# List of ministers of foreign affairs of Denmark

This is a list of foreign ministers of Denmark since the establishment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1848.

## List of Danish foreign ministers (1848–present)
### Ministers under Frederick VII (1848–1863)

| No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | Political party | Government | Ref. |
| No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Political party | Political party | Government | Ref. |
| 1 | | Knuth, FrederikFrederik Marcus Knuth (1813–1856) | 22 March 1848 | 16 November 1848 | 239 days | | Independent | Moltke I |
| 2 | | Moltke, AdamAdam Wilhelm Moltke (1785–1864) | 16 November 1848 | 6 August 1850 | 1 year, 263 days | | Independent | Moltke II |
| 3 | | Holger Christian Reedtz (1800–1857) | 6 August 1850 (1850-08-06) | 18 October 1851 (1851-10-18) | 1 year, 73 days | | Independent | Moltke II–III |
| 4 | | Christian Albrecht Bluhme (1794–1866) | 18 October 1851 (1851-10-18) | 12 December 1854 (1854-12-12) | 3 years, 55 days | | Independent | Moltke IV Bluhme I Ørsted |
| 5 | | Wulff Scheel-Plessen (1809–1876) | 12 December 1854 (1854-12-12) | 15 January 1855 (1855-01-15) | 34 days | | Independent | Bang |
| 6 | | Ludvig Nicolaus von Scheele (1796–1874) | 15 January 1855 (1855-01-15) | 17 April 1857 (1857-04-17) | 2 years, 92 days | | Independent | Bang Andræ |
| 7 | | Ove Wilhelm Michelsen (1800–1880) | 17 April 1857 (1857-04-17) | 10 July 1858 (1858-07-10) | 1 year, 84 days | | Independent | Andræ Hall I |
| 8 | | Carl Christian Hall (1812–1888) | 10 July 1858 (1858-07-10) | 2 December 1859 (1859-12-02) | 1 year, 145 days | | National Liberal | Hall I |
| 9 | | Carl Frederik Blixen-Finecke (1822–1873) | 2 December 1859 (1859-12-02) | 24 February 1860 (1860-02-24) | 84 days | | Independent | Rotwitt |
| (8) | | Carl Christian Hall (1812–1888) | 24 February 1860 (1860-02-24) | 31 December 1863 (1863-12-31) | 3 years, 310 days | | National Liberal | Hall II |

### Ministers under Christian IX (1863–1906)

| No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | Political party | Government | Ref. |
| No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Political party | Political party | Government | Ref. |
| 10 | | Monrad, DitlevDitlev Gothard Monrad (1811–1887) | 31 December 1863 | 8 January 1864 | 1 year, 263 days | | National Liberal | Monrad |
| 11 | | George Quaade (1813–1889) | 8 January 1864 (1864-01-08) | 11 July 1864 (1864-07-11) | 185 days | | Independent | Monrad |
| (4) | | Christian Albrecht Bluhme (1794–1866) | 11 July 1864 (1864-07-11) | 6 November 1865 (1865-11-06) | 1 year, 118 days | | Independent | Bluhme II |
| 12 | | Christian Emil Krag-Juel-Vind-Frijs (1817–1896) | 6 November 1865 (1865-11-06) | 28 May 1870 (1870-05-28) | 4 years, 203 days | | National Landowners | Frijs |
| 13 | | Otto Rosenørn-Lehn (1821–1892) | 28 May 1870 (1870-05-28) | 11 June 1875 (1875-06-11) | 5 years, 14 days | | National Landowners | Holstein-Holsteinborg Fonnesbech |
| 14 | | Frederik Moltke (1825–1875) | 11 June 1875 (1875-06-11) | 1 October 1875 (1875-10-01) | 112 days | | National Landowners | Estrup Cabinet |
| (13) | | Otto Rosenørn-Lehn (1821–1892) | 10 November 1875 (1875-11-10) | 21 May 1892 (1892-05-21) | 16 years, 193 days | | National Landowners | Estrup Cabinet |
| 15 | | Tage Reedtz-Thott (1839–1923) | 3 June 1892 (1892-06-03) | 23 May 1897 (1897-05-23) | 4 years, 354 days | | Højre | Estrup Cabinet Reedtz-Thott Cabinet |
| 16 | | Niels Frederik Ravn (1826–1910) | 23 May 1897 (1897-05-23) | 27 April 1900 (1900-04-27) | 2 years, 339 days | | Højre | Hørring |
| 17 | | Hannibal Sehested (1842–1924) | 27 April 1900 (1900-04-27) | 24 July 1901 (1901-07-24) | 1 year, 88 days | | Højre | Sehested |
| 18 | | Johan Henrik Deuntzer (1845–1918) | 24 July 1901 (1901-07-24) | 14 January 1905 (1905-01-14) | 3 years, 174 days | | Venstre Reform | Deuntzer |
| 19 | | Frederik Raben-Levetzau (1850–1933) | 14 January 1905 (1905-01-14) | 12 October 1908 (1908-10-12) | 3 years, 272 days | | Venstre Reform | Christensen I Cabinet–II |

### Ministers under Frederik VIII (1906–1912)

| No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | Political party | Government | Ref. |
| No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Political party | Political party | Government | Ref. |
| 20 | | Ahlefeldt, WilliamWilliam Ahlefeldt-Laurvig (1860–1923) | 12 October 1908 | 28 October 1909 | 1 year, 16 days | | Venstre Reform | Neergaard I Cabinet Holstein-Ledreborg Cabinet |
| 21 | | Scavenius, ErikErik Scavenius (1877–1962) | 28 October 1909 | 5 July 1910 | 250 days | | Social Liberals | Zahle I Cabinet |
| (20) | | Ahlefeldt, WilliamWilliam Ahlefeldt-Laurvig (1860–1923) | 5 July 1910 | 21 June 1913 | 2 years, 351 days | | Venstre | Berntsen Cabinet |

### Ministers under Christian X (1912–1947)

| No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | Political party | Government | Ref. |
| No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Political party | Political party | Government | Ref. |
| 22 | | Brandes, EdvardEdvard Brandes (1847–1931) | 21 June 1913 | 24 June 1913 | 3 days | | Social Liberals | Zahle II Cabinet |
| (21) | | Erik Scavenius (1877–1962) | 24 June 1913 (1913-06-24) | 30 March 1920 (1920-03-30) | 6 years, 280 days | | Social Liberals | Zahle II |
| 23 | | Henri Konow (1862–1939) | 30 March 1920 (1920-03-30) | 5 April 1920 (1920-04-05) | 6 days | | Independent | Liebe |
| 24 | | Otto Scavenius (1875–1945) | 5 April 1920 (1920-04-05) | 5 May 1920 (1920-05-05) | 30 days | | Independent | Friis |
| 25 | | Harald Scavenius (1873–1939) | 5 May 1920 (1920-05-05) | 9 October 1922 (1922-10-09) | 2 years, 157 days | | Venstre | Neergaard II |
| 26 | | Christian Cold (1863–1934) | 9 October 1922 (1922-10-09) | 23 April 1924 (1924-04-23) | 1 year, 197 days | | Venstre | Neergaard III |
| 27 | | Carl Moltke (1869–1935) | 23 April 1924 (1924-04-23) | 14 December 1926 (1926-12-14) | 2 years, 235 days | | Independent | Stauning I Cabinet |
| 28 | | Laust Jevsen Moltesen (1865–1950) | 14 December 1926 (1926-12-14) | 30 April 1929 (1929-04-30) | 2 years, 137 days | | Venstre | Madsen-Mygdal |
| 29 | | Peter Rochegune Munch (1870–1948) | 30 April 1929 (1929-04-30) | 8 July 1940 (1940-07-08) | 11 years, 69 days | | Social Liberals | Stauning II Cabinet–III–IV–V |
| (21) | | Erik Scavenius (1877–1962) | 8 July 1940 (1940-07-08) | 29 August 1943 (1943-08-29) | 3 years, 52 days | | Independent | Stauning VI Cabinet Buhl I Cabinet Scavenius Cabinet |
| No Danish government in between August 29, 1943 (1943-08-29) and May 5, 1945 (1945-05-05). Office is assumed by the permanent secretary. ||||||||||
| – | | Vilhelm Buhl (1881–1954) Acting | 5 May 1945 (1945-05-05) | 7 May 1945 (1945-05-07) | 2 days | | Social Democrats | Buhl II Cabinet |
| 30 | | John Christmas Møller (1894–1948) | 7 May 1945 (1945-05-07) | 7 November 1945 (1945-11-07) | 184 days | | Conservatives | Buhl II Cabinet |
| 31 | | Gustav Rasmussen (1895–1953) | 7 November 1945 (1945-11-07) | 30 October 1950 (1950-10-30) | 4 years, 357 days | | Independent | Kristensen Cabinet Hedtoft I Cabinet–II |

### Ministers under Frederik IX (1947–1972)

| No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | Political party | Government | Ref. |
| No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Political party | Political party | Government | Ref. |
| 32 | | Kraft, OleOle Bjørn Kraft (1893–1980) | 30 October 1950 | 30 September 1953 | 2 years, 335 days | | Conservatives | Eriksen Cabinet |
| 33 | | Hans Christian Hansen (1906–1960) | 30 September 1953 (1953-09-30) | 8 October 1958 (1958-10-08) | 5 years, 8 days | | Social Democrats | Hedtoft III Hansen I Cabinet–II |
| 34 | | Jens Otto Krag (1914–1978) | 8 October 1958 (1958-10-08) | 3 September 1962 (1962-09-03) | 3 years, 330 days | | Social Democrats | Hansen II Kampmann I Cabinet–II |
| 35 | | Per Hækkerup (1915–1979) | 3 September 1962 (1962-09-03) | 28 November 1966 (1966-11-28) | 4 years, 86 days | | Social Democrats | Krag I Cabinet–II |
| (34) | | Jens Otto Krag (1914–1978) | 28 November 1966 (1966-11-28) | 1 October 1967 (1967-10-01) | 307 days | | Social Democrats | Krag II |
| 36 | | Hans Tabor (1922–2003) | 1 October 1967 (1967-10-01) | 2 February 1968 (1968-02-02) | 124 days | | Social Democrats | Krag II |
| 37 | | Poul Hartling (1914–2000) | 2 February 1968 (1968-02-02) | 11 October 1971 (1971-10-11) | 3 years, 251 days | | Venstre | Baunsgaard |
| 38 | | Knud Børge Andersen (1914–1984) | 11 October 1971 (1971-10-11) | 19 December 1973 (1973-12-19) | 2 years, 69 days | | Social Democrats | Krag III Jørgensen I Cabinet |

### Ministers under Margrethe II (1972–2024)

| No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | Political party | Government | Ref. |
| No. | Portrait | Name (born–died) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Political party | Political party | Government | Ref. |
| 39 | | Ove Guldberg (1918–2008) | 19 December 1973 (1973-12-19) | 13 February 1975 (1975-02-13) | 1 year, 56 days | | Venstre | Hartling Cabinet |
| (38) | | Knud Børge Andersen (1914–1984) | 13 February 1975 (1975-02-13) | 1 July 1978 (1978-07-01) | 3 years, 138 days | | Social Democrats | Jørgensen II Cabinet |
| 40 | | Anker Jørgensen (1922–2016) | 1 July 1978 (1978-07-01) | 30 August 1978 (1978-08-30) | 60 days | | Social Democrats | Jørgensen II Cabinet |
| 41 | | Henning Christophersen (1939–2016) | 30 August 1978 (1978-08-30) | 26 October 1979 (1979-10-26) | 1 year, 57 days | | Venstre | Jørgensen III Cabinet |
| 42 | | Kjeld Olesen (1932–2024) | 26 October 1979 (1979-10-26) | 10 September 1982 (1982-09-10) | 2 years, 319 days | | Social Democrats | Jørgensen IV Cabinet–V |
| 43 | | Uffe Ellemann-Jensen (1941–2022) | 10 September 1982 (1982-09-10) | 25 January 1993 (1993-01-25) | 10 years, 137 days | | Venstre | Schlüter I Cabinet–II–III–IV |
| 44 | | Niels Helveg Petersen (1939–2017) | 25 January 1993 (1993-01-25) | 21 December 2000 (2000-12-21) | 7 years, 331 days | | Social Liberals | Poul Nyrup Rasmussen I Cabinet–II–III–IV |
| 45 | | Mogens Lykketoft (born 1946) | 21 December 2000 (2000-12-21) | 27 November 2001 (2001-11-27) | 341 days | | Social Democrats | Poul Nyrup Rasmussen IV Cabinet |
| 46 | | Per Stig Møller (born 1942) | 27 November 2001 (2001-11-27) | 23 February 2010 (2010-02-23) | 8 years, 88 days | | Conservatives | Anders Fogh Rasmussen I Cabinet–II–III Lars Løkke Rasmussen I Cabinet |
| 47 | | Lene Espersen (born 1965) | 23 February 2010 (2010-02-23) | 3 October 2011 (2011-10-03) | 1 year, 222 days | | Conservatives | Lars Løkke Rasmussen I Cabinet |
| 48 | | Villy Søvndal (born 1952) | 3 October 2011 (2011-10-03) | 12 December 2013 (2013-12-12) | 2 years, 70 days | | SF | Helle Thorning-Schmidt I Cabinet |
| 49 | | Holger K. Nielsen (born 1950) | 12 December 2013 (2013-12-12) | 30 January 2014 (2014-01-30) | 49 days | | SF | Thorning-Schmidt I Cabinet |
| 50 | | Martin Lidegaard (born 1966) | 30 January 2014 (2014-01-30) | 28 June 2015 (2015-06-28) | 1 year, 149 days | | Social Liberals | Thorning-Schmidt II Cabinet |
| 51 | | Kristian Jensen (born 1971) | 28 June 2015 (2015-06-28) | 28 November 2016 (2016-11-28) | 1 year, 153 days | | Venstre | Lars Løkke Rasmussen II Cabinet |
| 52 | | Samuelsen, AndersAnders Samuelsen (born 1967) | 28 November 2016 | 27 June 2019 | 2 years, 211 days | | Liberal Alliance | Lars Løkke Rasmussen III Cabinet |
| 53 | | Kofod, JeppeJeppe Kofod (born 1974) | 27 June 2019 | 15 December 2022 | 3 years, 171 days | | Social Democrats | Frederiksen I Cabinet |
| 54 | | Løkke Rasmussen, LarsLars Løkke Rasmussen (born 1964) | 15 December 2022 | Incumbent | 1 year, 359 days | | Moderates | Frederiksen II Cabinet |