List of heads of government of Norway

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

The Steward of Norway, styled Rigsstatholder in Danish (riksstattholder in modern Norwegian spelling), meaning Lieutenant of the realm (see Steward (office)), was the appointed head of the Norwegian Government in the absence of the Monarch during the Dano-Norwegian personal 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.

Stewards of Norway (1536–1814)

• Peder Hansen Litle (1536–1551)
• Jesper Friis (1551–1556)
• Christiern Munk (1556–1572)
• Pouel Ottesen Huitfeldt (1572–1577)
• Ludvig Ludvigsson Munk til Norlund (9 July 1577 – 1583)
• Ove Juel (1583–1588)
• Aksel Gyldenstjerne (1588–1601)
• Jørgen Friis til Krastrup (1601–1608)
• Enevold Kruse til Hjermislov (1608–1618)
• Jens Hermansson Juel (1618–1629)
• Christopher Knudsson Urne til Asmark (1629–1642)
• Hannibal Sehested (1642–24 June 1651)
• Gregers Krabbe (1651–20 December 1655)
• Niels Trolle til Trollesholm og Gavnø (1656–28 March 1661)
• Iver Tageson Krabbe (8 Oct 1661 – 1664)
• Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, greve til Laurvig og Tønsberg (Jan 1664–1699)
• Ove Juel (Vice Governor-general of Norway under Gyldenløve) (1669 – 5 June 1675)
• Jens Juel (Vice Governor-general of Norway under Gyldenløve) (5 June 1675 – 9 May 1682)
• Just Högh til Fultofte (Vice Governor-general of Norway under Gyldenløve) (9 May 1682 – 26 September 1694)
• Frederik Gabel (30 September 1699 – 1708)
• Johan Vibe (10 April 1708 – 22 Feb 1710)
• Ulrik Frederik Valdemar, baron Løvendal (1 Aug 1710 – 30 April 1712)
• Claus Henrik Vieregg (4 August 1712 – 14 July 1713)
• Frederik Krag (19 September 1713 – 1722)
• Ditlev Vibe (17 April 1722 – 5 October 1731)
• Patroclus Rømeling (acting) 1731–1733
• Christian greve Rantzau (1733–1739)
• Hans Jakob Arnold (acting) (1739 – 11 Sep 1750)
• Jacob von Benzon (11 September 1750 – 8 February 1771)
• Carl, Landgraf zu Hessen (4 July 1766 – January 1768) (acting for Benzon)
• 8 Feb 1771 – 25 July 1809 Vacant
• Christian August von Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg 25 July 1809 – 11 Jan 1810
• Friedrich Landgraf zu Hessen-Kassel 11 Jan 1810 – 11 May 1813
• Christian Frederik af Danmark (11 May 1813 – 16 Feb 1814)

In 1873, the position of First Minister was upgraded to Prime Minister.

Prime Ministers of Norway (1814–1905)

Prime Ministers (1814–1873)

Prior to 1884, there were no organised political parties in Norway, and 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. They were subordinate to the Steward, Viceroy and First Minister of Norway.

#	Name (Birth–Death)	Picture	Took office	Left office	Political party	Term
1	Peder Anker (1749–1824)		1814	1822	N/A	1
2	Mathias Sommerhielm (1764–1827)		1822	1827	N/A	2
3	Severin Løvenskiold (1777–1856)		1828	1841	N/A	3
4	Frederik Due (1796–1873)		1841	1858	N/A	4
5	Georg Sibbern (1816–1901)		1858	1871	N/A	5
6	Otto Richard Kierulf (1825–1897)		1871	1873	N/A	6

Split Prime Ministership (1873–1905)

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. In addition, a Prime Minister of Sweden was appointed from 1876 onwards.

  Liberal Party of Norway (Venstre)   Conservative Party (Høyre)   Coalition Party (Samlingspartiet)

								Term of office		Cabinet
#	Name (Birth-Death)	Picture	Political party	#	Name (Birth-Death)	Picture	Political party
1	Otto Richard Kierulf (1825–1897)		N/A	1	Frederik Stang (1808–1884)		N/A	1873	1880	F.Stang
				2	Christian August Selmer (1816–1889)		Conservative Party	1880	1884	Selmer
-	Wolfgang Wenzel von Haffner (1806–1892) (acting)		N/A					1884	1884
2	Carl Otto Løvenskiold (1839–1916)		N/A	3	Christian Homann Schweigaard (1838–1899)		Conservative Party	1884	1884	Schweigaard
3	Ole Jørgen Richter (1829–1888)		Liberal Party	4	Johan Sverdrup (1838–1899)		Liberal Party	1884	1888	Sverdrup V
4	Hans Georg Jacob Stang (1830–1907)		Liberal Party					1888	1889
5	Gregers Winther Wulfsberg Gram (1846–1929)		Conservative Party	5	Emil Stang (1834–1912)		Conservative Party	1889	1891	Stang I H
6	Otto Albert Blehr (1847–1927)		Liberal Party	6	Johannes Steen (1827–1906)		Liberal Party	1891	1893	Steen I V
(5)	Gregers Winther Wulfsberg Gram (1846–1929)		Conservative Party	(5)	Emil Stang (1834–1912)		Conservative Party	1893	1895	Stang II H
				7	Francis Hagerup (1853–1921)		Conservative Party	1895	1898	Hagerup I H–MV–V
(6)	Otto Albert Blehr (1853–1921)		Liberal Party	(6)	Johannes Steen (1827–1906)		Liberal Party	1898	1902	Steen II V
7	Ole Anton Qvam (1834–1904)		Liberal Party	8	Otto Blehr (1847–1927)		Liberal Party	1902	1903	Blehr I V
8	Sigurd Ibsen (1859–1930)		Liberal Party	(7)	Francis Hagerup (1853–1921)		Coalition Party	1903	1905	Hagerup II H–V
9	Jørgen Løvland (1848–1922)		Liberal Party	9	Christian Michelsen (1857–1925)		Liberal Party	1905	1905	Michelsen V–H–MV

Prime Ministers of Norway (1905–present)

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)

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

#	Name (Birth-Death)	Picture	Took office	Left office	Political party	Cabinet
1	Christian Michelsen (1857–1925)		11 March 1905	23 October 1907	Liberal Party	Michelsen V–H–MV
2	Jørgen Løvland (1848–1922)		23 October 1907	19 March 1908	Liberal Party	Løvland V–FV–MV
3	Gunnar Knudsen (1848–1928)		19 March 1908	2 February 1910	Liberal Party	Knudsen I V
4	Wollert Konow (1845–1924)		2 February 1910	20 February 1912	Free-minded Liberal Party	Konow H–FV
5	Jens Bratlie (1856–1939)		20 February 1912	31 January 1913	Conservative Party	Bratlie H–FV
(3)	Gunnar Knudsen (1848–1928)		31 January 1913	21 June 1920	Liberal Party	Knudsen II V
6	Otto Bahr Halvorsen (1872–1923)		21 June 1920	22 June 1921	Conservative Party	Bahr Halvorsen I H–FV
7	Otto Albert Blehr (1847–1927)		22 June 1921	23 March 1923	Liberal Party	Blehr II V
(6)	Otto Bahr Halvorsen (1872–1923)		23 March 1923	23 May 1923	Conservative Party	Bahr Halvorsen II H–FV
8	Abraham Berge (1851–1936)		30 May 1923	25 July 1924	Free-minded Liberal Party	Berge H–FV
9	Johan Ludwig Mowinckel (1870–1943)		25 July 1924	5 March 1926	Liberal Party	Mowinckel I V
10	Ivar Lykke (1872–1949)		5 March 1926	28 January 1928	Conservative Party	Lykke H–FV
11	Christopher Hornsrud (1859–1960)		28 January 1928	15 February 1928	Labour Party	Hornsrud Ap
(9)	Johan Ludwig Mowinckel (1870–1943)		15 February 1928	12 May 1931	Liberal Party	Mowinckel II V
12	Peder Kolstad (1878–1932)		21 May 1931	5 March 1932	Agrarian Party	Kolstad B
13	Jens Hundseid (1883–1965)		14 March 1932	3 March 1933	Agrarian Party	Hundseid B
(9)	Johan Ludwig Mowinckel (1870–1943)		3 March 1933	20 March 1935	Liberal Party	Mowinckel III V
14	Johan Nygaardsvold (1879–1952)		20 March 1935 (head of government in exile from 1940)	25 June 1945	Labour Party	Nygaardsvold Ap

Heads of government 1940–1945

Following the German invasion of Norway during World War II there were five cabinets or administrations of different nature.

The prewar cabinet headed by Johan Nygaardsvold eventually escaped to London in 1940 and continued there as a government in exile throughout the war, recognised by the western allies but not by the Axis powers, and without holding actual power in Norway. A coup by Vidkun Quisling on 9 April 1940 essentially failed due to lack of support by the German authorities and his proclaimed government never held any significant power. On 15 April 1940 the Supreme Court of Norway appointed the Administrative Council chaired by Conservative Party politician Ingolf Elster Christensen. On 25 September 1940, the Administrative Council was replaced by acting heads of the government departments appointed by the German civilian administrator in Norway Josef Terboven. On 1 February 1942 Quisling was appointed head of a government consisting of members of his party National Unity.

  Norwegian Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)   National Unity (Nasjonal Samling)   Conservative Party (Høyre)   German Nazi Party   No party

#	Name (Birth-Death)	Picture	Took office	Left office	Political party	Cabinet
	Johan Nygaardsvold (1879–1952)		20 March 1935 (head of government in exile from 1940)	25 June 1945	Labour Party	Nygaardsvold Ap
	Vidkun Quisling (1887–1945)		9 April 1940	15 April 1940	National Unity	Quisling I NS
	Ingolf Elster Christensen (1872–1943) as Chairman of the Administrative Council		15 April 1940	25 September 1940	Conservative Party	Administrative Council
	Josef Terboven (1898–1945) as Reichskommissar		25 September 1940	1 February 1942	Member of the National Socialist German Workers' Party, but serving as a German civil servant rather than in a political role	Reichskommissariat NSDAP
	Vidkun Quisling (1887–1945) as Minister President		1 February 1942	9 May 1945	National Unity	Quisling II NS

Prime Ministers of Norway (1945–present)

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

#	Name (Birth-Death)	Picture	Took office	Left office	Political party	Elected	Cabinet(s)
1	Einar Gerhardsen (1897–1987)		25 June 1945	9 November 1951	Labour Party	—	Gerhardsen I Ap–H–Sp–V–NKP
						1945 1949	Gerhardsen II Ap
2	Oscar Torp (1893–1958)		9 November 1951	22 January 1955	Labour Party	1953	Torp Ap
3	Einar Gerhardsen (1897–1987)		22 January 1955	28 August 1963	Labour Party	1957 1961	Gerhardsen III Ap
4	John Lyng (1905–1978)		28 August 1963	25 September 1963	Conservative Party	—	Lyng H–Sp–KrF–V
5	Einar Gerhardsen (1897–1987)		25 September 1963	12 October 1965	Labour Party	—	Gerhardsen IV Ap
6	Per Borten (1913–2005)		12 October 1965	17 March 1971	Centre Party	1965 1969	Borten Sp–H–KrF–V
7	Trygve Bratteli (1910–1984)		17 March 1971	17 October 1972	Labour Party	—	Bratteli I Ap
8	Lars Korvald (1916–2006)		17 October 1972	12 October 1973	Christian Democratic Party	—	Korvald KrF–Sp–V
9	Trygve Bratteli (1910–1984)		12 October 1973	15 January 1976	Labour Party	1973	Bratteli II Ap
10	Odvar Nordli (1927–)		15 January 1976	4 February 1981	Labour Party	1977	Nordli Ap
11	Gro Harlem Brundtland (1939–)		4 February 1981	14 October 1981	Labour Party	—	Brundtland I Ap
12	Kåre Willoch (1928–)		14 October 1981	9 May 1986	Conservative Party	1981	Willoch I H
						1985	Willoch II H–KrF–Sp
13	Gro Harlem Brundtland (1939–)		9 May 1986	16 October 1989	Labour Party	—	Brundtland II Ap
14	Jan P. Syse (1930–1997)		16 October 1989	3 November 1990	Conservative Party	1989	Syse H–KrF–Sp
15	Gro Harlem Brundtland (1939–)		3 November 1990	25 October 1996	Labour Party	1993	Brundtland III Ap
16	Thorbjørn Jagland (1950–)		25 October 1996	17 October 1997	Labour Party	—	Jagland Ap
17	Kjell Magne Bondevik (1947–)		17 October 1997	17 March 2000	Christian Democratic Party	1997	Bondevik I KrF–Sp–V
18	Jens Stoltenberg (1959–)		17 March 2000	19 October 2001	Labour Party	—	Stoltenberg I Ap
19	Kjell Magne Bondevik (1947–)		19 October 2001	17 October 2005	Christian Democratic Party	2001	Bondevik II KrF–H–V
20	Jens Stoltenberg (1959–)		17 October 2005	16 October 2013	Labour Party	2005 2009	Stoltenberg II Ap–SV–Sp
21	Erna Solberg (1961–)		16 October 2013	Incumbent	Conservative Party	2013	Solberg H–FrP

See also

• List of Norwegian monarchs
• List of Norwegian governments

External links

• Norway's Prime Ministers — A pictorial with portraits of Norway's Prime Ministers (Aftenposten)