List of prime ministers of Sweden

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Current Prime Minister Stefan Löfven was appointed on 3 October 2014.

The Prime Minister (Swedish: statsminister, literally "Minister of the State") is the head of government in Sweden. Before the creation of the office of Prime Minister in 1876, Sweden did not have a head of government distinct from its head of state, the monarch, who traditionally held all executive authority. Louis De Geer, the architect of the bicameral Riksdag of 1866, which replaced the centuries-old Riksdag of the Estates, became Sweden's first prime minister in 1876. As of 2020, the Prime Minister of Sweden is Stefan Löfven, leader of the Swedish Social Democratic Party. The list below contains statistics about the tenures of each of the prime ministers of Sweden since 1876.

List of prime ministers[]

Before 1876, when the office of Prime Minister was created, Sweden did not have a head of government separate from the monarch. The most-senior member of the Privy Council during the period of absolute rule was the Lord High Chancellor, whose role was similar to that of a head of government. That was most evident during the so-called Age of Liberty, from 1718 to 1772, when the monarch's powers were greatly reduced and the President of the Privy Council became the dominant political figure in Sweden.

Name
(Lifespan) 		Portrait Term Party
(Alliance) 		Cabinet
Parties 		Mandate Monarch
(Reign)
Tenure Time in office
1 Louis Gerhard De Geer
(1818–1896) 		Louis De Geer 1818-1896 from Hildebrand Sveriges historia.jpg 20 March 1876
–
19 April 1880 		4 years, 30 days Independent 1875
1878 		Oscar II of Sweden 1898.jpg
Oscar II
(1872–1907)
2 Arvid Posse
(1820–1901) 		Arvid Posse.jpg 19 April 1880
–
13 June 1883 		3 years, 55 days Lantmanna Party —
1881
3 Carl Johan Thyselius
(1811–1891) 		Carl Johan Thyselius (Hildebrand Sveriges historia).jpg 13 June 1883
–
16 May 1884 		308 days Independent —
4 Robert Themptander
(1844–1897) 		Oscar Robert Themptander (from Hildebrand, Sveriges historia).jpg 16 May 1884
–
6 February 1888 		3 years, 266 days Independent 1884
1887a[§]
1887b
5 Gillis Bildt
(1820–1894) 		Gillis Bildt.jpg 6 February 1888
–
12 October 1889 		1 year, 248 days Independent —
6 Gustaf Åkerhielm
(1833–1900) 		G Åkerhielm.jpg 12 October 1889
–
10 July 1891 		1 year, 271 days Protectionist Party —
1890
7 Erik Gustaf Boström
(1842–1907) 		E G Boström from Hildebrand Sveriges historia.jpg 10 July 1891
–
12 September 1900 		9 years, 64 days Lantmanna Party —
1893
1896
1899
8 Fredrik von Otter
(1833–1910) 		Fredrik von Otter.jpg 12 September 1900
–
5 July 1902 		1 year, 296 days Independent —
(7) Erik Gustaf Boström
(1842–1907) 		E G Boström from Hildebrand Sveriges historia.jpg 5 July 1902
–
13 April 1905 		2 years, 282 days Lantmanna Party —
1902
9 Johan Ramstedt
(1852–1935) 		Johan O Ramstedt.jpg 13 April 1905
–
2 August 1905 		111 days Independent —
10 Christian Lundeberg
(1842–1911) 		Christian Lundeberg.jpg 2 August 1905
–
7 November 1905 		97 days Protectionist Party
(General Electoral League)
AvF–LS 		—
11 Karl Staaff
(1860–1915) 		Karl Staaff.jpg 7 November 1905
–
29 May 1906 		203 days Liberal Coalition Party
LS 		1905
12 Arvid Lindman
(1862–1936) 		Arvid Lindman.jpg 29 May 1906
–
7 October 1911 		5 years, 131 days Lantmanna Party
(General Electoral League)
AvF 		—
1908
Gustaf V av Sverige.jpg
Gustaf V
(1907–1950)
(11) Karl Staaff
(1860–1915) 		Karl Staaff.jpg 7 October 1911
–
17 February 1914 		2 years, 133 days Liberal Coalition Party
LS 		1911
13 Hjalmar Hammarskjöld
(1862–1953) 		Hjalmar Hammarskjöld.jpg 17 February 1914
–
30 March 1917 		3 years, 41 days Independent —
1914a[§]
1914b
14 Carl Swartz
(1858–1926) 		Swartz, Carl i VJ 47 1916.jpg 30 March 1917
–
19 October 1917 		203 days National Party
(General Electoral League)
AvF 		—
15 Nils Edén
(1871–1945) 		Nils Eden.jpg 19 October 1917
–
10 March 1920 		2 years, 143 days Liberal Coalition Party Edén
LS–S 		1917
16 Hjalmar Branting
(1860–1925) 		Hjalmar Branting.png 10 March 1920
–
27 October 1920 		231 days Social Democrats Branting I
S 		—
17 Gerhard Louis De Geer
(1854–1935) 		Louis De Geer (1854-1935).jpg 27 October 1920
–
23 February 1921 		119 days Independent 1920
18 Oscar von Sydow
(1873–1936) 		Oscar von Sydow, statsminister.jpg 23 February 1921
–
13 October 1921 		232 days Independent —
(16) Hjalmar Branting
(1860–1925) 		Hjalmar Branting.png 13 October 1921
–
19 April 1923 		1 year, 188 days Social Democrats Branting II
S 		1921[§]
19 Ernst Trygger
(1857–1943) 		Ernst Trygger portraited by Ivar Kamke.jpg 19 April 1923
–
18 October 1924 		1 year, 182 days National Party
(General Electoral League)
AvF 		—
(16) Hjalmar Branting
(1860–1925) 		Hjalmar Branting.png 18 October 1924
–
24 January 1925 		98 days Social Democrats Branting III
S 		1924
20 Rickard Sandler
(1884–1964) 		Rickard Sandler - Sveriges styresmän.jpg 24 January 1925
–
7 June 1926 		1 year, 134 days Social Democrats
S 		—
21 Carl Gustaf Ekman
(1872–1945) 		C G Ekman.jpg 7 June 1926
–
2 October 1928 		2 years, 117 days Freeminded People's Party
FF–L 		—
(12) Arvid Lindman
(1862–1936) 		Arvid Lindman.jpg 2 October 1928
–
7 June 1930 		1 year, 248 days Lantmanna Party
(General Electoral League)
AvF 		1928
(21) Carl Gustaf Ekman
(1872–1945) 		C G Ekman.jpg 7 June 1930
–
6 August 1932 		2 years, 60 days Freeminded People's Party
FF 		—
22 Felix Hamrin
(1875–1937) 		Felix Hamrin - Sveriges styresmän.jpg 6 August 1932
–
24 September 1932 		49 days Freeminded People's Party
FF 		—
23 Per Albin Hansson
(1885–1946) 		Per Albin Hansson - Sveriges styresmän.jpg 24 September 1932
–
19 June 1936 		3 years, 269 days Social Democrats
S 		1932
24 Axel Pehrsson-Bramstorp
(1883–1954) 		Axel Pehrsson-Bramstorp.jpg 19 June 1936
–
28 September 1936 		101 days Farmers' League
Bf 		—
(23) Per Albin Hansson
(1885–1946) 		Per Albin Hansson - Sveriges styresmän.jpg 28 September 1936
–
6 October 1946[†] 		10 years, 8 days Social Democrats Hansson II
S–Bf 		1936
1940
1944
Hansson III
S–Bf–H–F
Hansson IV
S
— Östen Undén
(1886–1974)
 Östen Undén - Sveriges styresmän.jpg Acting Prime Minister from 6 October 1946 to 11 October 1946 (5 days) due to the death of Per Albin Hansson Social Democrats Hansson IV
S 		—
25 Tage Erlander
(1901–1985) 		Tage Erlander 1949.jpg 11 October 1946
–
14 October 1969 		23 years, 3 days Social Democrats Erlander I
S 		—
1948
1952
1956
1958[§]
1960
1964
1968
Gustaf VI Adolf av Sverige som kronprins.jpg
Gustaf VI Adolf
(1950–1973)

S–Bf

S
26 Olof Palme
(1927–1986) 		Olof Palme.png 14 October 1969
–
8 October 1976 		6 years, 360 days Social Democrats Palme I
S 		—
1970
1973
Crafoord Prize D81 9141 (42282165922) (cropped).jpg
Carl XVI Gustaf
(1973–)
27 Thorbjörn Fälldin
(1926–2016) 		Thorbjörn Fälldin.JPG 8 October 1976
–
18 October 1978 		2 years, 10 days Centre Party Fälldin I
C–M–F 		1976
28 Ola Ullsten
(1931–2018) 		Ola Ullsten.JPG 18 October 1978
–
12 October 1979 		359 days People's Party Ullsten
F 		—
(27) Thorbjörn Fälldin
(1926–2016) 		Thorbjörn Fälldin.JPG 12 October 1979
–
8 October 1982 		2 years, 361 days Centre Party Fälldin II
C–M–F 		1979
Fälldin III
C–F
(26) Olof Palme
(1927–1986) 		(Olof Palme) Felipe González ofrece una rueda de prensa junto al primer ministro de Suecia. Pool Moncloa. 28 de septiembre de 1984 (cropped).jpeg 8 October 1982
–
28 February 1986[‡] 		3 years, 143 days Social Democrats Palme II
S 		1982
1985
— Ingvar Carlsson
(1934–) 		Groepsfoto met Koningin Beatrix en premier Lubbers (r), Bestanddeelnr 934-4200 (cropped).jpg Acting Prime Minister from 28 February 1986 to 12 March 1986 (12 days) due to the assassination of Olof Palme Social Democrats Palme II
S 		—
1988
29 12 March 1986
–
4 October 1991 		5 years, 206 days Carlsson I
S
Carlsson II
S
30 Carl Bildt
(1949–) 		Carl Bildt 2001-05-15.jpg 4 October 1991
–
7 October 1994 		3 years, 3 days Moderate Party C. Bildt
M–C–FP–KD 		1991
(29) Ingvar Carlsson
(1934–) 		President Ronald Reagan, Nancy Reagan, Ingvar Carlsson, and Ingrid Carlsson (cropped) (2).jpg 7 October 1994
–
22 March 1996 		1 year, 167 days Social Democrats Carlsson III
S 		1994
31 Göran Persson
(1949–) 		Goran Persson, Sveriges statsminister, under nordiskt statsministermotet i Reykjavik 2005.jpg 22 March 1996
–
6 October 2006 		10 years, 198 days Social Democrats Persson
S 		—
1998
2002
32 Fredrik Reinfeldt
(1965–) 		Fredrik Reinfeldt 12 Sept 2014.jpg 6 October 2006
–
3 October 2014 		7 years, 362 days Moderate Party
(Alliance for Sweden) 		Reinfeldt
M–C–FP–KD 		2006
2010
33 Stefan Löfven
(1957–) 		Stefan Löfven (cropped).jpg 3 October 2014
–
Incumbent 		6 years, 331 days Social Democrats Löfven I[✕]
S–MP 		2014
2018
Löfven II[✕]
S–MP
Löfven III
S–MP
  1. ^ The General Electoral League (1904–1938) was formed as a national campaign organisation for the early conservative and protectionist groups represented in the Riksdag. Parties affiliated with the organisation include the Lantmanna Party, the Protectionist Party and the National Party. The various parliamentary groups coalesced into a single party in 1935. The General Electoral League was renamed as the National Organisation of the Right (1938–1952) and the Rightist Party (1952–1969). The present name, Moderate Party, was adopted in 1969.
  2. ^ The Liberal Coalition Party (1900–1924) was formed from the consolidation of various early liberal, centrist and pro-free trade politicians in the Riksdag. The party split on the issue of prohibition to form the Freeminded People's Party (1924–1934) and the Liberal Party of Sweden (1924–1934). The two parties later reconciled and merged resulting in the formation of the People's Party (1934–1990). The People's Party was renamed as the Liberal People's Party (1990–2015). The present name, Liberals, was adopted in 2015.
  3. ^ The Social Democrats are officially named the Swedish Social Democratic Workers' Party.
  4. ^ The Centre Party was formerly known as the Farmers' League (1913–1957). The present name was adopted in 1957.

Timeline[]

Stefan LöfvenFredrik ReinfeldtGöran PerssonCarl BildtIngvar CarlssonOla UllstenThorbjörn FälldinOlof PalmeTage ErlanderÖsten UndénAxel Pehrsson-BramstorpPer Albin HanssonFelix HamrinCarl Gustaf EkmanRickard SandlerErnst TryggerOscar von SydowGerhard Louis De GeerHjalmar BrantingNils EdénCarl SwartzHjalmar HammarskjöldArvid LindmanKarl StaaffChristian LundebergJohan RamstedtFredrik von OtterErik Gustaf BoströmGustaf ÅkerhielmGillis BildtRobert ThemptanderCarl Johan ThyseliusArvid PosseLouis Gerhard De Geer

Statistics (including Swedish prime ministers during the Swedish-Norwegian union)[]

# Prime Minister Spells Date of birth Age at ascension
(first term) 		Time in office
(total) 		Age at retirement
(last term) 		Date of death Longevity
1 De Geer, Louis 1Louis De Geer, Sr. 1 18 July 1818(18 July 1818) 57 years, 246 days 4 years, 30 days 61 years, 276 days 24 September 1896 78 years, 68 days
2 Posse, ArvidArvid Posse 1 15 February 1820(15 February 1820) 60 years, 64 days 3 years, 58 days 63 years, 121 days 24 April 1901 81 years, 68 days
3 Thyselius, Carl JohanCarl Johan Thyselius 1 8 June 1811(8 June 1811) 72 years, 5 days 338 days 72 years, 342 days 11 January 1891 79 years, 217 days
4 Themptander, RobertRobert Themptander 1 14 February 1844(14 February 1844) 40 years, 92 days 3 years, 266 days 43 years, 357 days 30 January 1897 52 years, 47 days
5 Bildt, GillisGillis Bildt 1 16 October 1820(16 October 1820) 67 years, 113 days 1 year, 248 days 68 years, 361 days 22 October 1894 74 years, 6 days
6 Åkerhielm, GustafGustaf Åkerhielm 1 24 July 1833(24 July 1833) 56 years, 80 days 1 year, 271 days 57 years, 351 days 2 April 1900 66 years, 252 days
7 Boström, Erik GustafErik Gustaf Boström 2 11 February 1842(11 February 1842) 49 years, 149 days 11 years, 346 days 63 years, 61 days 21 February 1907 65 years, 10 days
8 Otter, Fredrik vonFredrik von Otter 1 11 April 1833(11 April 1833) 67 years, 154 days 1 year, 296 days 69 years, 85 days 9 March 1910 76 years, 332 days
9 Ramstedt, JohanJohan Ramstedt 1 7 November 1852(7 November 1852) 52 years, 157 days 111 days 52 years, 268 days 15 March 1935 82 years, 128 days
10 Lundeberg, ChristianChristian Lundeberg 1 14 July 1842(14 July 1842) 63 years, 19 days 97 days 63 years, 116 days 10 November 1911 69 years, 119 days
11 Staaff, KarlKarl Staaff 2 21 January 1860(21 January 1860) 45 years, 290 days 2 years, 336 days 54 years, 27 days 4 October 1915 55 years, 256 days
12 Lindman, ArvidArvid Lindman 2 19 September 1862(19 September 1862) 43 years, 252 days 7 years, 14 days 49 years, 18 days 9 December 1936 74 years, 81 days
13 Hammarskjöld, HjalmarHjalmar Hammarskjöld 1 4 February 1862(4 February 1862) 52 years, 13 days 3 years, 41 days 55 years, 54 days 12 October 1953 91 years, 250 days
14 Swartz, CarlCarl Swartz 1 5 June 1858(5 June 1858) 58 years, 298 days 203 days 59 years, 136 days 6 November 1926 68 years, 154 days
15 Edén, NilsNils Edén 1 25 August 1871(August 1871) 46 years, 55 days 2 years, 143 days 48 years, 198 days 16 June 1945 73 years, 295 days
16 Branting, HjalmarHjalmar Branting 3 23 November 1860(23 November 1860) 59 years, 108 days 2 years, 152 days 64 years, 62 days 24 February 1925 64 years, 93 days
17 De Geer, Louis 2Louis De Geer, Jr. 1 27 November 1854(27 November 1854) 65 years, 335 days 119 days 66 years, 88 days 25 February 1935 80 years, 90 days
18 Sydow, Oscar vonOscar von Sydow 1 12 July 1873(12 July 1873) 47 years, 226 days 232 days 48 years, 93 days 19 August 1936 63 years, 38 days
19 Trygger, ErnstErnst Trygger 1 27 October 1857(27 October 1857) 65 years, 174 days 1 year, 182 days 66 years, 357 days 23 September 1943 85 years, 331 days
20 Sandler, RickardRickard Sandler 1 29 January 1884(29 January 1884) 40 years, 361 days 1 year, 134 days 42 years, 129 days 12 November 1964 80 years, 288 days
21 Ekman, Carl GustafCarl Gustaf Ekman 2 6 October 1872(October 1872) 53 years, 244 days 4 years, 177 days 59 years, 305 days 15 June 1945 72 years, 252 days
22 Hamrin, FelixFelix Hamrin 1 14 January 1875(14 January 1875) 57 years, 205 days 49 days 57 years, 254 days 27 November 1937 62 years, 317 days
23 Hansson, Per AlbinPer Albin Hansson 2 28 October 1885(28 October 1885) 46 years, 332 days 13 years, 277 days 60 years, 343 days 6 October 1946 60 years, 343 days
24 Pehrsson-Bramstorp, AxelAxel Pehrsson-Bramstorp 1 19 August 1883(19 August 1883) 52 years, 305 days 101 days 53 years, 40 days 19 February 1954 70 years, 184 days
25 Erlander, TageTage Erlander 1 13 June 1901(13 June 1901) 45 years, 120 days 23 years, 3 days 68 years, 123 days 21 June 1985 84 years, 8 days
26 Palme, OlofOlof Palme 2 30 January 1927(30 January 1927) 42 years, 257 days 10 years, 139 days 59 years, 30 days 28 February 1986 59 years, 29 days
27 Fälldin, ThorbjörnThorbjörn Fälldin 2 24 April 1926(24 April 1926) 50 years, 167 days 5 years, 10 days 56 years, 167 days 23 July 2016 90 years, 90 days
28 Ullsten, OlaOla Ullsten 1 23 June 1931(23 June 1931) 47 years, 117 days 359 days 48 years, 111 days 28 May 2018 86 years, 339 days
29 Carlsson, IngvarIngvar Carlsson 2 9 November 1934(9 November 1934) 51 years, 112 days 7 years, 19 days 61 years, 134 days Living 86 years, 294 days
30 Bildt, CarlCarl Bildt 1 15 July 1949(15 July 1949) 42 years, 91 days 3 years, 3 days 45 years, 94 days Living 72 years, 46 days
31 Persson, GöranGöran Persson 1 20 January 1949(20 January 1949) 47 years, 62 days 10 years, 198 days 57 years, 259 days Living 72 years, 222 days
32 Reinfeldt, FredrikFredrik Reinfeldt 1 4 August 1965(4 August 1965) 41 years, 63 days 7 years, 362 days 49 years, 60 days Living 56 years, 26 days
33 Löfven, StefanStefan Löfven 1 21 July 1957(21 July 1957) 57 years, 73 days 6 years, 331 days Incumbent Living 64 years, 40 days

Records[]

  • The earliest-born prime minister was the third to enter office, Carl Johan Thyselius who born on 8 June 1811. The latest-born is Fredrik Reinfeldt, who was born on 4 August 1965.
  • The first prime minister to die (who also happens to be the first one born) was the third one to enter office (Carl Johan Thyselius), who died on 11 January 1891. The latest one to die was Ola Ullsten, who died on 28 May 2018.
  • The oldest prime minister was Hjalmar Hammarskjöld, who died at 91 years, 250 days. Of those still living, Ingvar Carlsson is the oldest, at an age of 86 years, 294 days.
  • The youngest prime minister at his death has been Robert Themptander, who died at an age of 52 years, 351 days.
  • The oldest prime minister to enter office was Carl Johan Thyselius, who entered office at 72 years, 5 days. The youngest one was his closest successor Robert Themptander, who entered office at 40 years, 92 days.
  • The record for longest period in office is held by Tage Erlander at 23 years, 3 days. The shortest period in office is held by Östen Undén (5 days), but as he was only acting PM. The shortest ordinary period was Felix Hamrin's, lasting for 49 days.
  • The longest timespan between two terms of the same minister was between Arvid Lindman's, at 16 years, 361 days between the end of his first term (7 October 1911) and the beginning of his second term (2 October 1928). The shortest timespan between two terms of the same minister was 101 days, which was the time of Axel Pehrsson-Bramstorp's term between the end of Per Albin Hansson's first (19 June 1936) and the beginning of his second (28 September 1936).
  • Most periods in office, three, is held by Hjalmar Branting, while Erik Gustaf Boström, Karl Staaf, Arvid Lindman, Per-Albin Hansson, Olof Palme, Thorbjörn Fälldin and Ingvar Carlsson all held office twice, with at least one other Prime Minister in office between the periods.
  • From 1969 to 1986, Palme was replaced by Fälldin (1976), who was replaced by Ullsten (1978), who was replaced by Fälldin again (1979) and he was eventually replaced by Palme again (1982).
  • Two prime ministers, Per Albin Hansson and Olof Palme, have died in office. Palme is the only one who has been assassinated.
  • Hjalmar Branting had the shortest time between leaving office and death, dying 31 days after his resignation because of health issues from Myocarditis and gallstone. The prime minister living the longest after resignation was Ola Ullsten who lived for 38 years and 228 days after leaving the office.
  • The largest number of former and present prime minister living at the same time is 11, which has happened once. This period lasted from 24 September 1932 (the ascension of Per Albin Hansson) to 25 February 1935 (the death of Louis De Geer, Jr.) (2 years, 154 days). During that time, Hansson was in office and former still-living prime ministers were Johan Ramstedt, Arvid Lindman, Hjalmar Hammarskjöld, Nils Edén, Louis De Geer, Jr., Oscar von Sydow, Ernst Trygger, Rickard Sandler, Carl Gustaf Ekman, and Felix Hamrin.

See also[]

Notes[]

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