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List of heads of government of Norway

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This is a list of heads of government of Norway. In the modern era, the head of government has the title prime minister (Norwegian: Statsminister). At various times in the past, the highest governmental title has included steward (Norwegian: Rigsstatholder), viceroy (Norwegian: Vicekonge) and first minister (Norwegian: 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 (Norwegian: 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

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The Steward of Norway, styled Rigsstatholder in Danish (riksstattholder in modern Norwegian spelling), meaning Royal steward of the realm (see Steward), 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.

Split premiership (1814–1905)

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First Minister (1814–1873)

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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.

Prime minister

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Term of office

First Minister

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Term of office Government
Name
(Birth–Death)
Picture Name
(Birth–Death)
Picture
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)

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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)

Prime Minister in Stockholm

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Prime Minister in Christiania

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Term of office Cabinet
Name
(Birth-Death)
Picture Political party Name
(Birth-Death)
Picture Political party
Otto Richard Kierulf
(1825–1897)
N/A Frederik Stang
(1808–1884)
N/A 1873 1880 F.Stang
Christian August Selmer
(1816–1889)
Conservative Party 1880 1884 Selmer
Wolfgang Wenzel von Haffner
(1806–1892)
(acting)
N/A 1884 1884
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 1888 1889
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
Francis Hagerup
(1853–1921)
Conservative Party 1895 1898 Hagerup I
HMVV
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
HV
Jørgen Løvland
(1848–1922)
Liberal Party Christian Michelsen
(1857–1925)
Liberal Party 1905 1905 Michelsen
VHMV

Prime Ministers of Norway (1905–present)

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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)

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

No. Portrait Name
(birth–death)
Term of office Party Election Cabinet
coalition
Monarch
(reign)
Took office Left office Time in office
1 Christian Michelsen
(1857–1925)
11 March 1905 23 October 1907 2 years, 226 days Liberal Party Michelsen
VHMV
Haakon VII

(1905–1957)
1906
2 Jørgen Løvland
(1848–1922)
23 October 1907 19 March 1908 148 days Liberal Party Løvland
VMV
3 Gunnar Knudsen
(1848–1928)
19 March 1908 2 February 1910 1 year, 320 days Liberal Party Knudsen I
V
1909
4 Wollert Konow
(1845–1924)
2 February 1910 20 February 1912 2 years, 18 days Free-minded Liberal Party Konow
HFV
5 Jens Bratlie
(1856–1939)
20 February 1912 31 January 1913 346 days Conservative Party Bratlie
HFV
1912
(3) Gunnar Knudsen
(1848–1928)
31 January 1913 21 June 1920 7 years, 142 days Liberal Party Knudsen II
V
1915
1918
6 Otto Bahr Halvorsen
(1872–1923)
21 June 1920 22 June 1921 1 year, 1 day Conservative Party Bahr Halvorsen I
HFV
7 Otto Albert Blehr
(1847–1927)
22 June 1921 6 March 1923 1 year, 257 days Liberal Party Blehr II
V
1921
(6) Otto Bahr Halvorsen
(1872–1923)
6 March 1923 23 May 1923 78 days Conservative Party Bahr Halvorsen II
HFV
8 Abraham Berge
(1851–1936)
30 May 1923 25 July 1924 1 year, 56 days Free-minded Liberal Party Berge
HFV
9 Johan Ludwig Mowinckel
(1870–1943)
25 July 1924 5 March 1926 1 year, 223 days Liberal Party Mowinckel I
V
1924
10 Ivar Lykke
(1872–1949)
5 March 1926 28 January 1928 1 year, 329 days Conservative Party Lykke
HFV
1927
11 Christopher Hornsrud
(1859–1960)
28 January 1928 15 February 1928 18 days Labour Party Hornsrud
Ap
(9) Johan Ludwig Mowinckel
(1870–1943)
15 February 1928 12 May 1931 3 years, 86 days Liberal Party Mowinckel II
V
1930
12 Peder Kolstad
(1878–1932)
12 May 1931 5 March 1932 298 days Agrarian Party Kolstad
B
13 Jens Hundseid
(1883–1965)
14 March 1932 3 March 1933 354 days Agrarian Party Hundseid
B
(9) Johan Ludwig Mowinckel
(1870–1943)
3 March 1933 20 March 1935 2 years, 17 days Liberal Party Mowinckel III
V
1933
14 Johan Nygaardsvold
(1879–1952)
20 March 1935
in exile from 1940
25 June 1945 10 years, 97 days Labour Party Nygaardsvold
Ap
1936

Heads of Government (1940–1945)

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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 (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei)

Portrait Name
(birth–death)
Term of office Party Cabinet
coalition
Took office Left office Time in office
Vidkun Quisling
(1887–1945)
9 April 1940
(committed a coup d'état)
15 April 1940 6 days National Unity Quisling I
NS
Ingolf Elster Christensen
(1872–1943)
as Chairman of the Administrative Council
15 April 1940 25 September 1940 163 days Conservative Party Administrative Council
Josef Terboven
(1898–1945)
as Reichskommissar
25 September 1940 1 February 1942 1 year, 129 days Nazi Party Reichskommissariat
NSDAP
Vidkun Quisling
(1887–1945)
as Minister President
1 February 1942 9 May 1945 3 years, 97 days National Unity Quisling II
NS

Prime Ministers of Norway (1945–present)

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

No. Portrait Name
(birth–death)
Term of office Party Election Cabinet
coalition
Monarch
(reign)
Took office Left office Time in office
15 Einar Gerhardsen
(1897–1987)
25 June 1945 19 November 1951 6 years, 147 days Labour Party Gerhardsen I
ApHSpVNKP
Haakon VII

(1905–1957)
1945 Gerhardsen II
Ap
1949
16 Oscar Torp
(1893–1958)
19 November 1951 22 January 1955 3 years, 64 days Labour Party 1953 Torp
Ap
(15) Einar Gerhardsen
(1897–1987)
22 January 1955 28 August 1963 8 years, 218 days Labour Party Gerhardsen III
Ap
1957
Olav V

(1957–1991)
1961
17 John Lyng
(1905–1978)
28 August 1963 25 September 1963 28 days Conservative Party Lyng
HSpKrFV
(15) Einar Gerhardsen
(1897–1987)
25 September 1963 12 October 1965 2 years, 17 days Labour Party Gerhardsen IV
Ap
18 Per Borten
(1913–2005)
12 October 1965 17 March 1971 5 years, 156 days Centre Party 1965 Borten
SpHKrFV
1969
19 Trygve Bratteli
(1910–1984)
17 March 1971 18 October 1972 1 year, 215 days Labour Party Bratteli I
Ap
20 Lars Korvald
(1916–2006)
18 October 1972 16 October 1973 363 days Christian Democratic Party Korvald
KrFSpV
(19) Trygve Bratteli
(1910–1984)
16 October 1973 15 January 1976 2 years, 91 days Labour Party 1973 Bratteli II
Ap
21 Odvar Nordli
(1927–2018)
15 January 1976 4 February 1981 5 years, 20 days Labour Party Nordli
Ap
1977
22 Gro Harlem Brundtland
(born 1939)
4 February 1981 14 October 1981 252 days Labour Party Brundtland I
Ap
23 Kåre Willoch
(1928–2021)
14 October 1981 9 May 1986 4 years, 207 days Conservative Party 1981 Willoch I
H
1985 Willoch II
HKrFSp
(22) Gro Harlem Brundtland
(born 1939)
9 May 1986 16 October 1989 3 years, 160 days Labour Party Brundtland II
Ap
24 Jan Peder Syse
(1930–1997)
16 October 1989 3 November 1990 1 year, 18 days Conservative Party 1989 Syse
HKrFSp
(22) Gro Harlem Brundtland
(born 1939)
3 November 1990 25 October 1996 5 years, 357 days Labour Party Brundtland III
Ap
Harald V

(1991–present)
1993
25 Thorbjørn Jagland
(born 1950)
25 October 1996 17 October 1997 357 days Labour Party Jagland
Ap
26 Kjell Magne Bondevik
(born 1947)
17 October 1997 17 March 2000 2 years, 152 days Christian Democratic Party 1997 Bondevik I
KrFSpV
27 Jens Stoltenberg
(born 1959)
17 March 2000 19 October 2001 1 year, 216 days Labour Party Stoltenberg I
Ap
(26) Kjell Magne Bondevik
(born 1947)
19 October 2001 17 October 2005 3 years, 363 days Christian Democratic Party 2001 Bondevik II
KrFHV
(27) Jens Stoltenberg
(born 1959)
17 October 2005 16 October 2013 7 years, 364 days Labour Party 2005 Stoltenberg II
ApSVSp
2009
28 Erna Solberg
(born 1961)
16 October 2013 14 October 2021 7 years, 363 days Conservative Party 2013 Solberg I
HFrP
2017 Solberg II
HFrPV
Solberg III
HFrPV-KrF
Solberg IV
HVKrF
29 Jonas Gahr Støre
(born 1960)
14 October 2021 Incumbent 3 years, 52 days Labour Party 2021 Støre
ApSp

See also

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