Prime Ministers since 1848

On this page you will find pictures and information about the 42 Danish Prime Ministers since 1848.

Photo credit: The Danish Parliament and the Prime Minister's Office.

Mette Frederiksen, 2019 -

Born 1977

Prime Minister 2019 - (Socialdemokratiet)
Bachelor degree in administration and social sciences, Aalborg University, 2007. Master in Africa Studies, University of Copenhagen, 2009. Minister of Justice 2014-2015. Minister of Employment 2011-2014. President of the Social Democrats. 

Lars Løkke Rasmussen, 2015-2019

Born 1964

Prime Minister 2009-2011 and 2015-2019 (Venstre).

Law graduate from the University of Copenhagen in 1992. Minister for the Interior and Health 2001-07. Minister of Finance 2007-09. 2009: President of Venstre 2009-2019. 

Helle Thorning-Schmidt, 2011 - 2015

Born 1966

Prime Minister 2011 - 2015 (Social Democrats)
Political Science graduate from the University of Copenhagen in 1994. 1999-2004: Member of the European Parliament for the Social Democrats. 2005-2015: President of the Social Democrats.

Lars Løkke Rasmussen, 2009-2011

Born 1964

Prime Minister 2009-2011 and 2015-2019 (Venstre).

Law graduate from the University of Copenhagen in 1992. Minister for the Interior and Health 2001-07. Minister of Finance 2007-09. 2009: President of Venstre 2009-2019. 

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, 2001-2009

Prime Minister 2001-2009 (Venstre).

Born 1953

MSc. in Economics and Management from University of Aarhus in 1978. Afterwards appointed consultant in the Danish Federation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises until 1987. Later served as Secretary General of NATO. 

Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, 1993-2001

Prime Minister 1993-2001 (Social Democrats).

Born 1943´

MSc. in Economics and Management from University of Copenhagen in 1971. Later he was an economist in the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions and director of the Employee’s Capital Pension Fund (LD Pensions).

Poul Schlüter, 1982-93

Prime Minister 1982-1993 (Conservative Peoples Party).

Born 1929

Master of Laws in 1957. Afterwards he worked as a lawyer and member of the European Parliament.

Anker Jørgensen, 1975-82

Prime Minister 1972-73 and 1975-82 (Social Democrats).

Born 1922

Junior labourer and warehouseman before taking the leaving certificate examination in 1945. From 1968-1972 he was the chairman of the trade union 3F (“Dansk Arbejdsmands- og Specialarbejderforbund” as it was named at that time).

Poul Hartling, 1973-75

Prime Minister 1973-1975 (Venstre).

1914-2000

Master of Theology in 1939 and a primary school teacher in 1945. Afterwards he worked as a teacher at and later as principal for Zahle´s College of Education.  Later he was the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

 

Anker Jørgensen, 1972-73

Prime Minister 1972-73 and 1975-82 (Social Democrats).

Born 1922

Junior labourer and warehouseman before taking the leaving certificate examination in 1945. From 1968-1972 he was the chairman of the trade union 3F (“Dansk Arbejdsmands- og Specialarbejderforbund” as it was named at that time).

Jens Otto Krag, 1971-72

Prime Minister 1962-1968 and 1971-1972 (Social Democrats).

1914-1978

MSc in Economics and Management in 1940. Afterwards he worked in the Ministry of Supply, associate professor in international politics and organisation at University of Aarhus and head of the EEC Commission’s delegation in the USA. 

Hilmar Baunsgaard, 1968-71

Prime Minister 1968-1971 (Danish Social-Liberal Party).

1920-1989

Commercial training and worked as, e.g. a sub-manager, business manager and general manager. 

Jens Otto Krag, 1962-68

Prime Minister 1962-1968 and 1971-1972 (Social Democrats).

1914-1978

MSc in Economics and Management in 1940. Afterwards he worked in the Ministry of Supply, associate professor in international politics and organisation at University of Aarhus and head of the EEC Commission’s delegation in the USA.

Viggo Kampmann, 1960-62

Prime Minister 1960-1962 (Social Democrats).

1910-1976

MSc in Economics and Management in 1934. Later he worked in, e.g., the Department of Statistics, the Danish Ministry of Taxation and later, acting director for the Mortgage Bank of the Kingdom of Denmark.

 Hans Christian Svane Hansen

Hans Christian Svane Hansen, 1955-60

Prime Minister 1955-1960 (Social Democrats).

1906-1960

Qualified as a compositor in 1929 and later he was secretary and chairman for the Social Democratic Youth of Denmark.

Hans Hedtoft

Hans Hedtoft, 1953-55

Prime Minister 1947-1950 and 1953-1955 (Social Democrats).

1903-1955

Qualified as a lithographer and later worked as secretary for the Social Democrats’ parliamentary group.

Erik Eriksen

Erik Eriksen, 1950-53

Prime Minister 1950-1953 (Venstre).

1902-1972

Farm owner and president for the Nordic Council in 1956 and 1961.

Hans Hedtoft

Hans Hedtoft, 1947-50

Statsminister 1947-1950 og 1953-1955 (Socialdemokratiet).

1903-1955

Qualified as a lithographer and later worked as secretary for the Social Democrats’ parliamentary group.

Knud Kristensen

Knud Kristensen, 1945-47

Prime Minister 1945-1947 (Venstre).

1880-1962

Agricultural degree and farm owner.

Vilhelm Buhl

Vilhelm Buhl, 1945

Prime Minister 1942 and 1945 (Social Democrats).

1881-1954

Master of Laws in 1908 and later a tax expert and tax director in Copenhagen Municipality.

Erik Scavenius

Erik Scavenius, 1942-43

Prime Minister 1942-1943 (Danish Social-Liberal Party).

1877-1962

MSc in Economics and Management in 1901. Afterwards worked as a diplomat.

Vilhelm Buhl

Vilhelm Buhl, 1942

Prime Minister 1942 and 1945 (Social Democrats).

1881-1954

Master of Laws in 1908 and later a tax expert and tax director in Copenhagen Municipality.

Thorvald Stauning

Thorvald Stauning, 1929-1942

Prime Minister 1924-26 and 1929-1942 (Social Democrats).

1873-1942

Qualified as a cigar sorter. Appointed chairman of the Danish Social Democrats in 1910.

Thomas Madsen-Mygdal

Thomas Madsen-Mygdal, 1926-29

Prime Minister 1926-1929 (Venstre).

1876-1943

Trained as a primary school teacher in 1896 and MSc in Agriculture in 1902. Later he was principal of Dalum Agricultural College from 1908-1920 and president of the Danish Agricultural Council 1919-1933.

Thorvald Stauning

Thorvald Stauning, 1924-26

Prime Minister 1924-26 and 1929-1942 (Social Democrats).

1873-1942

Qualified as a cigar sorter. Appointed chairman of the Danish Social Democrats in 1910.

Niels Neergaard

Niels Neergaard, 1920-24

Prime Minister 1908-1909 and 1920-1924 (Venstre).

President of the Council 1908-1909 and Prime Minister 1929-1942 (Social Democrats)

MA in history in 1879 and MSc in Economics and Management in 1881.

Michael Petersen Friis

Michael Petersen Friis, 1920

Prime Minister 1920 (independent).

1857-1944

Master of Laws in 1883. Civil servant with a career as e.g. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, during WWI he was head of the Special Commission (Den Overordentlige Kommission) and head of the Public Trustee's Office (Overformynderiet).

Otto Liebe

Otto Liebe, 1920

Prime Minister 1920 (independent).

1860-1929

Master of Laws in 1882 and from 1889 advocate of the Supreme Court.

Carl Theodor Zahle portræt

Carl Theodor Zahle, 1913-20

Prime Minister 1909-10 and 1913-20 (Danish Social-Liberal Party).

1866-1946

Master of Laws in 1890. Later he worked for the newspapers Aarhus Amtstidende and Politiken

Klaus Berntsen

Klaus Berntsen, 1910-13

Prime Minister 1910-13 (Venstre).

1844-1927

Head of an independent school and later principal of a folk high school in Særslev on Funen.

Carl Theodor Zahle portræt

Carl Theodor Zahle, 1909-10

Prime Minister 1909-10 and 1913-20 (Danish Social-Liberal Party). 

1866-1946

Master of Laws in 1890. Later he worked for the newspapers Aarhus Amtstidende and Politiken

 Ludvig Holstein-Ledreborg

Ludvig Holstein-Ledreborg, 1909

Prime Minister 1909 (Venstre).

1839-1912

MSc in Economics and Management in 1866 and count and caretaker of the Ledreborg estate in 1895.

Niels Neergaard

Niels Neergaard, 1908-09

Prime Minister 1908-1909 and 1920-1924 (Venstre).

1854-1936

MA in history in 1879 and MSc in Economics and Management in 1881.

 Jens Christian Christensen

Jens Christian Christensen, 1905-08

Prime Minister 1905-1908 (Venstre).

1856-1930

Qualified as a primary school teacher in 1877 and later worked as a teacher.

 Johan Henrik Deuntzer

Johan Henrik Deuntzer, 1901-05

Prime Minister 1901-1905 (Venstre).

1845-1918

Master of Laws in 1867 and later Professor of Law at University of Copenhagen from 1872-1901. He was also a co-founder and member of the board in the East Asiatic Company.

Hannibal Sehested

Hannibal Sehested, 1900-01

Prime Minister 1900-1901 (Højre).

1842-1924

Master of Laws in 1869. Farm owner and owner of Broholm entailed estate.

 Hugo Egmont Hørring

Hugo Egmont Hørring, 1897-1900

Prime Minister 1897-1900 (Højre).

1842-1909

Master of Laws in 1868. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of the Interior. 

Tage Reedtz-Thott

Tage Reedtz-Thott, 1894-97

Prime Minister 1894-1897 (Højre).

1839-1923

Studies in political science in Geneva and Paris. Later he was the owner of Gavnø Gods (Gavnø Estate) and principal of Herlufsholm School.

Jacob Brønnum Scavenius Estrup

Jacob Brønnum Scavenius Estrup, 1875-94

Prime Minister 1875-1894 (Højre).

1825-1913

Degree in forestry in 1844. Afterwards he held a commission as a surveyor and then farm owner.

Christen Fonnesbech

Christen Fonnesbech, 1874-75

Prime Minister 1874-1875 (Højre).

1817-1880

Master of Laws from University of Copenhagen in 1840. Later he was a senior town administrator and farmer.

Ludvig Holstein-Holsteinborg

Ludvig Holstein-Holsteinborg, 1870-74

Prime Minister 1870-1874 (Mellempartiet).

1815-1892

Count and caretaker of the Holsteinborg estate in 1836.

Christian Emil Krag-Juel-Vind-Frijs

Christian Emil Krag-Juel-Vind-Frijs, 1865-70

Prime Minister 1865-1870 (Højre).

1817-1896

Master of Laws in 1842. Count and owner of the estate Frijsenborg and later chairman of the Houseowners’ Association.

Christian Albrecht Bluhme

Christian Albrecht Bluhme, 1864-65

Prime Minister 1852-1853 and 1864-1865 (Højre).

1794-1866

Master of Laws in 1816. Civil servant and among other things, director for the Customs Department in 1843.

Ditlev Gothardt Monrad

Ditlev Gothardt Monrad, 1863-64

Prime Minister 1863-1864 (National Liberals).

1811-1887

Master of Theology in 1836 and Master in Semitic Philology in 1838. Later he was Parish Priest, Bishop of Lolland-Falster and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Culture.

Carl Christian Hall

Carl Christian Hall, 1860-63

Prime Minister 1857-1859 and 1860-1863 (National Liberals).

1812-1888

Master of Laws in 1833 and Doctor of Laws in 1840. Later he had a career as a lawyer and head of the military’s legal system.

Carl Eduard Rotwitt

Carl Eduard Rotwitt, 1859-60

Prime Minister 1859-1860 (Bondevennerne).

1812-1860

Master of Laws in 1834. Then he was an advocate at the Supreme Court.

Carl Christian Hall

Carl Christian Hall, 1857-59

Prime Minister 1857-1859 and 1860-1863 (National Liberals).

1812-1888

Master of Laws in 1833 and Doctor of Laws in 1840. Later he had a career as a lawyer and head of the military’s legal system.

Carl Christopher Georg Andræ, 1856-57

Prime Minister 1856-1857 (Bondevennerne).

1812-1893

Military background at the National Cadet Academy and the Military High School. Later he was lieutenant colonel and director of the Danish Geodetic Surveys.

Peter Georg Bang

Peter Georg Bang, 1854-56

Prime Minister 1854-1855 and 1855-1856 (independent).

1797-1861

Doctor of Laws from University of Copenhagen in 1820 and appointed professor of Roman Law there in 1830.

Anders Sandøe Ørsted

Anders Sandøe Ørsted, 1853-54

Prime Minister 1853-1854 (independent).

1778-1860

Master of Laws in 1799 and Doctor of Laws in 1813 from University of Copenhagen. Later he was a judge and member of the Constitutional Assembly.

Christian Albrecht Bluhme

Christian Albrecht Bluhme, 1852-53

President of the Council 1852-1853 and Prime Minister 1864-1865 (Højre).

1794-1866

Master of Laws in 1816. Civil servant and among other things, director for the Customs Department in 1843.

Adam Wilhelm Moltke

Adam Wilhelm Moltke, 1848-52

Prime Minister 1848-1852 (independent).

1785-1864

Master of Laws in 1805. He was president of the exchequer and a count.