List of prime ministers of Denmark

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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)[]

Key: † Died in office

No.	Portrait	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 †	8 years, 330 days	Frederick IV of Denmark
3		Sehested, Christian ChristophersenChristian Christophersen Sehested (1666–1740)	21 July 1708	20 June 1721	12 years, 334 days	Frederick IV of Denmark
4		Holstein, Ulrik AdolfUlrik Adolf Holstein (1664–1737)	20 June 1721	17 October 1730	9 years, 119 days	Frederick IV of Denmark

List of Privy Councillors (1730–1848)[]

Key: † Died in office

No.	Portrait	Privy Councillor	Took office	Left office	Time in office	King
1		Rosenkrantz, IverIver Rosenkrantz (1674–1745)	17 October 1730	12 May 1735	4 years, 207 days	Christian VI of Denmark (1730 – 1746)
2		Holstein-Ledreborg, Johan LudvigJohan Ludvig Holstein-Ledreborg (1694–1763) [a]	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	1 year, 126 days	Christian VII of Denmark (1766 – 1808)
5		Høegh-Guldberg, OveOve Høegh-Guldberg (1731–1808)	17 January 1772	14 April 1784	12 years, 88 days	Christian VII of Denmark (1766 – 1808)
6		Bernstorff, Andreas PeterAndreas Peter Bernstorff (1735–1797)	14 April 1784	21 June 1797 †	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, Frederik Julius [da] (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

No.	Portrait	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	3 years, 311 days	Independent	— 1849	Moltke I Cabinet–II––
2		Bluhme, Christian AlbrechtChristian Albrecht Bluhme (1794–1866)	27 January 1852	21 April 1853	1 year, 84 days	Højre	1852 Feb. 1853
3		Ørsted, Anders SandøeAnders Sandøe Ørsted (1778–1860)	21 April 1853	12 December 1854	1 year, 235 days	Independent	May. 1853
4		Bang, Peter GeorgPeter Georg Bang (1797–1861)	12 December 1854	12 October 1855	304 days	Independent	1854

List of Council Presidents (1855–1918)[]

Council Presidents under Frederik VII (1855–1863)[]

Key: † Died in office

No.	Portrait	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	1 year, 6 days	Independent	1855
2		Andræ, Carl Christoffer GeorgCarl Christoffer Georg Andræ (1812–1893)	18 October 1856	13 May 1857	207 days	Independent	—
3		Hall, Carl ChristianCarl Christian Hall (1812–1888)	13 May 1857	2 December 1859	2 years, 203 days	National Liberal	1858
4		Rotwitt, Carl EdvardCarl Edvard Rotwitt (1812–1860)	2 December 1859	8 February 1860 †	68 days	Bondevennerne	—
—		Blixen-Finecke, Carl Frederik [da] (1822–1873) Acting	8 February 1860	24 February 1860	16 days	Independent	—
(3)		Hall, Carl ChristianCarl Christian Hall (1812–1888)	24 February 1860	31 December 1863	3 years, 310 days	National Liberal	1861

Council Presidents under Christian IX (1863–1906)[]

Key: † Died in office

No.	Portrait	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	193 days	National Liberal	—	National Liberal	Monrad
6		Bluhme, Christian AlbrechtChristian Albrecht Bluhme (1794–1866)	11 July 1864	6 November 1865	1 year, 118 days	Nonpartisan	1864	Højre
7		Frijs, Christian EmilChristian Emil Frijs (1817–1896)	6 November 1865	28 May 1870	4 years, 203 days	National Landowners	Jun.1866 Oct.1866 1869	National Landowners (1865 – 1866) National Landowners–National Liberal	Frijs
8		Holstein-Holsteinborg, LudvigLudvig Holstein-Holsteinborg (1815–1892)	28 May 1870	14 July 1874	4 years, 47 days		1872 1873	National Landowners–National Liberal
9		Fonnesbech, Christen AndreasChristen Andreas Fonnesbech (1817–1880)	14 July 1874	11 June 1875	332 days	National Landowners	—	National Landowners–National Liberal
10		Estrup, Jacob Brønnum ScaveniusJacob Brønnum Scavenius Estrup (1825–1913)	11 June 1875	7 August 1894	19 years, 57 days	National Landowners Højre	1876 1879 May & Jul.1881 1884 1887 1890 1892	National Landowners (1875 – 1881) Højre (1881 – 1894)	Estrup
11		Reedtz-Thott, TageTage Reedtz-Thott (1839–1923)	7 August 1894	23 May 1897	2 years, 289 days	Højre	1895	Højre	Reedtz-Thott
12		Hørring, Hugo EgmontHugo Egmont Hørring (1842–1909)	23 May 1897	27 April 1900	2 years, 339 days	Højre	1898	Højre	Hørring
13		Sehested, HannibalHannibal Sehested (1842–1924)	27 April 1900	24 July 1901	1 year, 88 days	Højre	—	Højre	Sehested
14		Deuntzer, Johan HenrikJohan Henrik Deuntzer (1845–1918)	24 July 1901	14 January 1905	3 years, 174 days	Venstre Reform	1901 1903	Venstre	Deuntzer
15		Christensen, Jens ChristianJens Christian Christensen (1856–1930)	14 January 1905	24 July 1908	3 years, 192 days	Venstre Reform	1906	Venstre

Council Presidents under Frederik VIII (1906–1912)[]

No.	Portrait	Council President	Took office	Left office	Time in office	Party	Election	Cabinet
16		Neergaard, NielsNiels Neergaard (1854–1936)	12 October 1908	16 August 1909	308 days	Venstre Reform	−
17		Holstein-Ledreborg, LudvigLudvig Holstein-Ledreborg (1839–1912)	16 August 1909	28 October 1909	73 days	Venstre Reform	1909
18		Zahle, Carl TheodorCarl Theodor Zahle (1866–1946)	28 October 1909	5 July 1910	250 days	Social Liberals	−
19		Berntsen, KlausKlaus Berntsen (1844–1927)	5 July 1910	21 June 1913	2 years, 351 days	Venstre	1910

Council Presidents under Christian X (1912–1947)[]

No.	Portrait	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	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

№	Portrait	Prime Minister (Born-Died)	Term			Political Party	Election	Coalition	Cabinet
			Took office	Left office	Duration
5		Zahle, Carl TheodorCarl Theodor Zahle (1866–1946)	21 April 1918	30 March 1920	1 year, 344 days	Social Liberals	1918	Social Liberals	Zahle II
6		Liebe, OttoOtto Liebe (1860–1929)	30 March 1920	5 April 1920	6 days	Independent	–	Caretaker government	Liebe
7		Friis, Michael PedersenMichael Pedersen Friis (1857–1944)	5 April 1920	5 May 1920	30 days	Independent	–	Caretaker government	Friis
8		Neergaard, NielsNiels Neergaard (1854–1936)	5 May 1920	23 April 1924	3 years, 354 days	Venstre	Apr.1920 Jul.1920 Sep.1920	Venstre	–
9		Stauning, ThorvaldThorvald Stauning (1873–1942)	23 April 1924	14 December 1926	2 years, 235 days	Social Democrats	1924	Social Democrats	Stauning I
10		Madsen-Mygdal, ThomasThomas Madsen-Mygdal (1876–1943)	14 December 1926	30 April 1929	2 years, 137 days	Venstre	1926	Venstre
(9)		Stauning, ThorvaldThorvald Stauning (1873–1942) [b]	30 April 1929	3 May 1942 †	13 years, 3 days	Social Democrats	1929 1932 1935 1939	Social Democrats–Social Liberals (1929 – 1940) Unity government (1940 – 1942)	Stauning II Cabinet–III–––VI
11		Buhl, VilhelmVilhelm Buhl (1881–1954)	4 May 1942	9 November 1942	189 days	Social Democrats	–	Unity government	Buhl I Cabinet
12		Scavenius, ErikErik Scavenius (1877–1962)	9 November 1942	29 August 1943	293 days	Independent	1943	Unity government	Scavenius Cabinet
No Danish government (29 August 1943[c] – 5 May 1945). Office is assumed by the permanent secretary.
(11)		Buhl, VilhelmVilhelm Buhl (1881–1954)	5 May 1945	7 November 1945	186 days	Social Democrats	–	Unity government	Buhl II Cabinet
13		Kristensen, KnudKnud Kristensen (1880–1962)	7 November 1945	13 November 1947	2 years, 6 days	Venstre	1945	Venstre	Kristensen Cabinet

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

№	Portrait	Prime Minister (Born-Died)	Term			Political Party	Election	Coalition	Cabinet
			Took office	Left office	Duration
14		Hedtoft, HansHans Hedtoft (1903–1955)	13 November 1947	30 October 1950	2 years, 351 days	Social Democrats	1947	Social Democrats (1947 – 1950)
15		Eriksen, ErikErik Eriksen (1902–1972)	30 October 1950	30 September 1953	2 years, 335 days	Venstre	1950 Apr.1953	Venstre–Conservative (1950 – 1953)
(14)		Hedtoft, HansHans Hedtoft (1903–1955) [d]	30 September 1953	29 January 1955 †	1 year, 121 days	Social Democrats	Sep.1953	Social Democrats (1953 – 1955)
16		Hansen, Hans ChristianHans Christian Hansen (1906–1960) [e]	1 February 1955	19 February 1960 †	5 years, 18 days	Social Democrats	— 1957	Social Democrats (1955 – 1957) Social Democrats–Social Liberals–Justice (1957 – 1960)	–
17		Kampmann, ViggoViggo Kampmann (1910–1976)	21 February 1960	3 September 1962	2 years, 194 days	Social Democrats	— 1960	Social Democrats–Social Liberals–Justice (1960 – 1960) Social Democrats–Social Liberals (1960 – 1962)	–
18		Krag, Jens OttoJens Otto Krag (1914–1978)	3 September 1962	2 February 1968	5 years, 152 days	Social Democrats	— 1964	Social Democrats–Social Liberals (1962 – 1964) Social Democrats (1964 – 1968)	–
19		Baunsgaard, HilmarHilmar Baunsgaard (1920–1989)	2 February 1968	11 October 1971	3 years, 251 days	Social Liberals	1968	Social Liberals–Conservative–Venstre (1968 – 1971)
(18)		Krag, Jens OttoJens Otto Krag (1914–1978)	11 October 1971	5 October 1972	360 days	Social Democrats	1971	Social Democrats (1971 – 1972)

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

№	Portrait	Prime Minister (Born-Died)	Term			Political Party	Election	Coalition	Cabinet
			Took office	Left office	Duration
20		Jørgensen, AnkerAnker Jørgensen (1922–2016)	5 October 1972	19 December 1973	1 year, 75 days	Social Democrats	—	Social Democrats (1972 – 1973)
21		Hartling, PoulPoul Hartling (1914–2000)	19 December 1973	13 February 1975	1 year, 56 days	Venstre	1973	Venstre (1973 – 1975)	Hartling Cabinet
(20)		Jørgensen, AnkerAnker Jørgensen (1922–2016)	13 February 1975	10 September 1982	7 years, 209 days	Social Democrats	1975 1977 1979 1981	Social Democrats (1975 – 1978) Social Democrats–Venstre (1978 – 1979) Social Democrats (1979 – 1982)	–––
22		Schlüter, PoulPoul Schlüter (1929–2021)	10 September 1982	25 January 1993	10 years, 137 days	Conservative	1984 1987 1988 1990	Conservative–Venstre–Centre Democrats–Christian Democrats (1984 – 1988) Conservative–Venstre–Social Liberals (1988 – 1990) Conservative–Venstre (1990 – 1993)	–––
23		Rasmussen, Poul NyrupPoul Nyrup Rasmussen (born 1943)	25 January 1993	27 November 2001	8 years, 306 days	Social Democrats	— 1994 1998	Social Democrats–Centre Democrats–Social Liberals–Christian Democrats (1993 – 1994) Social Democrats–Centre Democrats–Social Liberals (1994 – 1996) Social Democrats–Social Liberals (1996 – 2001)	Poul Nyrup Rasmussen I Cabinet–II–III–IV
24		Rasmussen, Anders FoghAnders Fogh Rasmussen (born 1953)	27 November 2001	5 April 2009	7 years, 129 days	Venstre	2001 2005 2007	Venstre–Conservative (2001 – 2009)	Anders Fogh Rasmussen I Cabinet–II–III
25		Rasmussen, Lars LøkkeLars Løkke Rasmussen (born 1964)	5 April 2009	3 October 2011	2 years, 181 days	Venstre	—	Venstre–Conservative	L.L. Rasmussen I
26		Thorning-Schmidt, HelleHelle Thorning-Schmidt (born 1966)	3 October 2011	28 June 2015	3 years, 298 days	Social Democrats	2011	Social Democrats–Social Liberals–SF (2011 – 2014) Social Democrats–Social Liberals (2014 – 2015)	Thorning-Schmidt I Cabinet–II
(25)		Rasmussen, Lars LøkkeLars Løkke Rasmussen (born 1964)	28 June 2015	27 June 2019	3 years, 364 days	Venstre	2015	Venstre (2015 – 2016) Venstre–Liberal Alliance–Conservative (2016 – 2019)	Lars Løkke Rasmussen II Cabinet–III
27		Frederiksen, MetteMette Frederiksen (born 1977)	27 June 2019	Incumbent	2 years, 227 days	Social Democrats	2019	Social Democrats (since 2019)	Frederiksen Cabinet

Timeline (1848–present)[]

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