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 (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)

Stewards, Viceroys, and First Ministers (1814–1873)

Stewards of Norway (1814–1856)

1. Count Hans Henrik von Essen (1814–1816)
2. Count Carl Carlsson Mörner (1816–1818)
3. Count Johan August Sandels (1818–1827)
4. Count Baltzar von Platen (1827–1829)
5. Count Herman Wedel-Jarlsberg (1836–1840)
6. Severin Løvenskiold (1841–1856)

Viceroys of Norway (periodically 1814–1857)

1. Crown Prince Carl Johan (9–17 November 1814)
2. Crown Prince Carl Johan (10 June – 16 July 1816)
3. Crown Prince Oscar (11 April – 1 November 1824)
4. Crown Prince Oscar (17 June – 3 December 1833)
5. Crown Prince Carl (17 June 1856 – 22 June 1857)

First Ministers of Norway (1814–1873)

1. Frederik Gottschalck von Haxthausen (1814)
2. Marcus Gjøe Rosenkrantz (1814–1815)
3. Mathias Sommerhielm (1815–1822)
4. Jonas Collett (1822–1836)
5. Nicolai Johan Lohmann Krog (1836–1855)
6. Jørgen Herman Vogt (1855–1858)
7. Hans Christian Petersen (1858–1861)
8. Frederik Stang (1861–1873); continued as Prime Minister until 1880

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.

      Liberal Party of Norway (Venstre)       Conservative Party (Høyre)       Centre Party (Senterpartiet)       Norwegian Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)       Christian Democratic Party(Kristelig Folkeparti)       Free-minded Liberal Party (Frisinnede Venstre)

Prime Ministers of Norway (1905–1945)

#	Name (Birth-Death)	Picture	Took office	Left office	Political party	Cabinet
1	Christian Michelsen (1857-1925)		000000001905-03-11-000011 March 1905	000000001907-10-23-000023 October 1907	Liberal Party	Michelsen V–H–MV
2	Jørgen Løvland (1848-1922)		000000001907-10-23-000023 October 1907	000000001908-03-19-000019 March 1908	Liberal Party	Løvland V–FV–MV
3	Gunnar Knudsen (1848-1928)		000000001908-03-19-000019 March 1908	000000001910-02-02-00002 February 1910	Liberal Party	Knudsen I V
4	Wollert Konow (1845-1924)		000000001910-02-02-00002 February 1910	000000001912-02-20-000020 February 1912	Free-minded Liberal Party	Konow H–FV
5	Jens Bratlie (1856-1939)		000000001912-02-20-000020 February 1912	000000001913-01-31-000031 January 1913	Conservative Party	Bratlie H–FV
(3)	Gunnar Knudsen (1848-1928)		000000001913-01-31-000031 January 1913	000000001920-06-21-000021 June 1920	Liberal Party	Knudsen II V
6	Otto Bahr Halvorsen (1872-1923)		000000001920-06-21-000021 June 1920	000000001921-06-22-000022 June 1921	Conservative Party	Bahr Halvorsen I H–FV
7	Otto Albert Blehr (1847-1927)		000000001921-06-22-000022 June 1921	000000001923-03-23-000023 March 1923	Liberal Party	Blehr II V
(6)	Otto Bahr Halvorsen (1872-1923)		000000001923-03-23-000023 March 1923	000000001923-05-23-000023 May 1923	Conservative Party	Bahr Halvorsen II H–FV
8	Abraham Berge (1851-1936)		000000001923-05-30-000030 May 1923	000000001924-07-25-000025 July 1924	Free-minded Liberal Party	Berge H–FV
9	Johan Ludwig Mowinckel (1870-1943)		000000001924-07-25-000025 July 1924	000000001926-03-05-00005 March 1926	Liberal Party	Mowinckel I V
10	Ivar Lykke (1872-1949)		000000001926-03-05-00005 March 1926	000000001928-01-28-000028 January 1928	Conservative Party	Lykke H–FV
11	Christopher Hornsrud (1859-1960)		000000001928-01-28-000028 January 1928	000000001928-02-15-000015 February 1928	Labour Party	Hornsrud Ap
(9)	Johan Ludwig Mowinckel (1870-1943)		000000001928-02-15-000015 February 1928	000000001931-05-12-000012 May 1931	Liberal Party	Mowinckel II V
12	Peder Kolstad (1878-1932)		000000001931-05-21-000021 May 1931	000000001932-03-05-00005 March 1932	Agrarian Party	Kolstad B
13	Jens Hundseid (1883-1965)		000000001932-03-14-000014 March 1932	000000001933-03-03-00003 March 1933	Agrarian Party	Hundseid B
(9)	Johan Ludwig Mowinckel (1870-1943)		000000001933-03-03-00003 March 1933	000000001935-03-20-000020 March 1935	Liberal Party	Mowinckel III V
14	Johan Nygaardsvold (1879-1952)		000000001935-03-20-000020 March 1935	000000001945-06-25-000025 June 1945	Labour Party	Nygaardsvold Ap

De facto heads of government during World War II

During the German occupation of Norway during World War II there were four cabinets, that ruled as part of Josef Terboven's administration of Norway. These Governments were the de facto ruling body of Norway during the war, though Johan Nygaardsvold was still the internationally recognised prime minister, in exile in London, United Kingdom.

#	Name (Birth-Death)	Picture	Took office	Left office	Political party	Cabinet
1	Vidkun Quisling (1887-1945)		000000001940-04-09-00009 April 1940	000000001940-04-15-000015 April 1940	Nasjonal Samling	Quisling I NS
2	Ingolf Elster Christensen (1872-1943) as Chairman of the Administrative Council		000000001940-04-15-000015 April 1940	000000001940-09-25-000025 September 1940	Non-party	Administrative Council
3	Josef Terboven (1898-1945) as Reichskommissar		000000001940-09-25-000025 September 1940	000000001942-02-01-00001 February 1942	National Socialist German Workers' Party	Reichskommissariat NSDAP
(1)	Vidkun Quisling (1887-1945) as Minister President		000000001942-02-01-00001 February 1942	000000001945-05-09-00009 May 1945	Nasjonal Samling	Quisling II NS

Prime Ministers of Norway (1945–present)

#	Name (Birth-Death)	Picture	Took office	Left office	Political party	Elected	Cabinet(s)
15	Einar Gerhardsen (1897-1987)		000000001945-06-25-000025 June 1945	000000001951-11-09-00009 November 1951	Labour Party	—	Gerhardsen I Ap–H–Sp–V–NKP
						1945 1949	Gerhardsen II Ap
16	Oscar Torp (1893-1958)		000000001951-11-09-00009 November 1951	000000001955-01-22-000022 January 1955	Labour Party	1953	Torp Ap
(15)	Einar Gerhardsen (1897-1987)		000000001955-01-22-000022 January 1955	000000001963-08-28-000028 August 1963	Labour Party	1957 1961	Gerhardsen III Ap
17	John Lyng (1905-1978)		000000001963-08-28-000028 August 1963	000000001963-09-25-000025 September 1963	Conservative Party	—	Lyng H–Sp–KrF–V
(15)	Einar Gerhardsen (1897-1987)		000000001963-09-25-000025 September 1963	000000001965-10-12-000012 October 1965	Labour Party	—	Gerhardsen IV Ap
18	Per Borten (1913-2005)		000000001965-10-12-000012 October 1965	000000001971-03-17-000017 March 1971	Centre Party	1965 1969	Borten Sp–H–KrF–V
19	Trygve Bratteli (1910-1984)		000000001971-03-17-000017 March 1971	000000001972-10-17-000017 October 1972	Labour Party	—	Bratteli I Ap
20	Lars Korvald (1916-2006)		000000001972-10-17-000017 October 1972	000000001973-10-12-000012 October 1973	Christian Democratic Party	—	Korvald KrF–Sp–V
(19)	Trygve Bratteli (1910-1984)		000000001973-10-12-000012 October 1973	000000001976-01-15-000015 January 1976	Labour Party	1973	Bratteli II Ap
21	Odvar Nordli (1927-)		000000001976-01-15-000015 January 1976	000000001981-02-04-00004 February 1981	Labour Party	1977	Nordli Ap
22	Gro Harlem Brundtland (1939-)		000000001981-02-04-00004 February 1981	000000001981-10-14-000014 October 1981	Labour Party	—	Brundtland I Ap
23	Kåre Willoch (1928-)		000000001981-10-14-000014 October 1981	000000001986-05-09-00009 May 1986	Conservative Party	1981	Willoch I H
						1985	Willoch II H–KrF–Sp
(22)	Gro Harlem Brundtland (1939-)		000000001986-05-09-00009 May 1986	000000001989-10-16-000016 October 1989	Labour Party	—	Brundtland II Ap
24	Jan P. Syse (1930-1997)		000000001989-10-16-000016 October 1989	000000001990-11-03-00003 November 1990	Conservative Party	1989	Syse H–KrF–Sp
(22)	Gro Harlem Brundtland (1939-)		000000001990-11-03-00003 November 1990	000000001996-10-25-000025 October 1996	Labour Party	1993	Brundtland III Ap
25	Thorbjørn Jagland (1950-)		000000001996-10-25-000025 October 1996	000000001997-10-17-000017 October 1997	Labour Party	—	Jagland Ap
26	Kjell Magne Bondevik (1947-)		000000001997-10-17-000017 October 1997	000000002000-03-17-000017 March 2000	Christian Democratic Party	1997	Bondevik I KrF–Sp–V
27	Jens Stoltenberg (1959-)		000000002000-03-17-000017 March 2000	000000002001-10-19-000019 October 2001	Labour Party	—	Stoltenberg I Ap
(26)	Kjell Magne Bondevik (1947-)		000000002001-10-19-000019 October 2001	000000002005-10-17-000017 October 2005	Christian Democratic Party	2001	Bondevik II KrF–H–V
(27)	Jens Stoltenberg (1959-)		000000002005-10-17-000017 October 2005	16 October 2013	Labour Party	2005 2009	Stoltenberg II Ap–SV–Sp
28	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)