The office of Prime Minister in Sweden
In 2026, it is 150 years since the modern office of Prime Minister was introduced in Sweden. Since then, Sweden has had 35 prime ministers who have led 53 governments.
The office of Prime Minister was established in 1876 through a reform of the 1809 Instrument of Government. The Prime Minister became the Government’s foremost leader with the remit of leading and keeping together the Government’s work.
The Prime Minister’s role today
The Prime Minister is Sweden’s head of Government whose foremost task is to lead the Government and designate its Ministers. The Prime Minister chooses which and how many ministers are to be part of Government. The Prime Minister’s role also includes acting as a representative for Sweden on the international stage and to be the head of the Government Offices of Sweden.
Sweden’s Prime Ministers since 1876
Louis De Geer took office as Sweden’s first Prime Minister on 20 March 1876. He stepped down on 19 April 1880.
Prime Minister Arvid Posse took office on 19 April 1880 and stepped down on 13 June 1883.
Prime Minister Carl Johan Thyselius took office on 13 June 1883. He stepped down on 16 May 1884.
Prime Minister Robert Themptander took office on 16 May 1884 and stepped down on 6 February 1888.
Prime Minister Gillis Bildt was in office between 6 February 1888 and 12 October 1889. He is the great-great-grandfather of Prime Minister Carl Bildt (1991–1994).
Prime Minister Gustaf Åkerhielm took office on 12 October 1989. He stepped down on 10 July 1891.
Prime Minister Erik Boström took office on 10 July 1891 and stepped down on 12 September 1900. He returned for a second term as Prime Minister in 1902.
Fredrik von Otter served as Prime Minister from 12 September 1900 until 5 July 1902.
Prime Minister Erik Gustaf Boström took office for a second time on 5 July 1902 and stepped down on 13 April 1905.
Johan Ramstedt became Prime Minister on 13 April 1905. He stepped down on 2 August 1905.
Prime Minister Christian Lundeberg took office on 2 August 1905 and stepped down on 7 November 1905.
Prime Minister Karl Staaff took office on 7 November 1905 and stepped down on 29 May 1906. He returned for a second term as Prime Minister in 1911.
Prime Minister Arvid Lindman took office on 29 May 1906 and stepped down on 7 October 1911. He returned for a second term as Prime Minister in 1928.
Prime Minister Karl Staaff took office for a second time on 7 October 1911 and stepped down on 17 February 1914.
Prime Minister Hjalmar Hammarskjöld took office on 17 February 1914. He stepped down on 30 March 1917.
Prime Minister Carl Swartz took office on 30 March 1917 and stepped down on 19 October 1917.
Prime Minister Nils Edén took office on 19 October 1917 and stepped down on 10 March 1920. He was a member of the Liberal Coalition Party and led a coalition government that also included the Swedish Social Democratic Party.
Prime Minister Hjalmer Branting took office on 10 March 1920 and stepped down on 27 October 1920. He returned to serve a second term as Prime Minister in 1921 and a third term in 1924. Each time he led a social democratic government.
Prime Minister Louis De Geer the Younger took office on 27 October 1920 and stepped down on 23 February 1921. His father was Louis De Geer the Elder, who served as Prime Minister between 1876 and 1880.
Prime Minister Oscar von Sydow took office on 23 February 1921. He stepped down on 13 October 1921.
Prime Minister Hjalmar Branting took office for a social democratic government for the second time on 13 October 1921 and stepped down in April 1923. He returned for a third term in 1924.
Prime Minister Ernst Trygger took office in April 1923 and stepped down on 18 October 1924. He was a member of the National Party and led a conservative government.
Prime Minister Hjalmar Branting took office for a social democratic government for the third and last time on 18 October 1924. He stepped down on 24 January 1925.
Prime Minister Rickard Sandler took office for a social democratic government on 24 January 1925 and stepped down on 7 June 1926.
Prime Minister Carl Gustaf Ekman took office on 7 June 1925. He stepped down on 2 October 1928 and later returned to serve as Prime Minister in 1930. He was a member of the Freeminded Liberal Party and led a coalition government that included the Liberal Party.
Prime Minister Arvid Lindman took office for the second time on 2 October 1928 and stepped down on 7 June 1930. He was a member of the General Electoral League and led a conservative government.
Prime Minister Carl Gustaf Ekman took office for the second time on 7 June 1930 and stepped down on 6 August 1932. He was a member of the Freeminded Liberal Party and led a liberal government.
Prime Minister Felix Hamrin took office on 6 August 1932 and stepped down on 24 September 1932, making him the Prime Minister with the shortest time in office. Hamrin was a member of the Freeminded Liberal Party and led a liberal government.
Prime Minister Per Albin Hansson took office on 24 September 1932 and led a social democratic government. He stepped down on 19 June 1936 but then returned to serve as Prime Minister in September that year.
Prime Minister Axel Pehrsson-Bramstorp took office on 19 June 1936 and led an Agrarian Party government. He stepped down on 28 September 1936.
Prime Minister Per Albin Hansson was a Social Democrat and took office for the second time on 28 September 1936. He served until his death in 1946, after which Östen Undén was acting Prime Minister until 11 October when Tage Erlander took office.
Prime Minister Per Albin Hansson’s governments 1936–1946:
28 September 1936–13 December 1939: coalition government comprising the Swedish Social Democratic Party and the Agrarian Party.
13 December 1939–31 July 1945: coalition government comprising the Swedish Social Democratic Party, the Agrarian Party, the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party.
31 July 1945–11 October 1946: social democratic government.
Prime Minister Tage Erlander took office on 11 October 1946 and stepped down on 14 October 1969, making him the longest-serving prime minister. Erlander was a member of the Swedish Social Democratic Party.
Prime Minister Tage Erlander’s governments:
11 October 1946–1 October 1951: social democratic government.
1 October 1951–31 October 1957: coalition government with the Swedish Social Democratic Party and the Agrarian Party.
31 October 1957–14 October 1969: social democratic government.
Prime Minister Olof Palme took office on 14 October 1969 and stepped down on 8 October 1976. He led a social democratic government and returned to serve a second term as Prime Minister in 1982.
Prime Minister Thorbjörn Fälldin took office on 8 October 1976 and stepped down on 18 October 1978. He was a member of the Centre Party and led a coalition government that included the Moderate Party and the Liberal Party during his first term as Prime Minister. Fälldin returned to office for a second term as Prime Minister in 1979.
Prime Minister Ola Ullsten took office on 18 October 1978. He stepped down on 12 October 1979 and led a Liberal Party government.
Prime Minister Thorbjörn Fälldin took office for a second term on 12 October 1979. He stepped down on 8 October 1982 and was a member of the Centre Party.
Prime Minister Thorbjörn Fälldin’s governments 1979–1982:
12 October 1979–22 May 1981: coalition government with the Centre Party, the Moderate Party and the Liberal Party.
22 May 1981–8 October 1982: coalition government with the Centre Party and the Liberal Party.
Prime Minister Olof Palme took office for a second time on 8 October 1982 and led a social democratic government again. Palme was in office until his death on 28 February 1986.
Following Prime Minister Olof Palme’s death, Ingvar Carlsson was acting Prime Minister from 1–12 March 1986, when the Riksdag appointed him to the role of Prime Minister. Prime Minister Ingvar Carlsson led a social democratic government and stepped down on 4 October 1991. Carlsson returned to serve a second time as Prime Minister in 1994.
Prime Minister Carl Bildt took office on 4 October 1991. He stepped down on 7 October 1994. Bildt was a member of the Moderate Party and led a coalition government that also included the Liberal Party, the Centre Party and the Christian Democrats.
Prime Minister Ingvar Carlsson took office for the second time on 7 October 1994 and stepped down on 22 March 1996. He also led a social democratic government during his second term as Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Göran Persson took office on 22 March 1996 and stepped down on 6 October 2006. He led a social democratic government.
Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt took office on 6 October 2006 and stepped down on 3 October 2014. He was a member of the Moderate Party and led a coalition government that also included the Liberal Party, the Centre Party and the Christian Democrats.
Prime Minister Stefan Löfven took office on 3 October 2014 and stepped down on 30 November 2021. He was a member of the Swedish Social Democratic Party and led a coalition government that also included the Green Party.
Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson took office on 30 November 2021, becoming the first female Swedish Prime Minister. She led a social democratic government and stepped down on 18 October 2022.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson took office on 18 October 2022 and is Sweden’s current Prime Minister. He is a member of the Moderate Party and leads a coalition government that also includes the Christian Democrats and Liberal Party.
