List of prime ministers of Sweden
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 that replaced the centuries-old Riksdag of the Estates became Sweden's first prime minister in 1876. As of 2020, the current 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 absolute rule this was the Lord High Chancellor, who had similarities to the office of a head of government. This 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 most powerful political figure in Sweden.
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Name (Lifespan) |
Portrait | Term | Party (Alliance) |
Cabinet Parties |
Mandate | Monarch (Reign) | ||||||
Tenure | Time in office | |||||||||||
1 | Louis Gerhard De Geer (1818–1896) |
20 March 1876 – 19 April 1880 |
4 years, 30 days | Independent | L. G. De Geer | 1875 1878 |
Oscar II (1872–1907) | |||||
2 | Arvid Posse (1820–1901) |
19 April 1880 – 13 June 1883 |
3 years, 55 days | Lantmanna Party | Posse | — 1881 | ||||||
3 | Carl Johan Thyselius (1811–1891) |
13 June 1883 – 16 May 1884 |
308 days | Independent | Thyselius | — | ||||||
4 | Robert Themptander (1844–1897) |
16 May 1884 – 6 February 1888 |
3 years, 266 days | Independent | Themptander | 1884 | ||||||
1887a[§] | ||||||||||||
1887b | ||||||||||||
5 | Gillis Bildt (1820–1894) |
6 February 1888 – 12 October 1889 |
1 year, 248 days | Independent | G. Bildt | — | ||||||
6 | Gustaf Åkerhielm (1833–1900) |
12 October 1889 – 10 July 1891 |
1 year, 271 days | Protectionist Party | Åkerhielm | — 1890 | ||||||
7 | Erik Gustaf Boström (1842–1907) |
10 July 1891 – 12 September 1900 |
9 years, 64 days | Lantmanna Party | Boström I | — 1893 1896 1899 | ||||||
8 | Fredrik von Otter (1833–1910) |
12 September 1900 – 5 July 1902 |
1 year, 296 days | Independent | Otter | — | ||||||
(7) | Erik Gustaf Boström (1842–1907) |
5 July 1902 – 13 April 1905 |
2 years, 282 days | Lantmanna Party | Boström II | — 1902 | ||||||
9 | Johan Ramstedt (1852–1935) |
13 April 1905 – 2 August 1905 |
111 days | Independent | Ramstedt | — | ||||||
10 | Christian Lundeberg (1842–1911) |
2 August 1905 – 7 November 1905 |
97 days | Protectionist Party (General Electoral League) |
Lundeberg AvF–LS |
— | ||||||
11 | Karl Staaff (1860–1915) |
7 November 1905 – 29 May 1906 |
203 days | Liberal Coalition Party | Staaff I LS |
1905 | ||||||
12 | Arvid Lindman (1862–1936) |
29 May 1906 – 7 October 1911 |
5 years, 131 days | Lantmanna Party (General Electoral League) |
Lindman I AvF |
— 1908 | ||||||
Gustaf V (1907–1950) | ||||||||||||
(11) | Karl Staaff (1860–1915) |
7 October 1911 – 17 February 1914 |
2 years, 133 days | Liberal Coalition Party | Staaff II LS |
1911 | ||||||
13 | Hjalmar Hammarskjöld (1862–1953) |
17 February 1914 – 30 March 1917 |
3 years, 41 days | Independent | Hammarskjöld | — | ||||||
1914a[§] | ||||||||||||
1914b | ||||||||||||
14 | Carl Swartz (1858–1926) |
30 March 1917 – 19 October 1917 |
203 days | National Party (General Electoral League) |
Swartz AvF |
— | ||||||
15 | Nils Edén (1871–1945) |
19 October 1917 – 10 March 1920 |
2 years, 143 days | Liberal Coalition Party | Edén LS–S |
1917 | ||||||
16 | Hjalmar Branting (1860–1925) |
10 March 1920 – 27 October 1920 |
231 days | Social Democrats | Branting I S |
— | ||||||
17 | Gerhard Louis De Geer (1854–1935) |
27 October 1920 – 23 February 1921 |
119 days | Independent | G. L. De Geer | 1920 | ||||||
18 | Oscar von Sydow (1873–1936) |
23 February 1921 – 13 October 1921 |
232 days | Independent | von Sydow | — | ||||||
(16) | Hjalmar Branting (1860–1925) |
13 October 1921 – 19 April 1923 |
1 year, 188 days | Social Democrats | Branting II S |
1921[§] | ||||||
19 | Ernst Trygger (1857–1943) |
19 April 1923 – 18 October 1924 |
1 year, 182 days | National Party (General Electoral League) |
Trygger AvF |
— | ||||||
(16) | Hjalmar Branting (1860–1925) |
18 October 1924 – 24 January 1925 |
98 days | Social Democrats | Branting III S |
1924 | ||||||
20 | Rickard Sandler (1884–1964) |
24 January 1925 – 7 June 1926 |
1 year, 134 days | Social Democrats | Sandler S |
— | ||||||
21 | Carl Gustaf Ekman (1872–1945) |
7 June 1926 – 2 October 1928 |
2 years, 117 days | Freeminded People's Party | Ekman I FF–L |
— | ||||||
(12) | Arvid Lindman (1862–1936) |
2 October 1928 – 7 June 1930 |
1 year, 248 days | Lantmanna Party (General Electoral League) |
Lindman II AvF |
1928 | ||||||
(21) | Carl Gustaf Ekman (1872–1945) |
7 June 1930 – 6 August 1932 |
2 years, 60 days | Freeminded People's Party | Ekman II FF |
— | ||||||
22 | Felix Hamrin (1875–1937) |
6 August 1932 – 24 September 1932 |
49 days | Freeminded People's Party | Hamrin FF |
— | ||||||
23 | Per Albin Hansson (1885–1946) |
24 September 1932 – 19 June 1936 |
3 years, 269 days | Social Democrats | Hansson I S |
1932 | ||||||
24 | Axel Pehrsson-Bramstorp (1883–1954) |
19 June 1936 – 28 September 1936 |
101 days | Farmers' League | Pehrsson-Bramstorp Bf |
— | ||||||
(23) | Per Albin Hansson (1885–1946) |
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) |
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) |
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 (1950–1973) | ||||||||||||
Erlander II S–Bf | ||||||||||||
Erlander III S | ||||||||||||
26 | Olof Palme (1927–1986) |
14 October 1969 – 8 October 1976 |
6 years, 360 days | Social Democrats | Palme I S |
— 1970 1973 | ||||||
Carl XVI Gustaf (1973–) | ||||||||||||
27 | Thorbjörn Fälldin (1926–2016) |
8 October 1976 – 18 October 1978 |
2 years, 10 days | Centre Party | Fälldin I C–M–F |
1976 | ||||||
28 | Ola Ullsten (1931–2018) |
18 October 1978 – 12 October 1979 |
359 days | People's Party | Ullsten F |
— | ||||||
(27) | Thorbjörn Fälldin (1926–2016) |
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) |
8 October 1982 – 28 February 1986[‡] |
3 years, 143 days | Social Democrats | Palme II S |
1982 1985 | ||||||
— | Ingvar Carlsson (1934–) |
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–) |
4 October 1991 – 7 October 1994 |
3 years, 3 days | Moderate Party | C. Bildt M–C–FP–KD |
1991 | ||||||
(29) | Ingvar Carlsson (1934–) |
7 October 1994 – 22 March 1996 |
1 year, 167 days | Social Democrats | Carlsson III S |
1994 | ||||||
31 | Göran Persson (1949–) |
22 March 1996 – 6 October 2006 |
10 years, 198 days | Social Democrats | Persson S |
— 1998 2002 | ||||||
32 | Fredrik Reinfeldt (1965–) |
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–) |
3 October 2014 – Incumbent |
6 years, 115 days | Social Democrats | Löfven I[✕] S–MP |
2014 2018 | ||||||
Löfven II S–MP |
- 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.
- 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.
- The Social Democrats are officially named the Swedish Social Democratic Workers' Party.
- The Centre Party was formerly known as the Farmers' League (1913–1957). The present name was adopted in 1957.
Timeline
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 | Louis De Geer, Sr. | 1 | 18 July 1818 | 57 years, 246 days | 4 years, 30 days | 61 years, 276 days | 24 September 1896 | 78 years, 68 days |
2 | Arvid Posse | 1 | 15 February 1820 | 60 years, 64 days | 3 years, 58 days | 63 years, 121 days | 24 April 1901 | 81 years, 68 days |
3 | Carl Johan Thyselius | 1 | 8 June 1811 | 72 years, 5 days | 338 days | 72 years, 342 days | 11 January 1891 | 79 years, 217 days |
4 | Robert Themptander | 1 | 14 February 1844 | 40 years, 92 days | 3 years, 266 days | 43 years, 357 days | 30 January 1897 | 52 years, 47 days |
5 | Gillis Bildt | 1 | 16 October 1820 | 67 years, 113 days | 1 year, 248 days | 68 years, 361 days | 22 October 1894 | 74 years, 6 days |
6 | Gustaf Åkerhielm | 1 | 24 July 1833 | 56 years, 80 days | 1 year, 271 days | 57 years, 351 days | 2 April 1900 | 66 years, 252 days |
7 | Erik Gustaf Boström | 2 | 11 February 1842 | 49 years, 149 days | 11 years, 346 days | 63 years, 61 days | 21 February 1907 | 65 years, 10 days |
8 | Fredrik von Otter | 1 | 11 April 1833 | 67 years, 154 days | 1 year, 296 days | 69 years, 85 days | 9 March 1910 | 76 years, 332 days |
9 | Johan Ramstedt | 1 | 7 November 1852 | 52 years, 157 days | 111 days | 52 years, 268 days | 15 March 1935 | 82 years, 128 days |
10 | Christian Lundeberg | 1 | 14 July 1842 | 63 years, 19 days | 97 days | 63 years, 116 days | 10 November 1911 | 69 years, 119 days |
11 | Karl Staaff | 2 | 21 January 1860 | 45 years, 290 days | 2 years, 336 days | 54 years, 27 days | 4 October 1915 | 55 years, 256 days |
12 | Arvid Lindman | 2 | 19 September 1862 | 43 years, 252 days | 7 years, 14 days | 49 years, 18 days | 9 December 1936 | 74 years, 81 days |
13 | Hjalmar Hammarskjöld | 1 | 4 February 1862 | 52 years, 13 days | 3 years, 41 days | 55 years, 54 days | 12 October 1953 | 91 years, 250 days |
14 | Carl Swartz | 1 | 5 June 1858 | 58 years, 298 days | 203 days | 59 years, 136 days | 6 November 1926 | 68 years, 154 days |
15 | Nils Edén | 1 | 25 August 1871 | 46 years, 55 days | 2 years, 143 days | 48 years, 198 days | 16 June 1945 | 73 years, 295 days |
16 | Hjalmar Branting | 3 | 23 November 1860 | 59 years, 108 days | 2 years, 152 days | 64 years, 62 days | 24 February 1925 | 64 years, 93 days |
17 | Louis De Geer, Jr. | 1 | 27 November 1854 | 65 years, 335 days | 119 days | 66 years, 88 days | 25 February 1935 | 80 years, 90 days |
18 | Oscar von Sydow | 1 | 12 July 1873 | 47 years, 226 days | 232 days | 48 years, 93 days | 19 August 1936 | 63 years, 38 days |
19 | Ernst Trygger | 1 | 27 October 1857 | 65 years, 174 days | 1 year, 182 days | 66 years, 357 days | 23 September 1943 | 85 years, 331 days |
20 | Rickard Sandler | 1 | 29 January 1884 | 40 years, 361 days | 1 year, 134 days | 42 years, 129 days | 12 November 1964 | 80 years, 288 days |
21 | Carl Gustaf Ekman | 2 | 6 October 1872 | 53 years, 244 days | 4 years, 177 days | 59 years, 305 days | 15 June 1945 | 72 years, 252 days |
22 | Felix Hamrin | 1 | 14 January 1875 | 57 years, 205 days | 49 days | 57 years, 254 days | 27 November 1937 | 62 years, 317 days |
23 | Per Albin Hansson | 2 | 28 October 1885 | 46 years, 332 days | 13 years, 277 days | 60 years, 343 days | 6 October 1946 | 60 years, 343 days |
24 | Axel Pehrsson-Bramstorp | 1 | 19 August 1883 | 52 years, 305 days | 101 days | 53 years, 40 days | 19 February 1954 | 70 years, 184 days |
25 | Tage Erlander | 1 | 13 June 1901 | 45 years, 120 days | 23 years, 3 days | 68 years, 123 days | 21 June 1985 | 84 years, 8 days |
26 | Olof Palme | 2 | 30 January 1927 | 42 years, 257 days | 10 years, 139 days | 59 years, 30 days | 28 February 1986 | 59 years, 29 days |
27 | Thorbjörn Fälldin | 2 | 24 April 1926 | 50 years, 167 days | 5 years, 10 days | 56 years, 167 days | 23 July 2016 | 90 years, 90 days |
28 | Ola Ullsten | 1 | 23 June 1931 | 47 years, 117 days | 359 days | 48 years, 111 days | 28 May 2018 | 86 years, 339 days |
29 | Ingvar Carlsson | 2 | 9 November 1934 | 51 years, 112 days | 7 years, 19 days | 61 years, 134 days | Living | 86 years, 78 days |
30 | Carl Bildt | 1 | 15 July 1949 | 42 years, 91 days | 3 years, 3 days | 45 years, 94 days | Living | 71 years, 195 days |
31 | Göran Persson | 1 | 20 January 1949 | 47 years, 62 days | 10 years, 198 days | 57 years, 259 days | Living | 72 years, 6 days |
32 | Fredrik Reinfeldt | 1 | 4 August 1965 | 41 years, 63 days | 7 years, 362 days | 49 years, 60 days | Living | 55 years, 175 days |
33 | Stefan Löfven | 1 | 21 July 1957 | 57 years, 73 days | 6 years, 115 days | Incumbent | Living | 63 years, 189 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, 78 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.