led by a steward (rigsstatholder). For brief periods, the incumbent crown prince was appointed Viceroy of Norway by the King, in which case the viceroy became the highest authority in Christiania. Whenever the King was present in Christiania, however, he assumed the highest authority, thus putting the governor or viceroy temporarily out of charge. Likewise, when there was no governor, viceroy or king present in Christiania (which was not unusual), the cabinet was led by the first minister, who was the most prominent member of the cabinet.

In July 1873, the position of governor was abolished after being vacant since 1856. Simultaneously, the post of First Minister in Christiania was upgraded to Prime Minister of Norway. Although the office of Norwegian Prime Minister in Stockholm still existed, the real power and influence over state affairs was moved to the prime minister in Christiania, while prime minister in Stockholm became the second highest cabinet position, responsible for conveying the government's views to the King. When the union was dissolved in 1905, the position of prime minister in Stockholm was abolished.

Stewards of Norway[]

The Steward of Norway, styled Rigsstatholder in Danish (riksstattholder in modern Norwegian spelling), meaning Lieutenant of the realm (see Steward (office)), was the appointed head of the Norwegian Government in the absence of the Monarch during the Dano-Norwegian union. As Norway was a separate kingdom, with its own laws and institutions, the position of steward of Norway was arguably the most influential position for a Danish-Norwegian nobleman or royal to hold, second to the King.

Stewards of Norway (1536/1537 – 1814)[]

Peder Hansen Litle (1536/1537 – 1551)
Jesper Friis (1551 – 1556)
Christen Munk (1556 – 1572)
Povel Ottesen Huitfeldt (1572 – 1577)
Ludvig Ludvigsen Munk til Norlund (9 July 1577 – 1583)
Ove Juul (acting) (1583 – 1588)
Axel Gyldenstierne (1588 – 1601)
Jørgen Friis til Krastrup (1601 – 1608)
Enevold Kruse til Hjermislov (1608 – 1618)
Jens Hermansson Juul (1618 – 1629)
Christoffer Knudsson Urne til Asmark (1629 – 1642)
Hannibal Sehested (1642 – 24 June 1651)
Gregers Krabbe (1651 – 20 December 1655)
Niels Trolle til Trollesholm og Gavnø (1656 – 28 March 1661)
Iver Tageson Krabbe (8 Oct 1661 – 1664)
Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, Greve til Laurvig og Tønsberg (Jan 1664 – 1699)
- Ove Juul (Vice-Governor-General of Norway under Gyldenløve) (1669 – 5 June 1675)
- Jens Juul (Vice-Governor-General of Norway under Gyldenløve) (5 June 1675 – 9 May 1682)
- Just Högh til Fultofte (Vice-Governor-General of Norway under Gyldenløve) (9 May 1682 – 26 September 1694)
Frederik Gabel (30 September 1699 – 1708)
Johan Vibe (10 April 1708 – 22 Feb 1710)
Ulrik Frederik Valdemar, Baron Løvendal (1 Aug 1710 – 30 April 1712)
Claus Henrik Vieregg (4 August 1712 – 14 July 1713)
Frederik Krag (19 September 1713 – 1722)
Ditlev Vibe (17 April 1722 – 5 October 1731)
Patroclus Rømeling (acting) 1731–1733
Christian, Greve Rantzau (1733–1739)
Hans Jakob Arnold (acting) (1739 – 11 Sep 1750)
Jacob von Benzon (11 September 1750 – 8 February 1771)
Carl, Landgraf zu Hessen (4 July 1766 – January 1768) (acting for von Benzon)
- Vacant (8 Feb 1771 – 25 July 1809)
Christian August, Prins von Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg (25 July 1809 – 11 Jan 1810)
Frederik, Landgraf zu Hessen-Kassel (11 Jan 1810 – 11 May 1813)
Christian Frederik, Prins af Danmark (11 May 1813 – 16 Feb 1814)

Split premiership (1814–1905)[]

First Minister (1814–1873)[]

Prior to 1884, there were no organised political parties in Norway; the prime ministers were considered senior civil servants (Embedsmenn). They were appointed by the King and were not subject to legislative confirmation. All Prime Ministers before 1884 opposed the constitutional reforms proposed by the parliamentary opposition, and were in their time viewed as conservatives. The Prime Minister was subordinate to the Steward and Viceroy, and the First Minister was subordinate to the Prime Minister. The de facto head of government was the First Minister.

		Term of office				Term of office		Government
Name (Birth–Death)	Picture	Term of office		Name (Birth–Death)	Picture	Term of office		Government
Peder Anker (1749–1824)		1814	1822	Frederik Gottschalk von Haxthausen (1750–1825)		1814	1814	Wedel I
				Marcus Gjøe Rosenkrantz (1762–1838)		1814	1815	Wedel I
				Mathias Sommerhielm (1764–1827)		1815	1822	Wedel I
Mathias Sommerhielm (1764–1827)		1822	1827	Jonas Collett (1772–1851)		1822	1836	Wedel I
Severin Løvenskiold (1777–1856)		1828	1841	Nicolai Johan Lohmann Krog (1787–1856)		1836	1855	Wedel II Løvenskiold/Vogt
Frederik Gottschalck Haxthausen Due (1796–1873)		1841	1858	Jørgen Herman Vogt (1784–1862)		1856	1858	Løvenskiold/Vogt Vogt
Georg Christian Sibbern (1816–1901)		1858	1871	Hans Christian Petersen (1793–1862)		1858	1861	Sibbern/Birch/Motzfeldt
Otto Richard Kierulf (1825–1897)		1871	1873	Frederik Stang (1808–1884)		1861	1873	Frederik Stang

Prime Minister in Christiania (1873–1905)[]

In 1873 the office of the First Minister of Norway was upgraded to Prime Minister, based in Christiania. The office of Prime Minister based in Stockholm continued, with responsibility for communicating the policies of the Prime Minister in Christiania to the King, making it subordinate to the office in Christiania. In addition, a separate Prime Minister of Sweden was appointed from 1876 onwards.

Liberal Party of Norway (Venstre) Conservative Party (Høyre) Coalition Party (Samlingspartiet)

						Term of office		Cabinet
Name (Birth-Death)	Picture	Political party	Name (Birth-Death)	Picture	Political party	Term of office		Cabinet
Otto Richard Kierulf (1825–1897)		N/A	Frederik Stang (1808–1884)		N/A	1873	1880	F.Stang
Otto Richard Kierulf (1825–1897)		N/A	Christian August Selmer (1816–1889)		Conservative Party	1880	1884	Selmer
Wolfgang Wenzel von Haffner (1806–1892) (acting)		N/A	Christian August Selmer (1816–1889)		Conservative Party	1884	1884	Selmer
Carl Otto Løvenskiold (1839–1916)		N/A	Christian Homann Schweigaard (1838–1899)		Conservative Party	1884	1884	Schweigaard
Ole Jørgensen Richter (1829–1888)		Liberal Party	Johan Sverdrup (1816–1892)		Liberal Party	1884	1888	Sverdrup V
Hans Georg Jacob Stang (1830–1907)		Liberal Party	Johan Sverdrup (1816–1892)		Liberal Party	1888	1889	Sverdrup V
Gregers Winther Wulfsberg Gram (1846–1929)		Conservative Party	Emil Stang (1834–1912)		Conservative Party	1889	1891	Stang I H
Otto Blehr (1847–1927)		Liberal Party	Johannes Steen (1827–1906)		Liberal Party	1891	1893	Steen I V
Gregers Winther Wulfsberg Gram (1846–1929)		Conservative Party	Emil Stang (1834–1912)		Conservative Party	1893	1895	Stang II H
Gregers Winther Wulfsberg Gram (1846–1929)		Conservative Party	Francis Hagerup (1853–1921)		Conservative Party	1895	1898	Hagerup I H–MV–V
Otto Blehr (1853–1921)		Liberal Party	Johannes Steen (1827–1906)		Liberal Party	1898	1902	Steen II V
Ole Anton Qvam (1834–1904)		Liberal Party	Otto Blehr (1847–1927)		Liberal Party	1902	1903	Blehr I V
Sigurd Ibsen (1859–1930)		Liberal Party	Francis Hagerup (1853–1921)		Coalition Party	1903	1905	Hagerup II H–V
Jørgen Løvland (1848–1922)		Liberal Party	Christian Michelsen (1857–1925)		Liberal Party	1905	1905	Michelsen V–H–MV

Prime Ministers of Norway (1905–present)[]

In 1905, the union between Sweden and Norway was dissolved. Since then the office of the Prime Minister of Norway has been in Oslo, except for the years of Nazi-German occupation during World War II when the Norwegian government was in exile in London.

Prime Ministers of Norway (1905–1940)[]

Liberal Party (Venstre) Free-minded Liberal Party (Frisinnede Venstre) Conservative Party (Høyre) Norwegian Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) Agrarian Party (Bondepartiet)

	Name (Birth–Death)	Took office	Left office	Political party	Cabinet	Monarch of the Kingdom of Norway (Reign)
1	Christian Michelsen (1857–1925)	11 March 1905	23 October 1907	Liberal Party	Michelsen V–H–MV	Haakon VII (18 November 1905 – 21 September 1957)
2	Jørgen Løvland (1848–1922)	23 October 1907	19 March 1908	Liberal Party	Løvland V–MV
3	Gunnar Knudsen (1848–1928)	19 March 1908	2 February 1910	Liberal Party	Knudsen I V
4	Wollert Konow (1845–1924)	2 February 1910	20 February 1912	Free-minded Liberal Party	Konow H–FV
5	Jens Bratlie (1856–1939)	20 February 1912	31 January 1913	Conservative Party	Bratlie H–FV
6	Gunnar Knudsen (1848–1928)	31 January 1913	21 June 1920	Liberal Party	Knudsen II V
7	Otto Bahr Halvorsen (1872–1923)	21 June 1920	22 June 1921	Conservative Party	Bahr Halvorsen I H–FV
8	Otto Albert Blehr (1847–1927)	22 June 1921	6 March 1923	Liberal Party	Blehr II V
9	Otto Bahr Halvorsen (1872–1923)	6 March 1923	23 May 1923	Conservative Party	Bahr Halvorsen II H–FV
10	Abraham Berge (1851–1936)	30 May 1923	25 July 1924	Free-minded Liberal Party	Berge H–FV
11	Johan Ludwig Mowinckel (1870–1943)	25 July 1924	5 March 1926	Liberal Party	Mowinckel I V
12	Ivar Lykke (1872–1949)	5 March 1926	28 January 1928	Conservative Party	Lykke H–FV
13	Christopher Hornsrud (1859–1960)	28 January 1928	15 February 1928	Labour Party	Hornsrud Ap
14	Johan Ludwig Mowinckel (1870–1943)	15 February 1928	12 May 1931	Liberal Party	Mowinckel II V
15	Peder Kolstad (1878–1932)	12 May 1931	5 March 1932	Agrarian Party	Kolstad B
16	Jens Hundseid (1883–1965)	14 March 1932	3 March 1933	Agrarian Party	Hundseid B
17	Johan Ludwig Mowinckel (1870–1943)	3 March 1933	20 March 1935	Liberal Party	Mowinckel III V
18	Johan Nygaardsvold (1879–1952)	20 March 1935 (head of government in exile from 1940)	25 June 1945	Labour Party	Nygaardsvold Ap

Heads of Government (1940–1945)[]

Government sanction by Nazi Germany during the occupation of Norway. The Nygaardsvold exile government (1935–1945) is recognised as the elected government during the occupation.

National Unity (Nasjonal Samling) Conservative Party (Høyre) German Nazi Party

	Name (Birth-Death)	Took office	Left office	Political party	Cabinet
19	Vidkun Quisling (1887–1945)	9 April 1940 (committed a coup d'état)	15 April 1940	National Unity	Quisling I NS
20	Ingolf Elster Christensen (1872–1943) as Chairman of the Administrative Council	15 April 1940	25 September 1940	Conservative Party	Administrative Council
21	Josef Terboven (1898–1945) as Reichskommissar	25 September 1940	1 February 1942	Member of the National Socialist German Workers' Party, but serving as a German civil servant rather than in a political role	Reichskommissariat NSDAP
22	Vidkun Quisling (1887–1945) as Minister President	1 February 1942	9 May 1945	National Unity	Quisling II NS

Prime Ministers of Norway (1945–present)[]

Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet) Conservative Party (Høyre) Centre Party (Senterpartiet) Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)

	Name (Birth-Death)	Elected	Took office	Left office	Political party	Cabinet(s)	Monarch of the Kingdom of Norway (Reign)
23	Einar Gerhardsen (1897–1987)	—	25 June 1945	19 November 1951	Labour Party	Gerhardsen I Ap–H–Sp–V–NKP	Haakon VII (18 November 1905 – 21 September 1957)
23	Einar Gerhardsen (1897–1987)	1945 1949	25 June 1945	19 November 1951	Labour Party	Gerhardsen II Ap
24	Oscar Torp (1893–1958)	1953	19 November 1951	22 January 1955	Labour Party	Torp Ap
25	Einar Gerhardsen (1897–1987)	1957 1961	22 January 1955	28 August 1963	Labour Party	Gerhardsen III Ap	Olav V (21 September 1957 – 17 January 1991)
26	John Lyng (1905–1978)	—	28 August 1963	25 September 1963	Conservative Party	Lyng H–Sp–KrF–V
27	Einar Gerhardsen (1897–1987)	—	25 September 1963	12 October 1965	Labour Party	Gerhardsen IV Ap
28	Per Borten (1913–2005)	1965 1969	12 October 1965	17 March 1971	Centre Party	Borten Sp–H–KrF–V
29	Trygve Bratteli (1910–1984)	—	17 March 1971	18 October 1972	Labour Party	Bratteli I Ap
30	Lars Korvald (1916–2006)	—	18 October 1972	16 October 1973	Christian Democratic Party	Korvald KrF–Sp–V
31	Trygve Bratteli (1910–1984)	1973	16 October 1973	15 January 1976	Labour Party	Bratteli II Ap
32	Odvar Nordli (1927–2018)	1977	15 January 1976	4 February 1981	Labour Party	Nordli Ap
33	Gro Harlem Brundtland (born 1939)	—	4 February 1981	14 October 1981	Labour Party	Brundtland I Ap
34	Kåre Willoch (1928–2021)	1981	14 October 1981	9 May 1986	Conservative Party	Willoch I H
34	Kåre Willoch (1928–2021)	1985	14 October 1981	9 May 1986	Conservative Party	Willoch II H–KrF–Sp
35	Gro Harlem Brundtland (born 1939)	—	9 May 1986	16 October 1989	Labour Party	Brundtland II Ap
36	Jan Peder Syse (1930–1997)	1989	16 October 1989	3 November 1990	Conservative Party	Syse H–KrF–Sp
37	Gro Harlem Brundtland (born 1939)	1993	3 November 1990	25 October 1996	Labour Party	Brundtland III Ap	Harald V (17 January 1991 – Present)
38	Thorbjørn Jagland (born 1950)	—	25 October 1996	17 October 1997	Labour Party	Jagland Ap
39	Kjell Magne Bondevik (born 1947)	1997	17 October 1997	17 March 2000	Christian Democratic Party	Bondevik I KrF–Sp–V
40	Jens Stoltenberg (born 1959)	—	17 March 2000	19 October 2001	Labour Party	Stoltenberg I Ap
41	Kjell Magne Bondevik (born 1947)	2001	19 October 2001	17 October 2005	Christian Democratic Party	Bondevik II KrF–H–V
42	Jens Stoltenberg (born 1959)	2005 2009	17 October 2005	16 October 2013	Labour Party	Stoltenberg II Ap–SV–Sp
43	Erna Solberg (born 1961)	2013	16 October 2013	14 October 2021	Conservative Party	Solberg I H–FrP
		2017				Solberg II H–FrP–V
		—				Solberg III H–FrP–V-KrF
		—				Solberg IV H–V–KrF
44	Jonas Gahr Støre (born 1960)	2021	14 October 2021	Incumbent	Labour Party	Støre Ap-Sp