# 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 (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

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)
### First Minister (1814–1873)

    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 | Prime minister | Term of office | Term of office | First Minister | First Minister | Term of office | Term of office | Government |
| Name (Birth–Death) | Picture | Term of office | Term of office | Name (Birth–Death) | Picture | Term of office | Term of office | Government |
| Peder Anker (1749–1824) | | 1814 | 1822 | Frederik Gottschalk von Haxthausen (1750–1825) | | 1814 | 1814 | Wedel I |
| Peder Anker (1749–1824) | | 1814 | 1822 | Marcus Gjøe Rosenkrantz (1762–1838) | | 1814 | 1815 | Wedel I |
| Peder Anker (1749–1824) | | 1814 | 1822 | 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)

    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 | Prime Minister in Stockholm | Prime Minister in Stockholm | Prime Minister in Christiania | Prime Minister in Christiania | Prime Minister in Christiania | Term of office | Term of office | Cabinet |
| Name (Birth-Death) | Picture | Political party | Name (Birth-Death) | Picture | Political party | Term of office | Term of office | Cabinet |
| Otto Richard Kierulf (1825–1897) | | N/A | Frederik Stang (1808–1884) | | N/A | 1873 | 1880 | F.Stang |
| Otto Richard Kierulf (1825–1897) | | N/A | Christian August Selmer (1816–1889) | | Conservative Party | 1880 | 1884 | Selmer |
| Wolfgang Wenzel von Haffner (1806–1892) (acting) | | N/A | Christian August Selmer (1816–1889) | | Conservative Party | 1884 | 1884 | Selmer |
| 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 | Johan Sverdrup (1816–1892) | | Liberal Party | 1888 | 1889 | Sverdrup V |
| 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 |
| Gregers Winther Wulfsberg Gram (1846–1929) | | Conservative Party | Francis Hagerup (1853–1921) | | Conservative Party | 1895 | 1898 | Hagerup I H–MV–V |
| 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 H–V |
| Jørgen Løvland (1848–1922) | | Liberal Party | 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 (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 | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Election | Cabinet coalition | Monarch (reign) |
| No. | Portrait | Name (birth–death) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Party | Party | Election | Cabinet coalition | Monarch (reign) |
| 1 | | Christian Michelsen (1857–1925) | 11 March 1905 | 23 October 1907 | 2 years, 226 days | | Liberal Party | – | Michelsen V–H–MV | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| 1 | | Christian Michelsen (1857–1925) | 11 March 1905 | 23 October 1907 | 2 years, 226 days | | Liberal Party | 1906 | Michelsen V–H–MV | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| 2 | | Jørgen Løvland (1848–1922) | 23 October 1907 | 19 March 1908 | 148 days | | Liberal Party | – | Løvland V–MV | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| 3 | | Gunnar Knudsen (1848–1928) | 19 March 1908 | 2 February 1910 | 1 year, 320 days | | Liberal Party | – | Knudsen I V | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| 3 | | Gunnar Knudsen (1848–1928) | 19 March 1908 | 2 February 1910 | 1 year, 320 days | | Liberal Party | 1909 | Knudsen I V | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| 4 | | Wollert Konow (1845–1924) | 2 February 1910 | 20 February 1912 | 2 years, 18 days | | Free-minded Liberal Party | – | Konow H–FV | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| 5 | | Jens Bratlie (1856–1939) | 20 February 1912 | 31 January 1913 | 346 days | | Conservative Party | – | Bratlie H–FV | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| 5 | | Jens Bratlie (1856–1939) | 20 February 1912 | 31 January 1913 | 346 days | | Conservative Party | 1912 | Bratlie H–FV | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| (3) | | Gunnar Knudsen (1848–1928) | 31 January 1913 | 21 June 1920 | 7 years, 142 days | | Liberal Party | – | Knudsen II V | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| (3) | | Gunnar Knudsen (1848–1928) | 31 January 1913 | 21 June 1920 | 7 years, 142 days | | Liberal Party | 1915 | Knudsen II V | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| (3) | | Gunnar Knudsen (1848–1928) | 31 January 1913 | 21 June 1920 | 7 years, 142 days | | Liberal Party | 1918 | Knudsen II V | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| 6 | | Otto Bahr Halvorsen (1872–1923) | 21 June 1920 | 22 June 1921 | 1 year, 1 day | | Conservative Party | – | Bahr Halvorsen I H–FV | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| 7 | | Otto Albert Blehr (1847–1927) | 22 June 1921 | 6 March 1923 | 1 year, 257 days | | Liberal Party | – | Blehr II V | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| 7 | | Otto Albert Blehr (1847–1927) | 22 June 1921 | 6 March 1923 | 1 year, 257 days | | Liberal Party | 1921 | Blehr II V | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| (6) | | Otto Bahr Halvorsen (1872–1923) | 6 March 1923 | 23 May 1923 | 78 days | | Conservative Party | – | Bahr Halvorsen II H–FV | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| 8 | | Abraham Berge (1851–1936) | 30 May 1923 | 25 July 1924 | 1 year, 56 days | | Free-minded Liberal Party | – | Berge H–FV | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| 9 | | Johan Ludwig Mowinckel (1870–1943) | 25 July 1924 | 5 March 1926 | 1 year, 223 days | | Liberal Party | – | Mowinckel I V | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| 9 | | Johan Ludwig Mowinckel (1870–1943) | 25 July 1924 | 5 March 1926 | 1 year, 223 days | | Liberal Party | 1924 | Mowinckel I V | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| 10 | | Ivar Lykke (1872–1949) | 5 March 1926 | 28 January 1928 | 1 year, 329 days | | Conservative Party | – | Lykke H–FV | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| 10 | | Ivar Lykke (1872–1949) | 5 March 1926 | 28 January 1928 | 1 year, 329 days | | Conservative Party | 1927 | Lykke H–FV | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| 11 | | Christopher Hornsrud (1859–1960) | 28 January 1928 | 15 February 1928 | 18 days | | Labour Party | – | Hornsrud Ap | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| (9) | | Johan Ludwig Mowinckel (1870–1943) | 15 February 1928 | 12 May 1931 | 3 years, 86 days | | Liberal Party | – | Mowinckel II V | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| (9) | | Johan Ludwig Mowinckel (1870–1943) | 15 February 1928 | 12 May 1931 | 3 years, 86 days | | Liberal Party | 1930 | Mowinckel II V | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| 12 | | Peder Kolstad (1878–1932) | 12 May 1931 | 5 March 1932 | 298 days | | Agrarian Party | – | Kolstad B | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| 13 | | Jens Hundseid (1883–1965) | 14 March 1932 | 3 March 1933 | 354 days | | Agrarian Party | – | Hundseid B | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| (9) | | Johan Ludwig Mowinckel (1870–1943) | 3 March 1933 | 20 March 1935 | 2 years, 17 days | | Liberal Party | – | Mowinckel III V | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| (9) | | Johan Ludwig Mowinckel (1870–1943) | 3 March 1933 | 20 March 1935 | 2 years, 17 days | | Liberal Party | 1933 | Mowinckel III V | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| 14 | | Johan Nygaardsvold (1879–1952) | 20 March 1935 in exile from 1940 | 25 June 1945 | 10 years, 97 days | | Labour Party | – | Nygaardsvold Ap | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| 14 | | Johan Nygaardsvold (1879–1952) | 20 March 1935 in exile from 1940 | 25 June 1945 | 10 years, 97 days | | Labour Party | 1936 | Nygaardsvold Ap | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |

### Heads of Government (1940–1945)

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 | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Cabinet coalition |
| Portrait | Name (birth–death) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Party | Party | Cabinet coalition |
| | 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)

Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet)  Conservative Party (Høyre)  Centre Party (Senterpartiet)  Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti)
| No. | Portrait | Name (birth–death) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Party | Party | Election | Cabinet coalition | Monarch (reign) |
| No. | Portrait | Name (birth–death) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Party | Party | Election | Cabinet coalition | Monarch (reign) |
| 15 | | Einar Gerhardsen (1897–1987) | 25 June 1945 | 19 November 1951 | 6 years, 147 days | | Labour Party | — | Gerhardsen I Ap–H–Sp–V–NKP | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| 15 | | Einar Gerhardsen (1897–1987) | 25 June 1945 | 19 November 1951 | 6 years, 147 days | | Labour Party | 1945 | Gerhardsen II Ap | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| 15 | | Einar Gerhardsen (1897–1987) | 25 June 1945 | 19 November 1951 | 6 years, 147 days | | Labour Party | 1949 | Gerhardsen II Ap | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| 16 | | Oscar Torp (1893–1958) | 19 November 1951 | 22 January 1955 | 3 years, 64 days | | Labour Party | 1953 | Torp Ap | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| (15) | | Einar Gerhardsen (1897–1987) | 22 January 1955 | 28 August 1963 | 8 years, 218 days | | Labour Party | — | Gerhardsen III Ap | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| (15) | | Einar Gerhardsen (1897–1987) | 22 January 1955 | 28 August 1963 | 8 years, 218 days | | Labour Party | 1957 | Gerhardsen III Ap | Haakon VII (1905–1957) |
| (15) | | Einar Gerhardsen (1897–1987) | 22 January 1955 | 28 August 1963 | 8 years, 218 days | | Labour Party | 1957 | Gerhardsen III Ap | Olav V (1957–1991) |
| (15) | | Einar Gerhardsen (1897–1987) | 22 January 1955 | 28 August 1963 | 8 years, 218 days | | Labour Party | 1961 | Gerhardsen III Ap | Olav V (1957–1991) |
| 17 | | John Lyng (1905–1978) | 28 August 1963 | 25 September 1963 | 28 days | | Conservative Party | — | Lyng H–Sp–KrF–V | Olav V (1957–1991) |
| (15) | | Einar Gerhardsen (1897–1987) | 25 September 1963 | 12 October 1965 | 2 years, 17 days | | Labour Party | — | Gerhardsen IV Ap | Olav V (1957–1991) |
| 18 | | Per Borten (1913–2005) | 12 October 1965 | 17 March 1971 | 5 years, 156 days | | Centre Party | 1965 | Borten Sp–H–KrF–V | Olav V (1957–1991) |
| 18 | | Per Borten (1913–2005) | 12 October 1965 | 17 March 1971 | 5 years, 156 days | | Centre Party | 1969 | Borten Sp–H–KrF–V | Olav V (1957–1991) |
| 19 | | Trygve Bratteli (1910–1984) | 17 March 1971 | 18 October 1972 | 1 year, 215 days | | Labour Party | — | Bratteli I Ap | Olav V (1957–1991) |
| 20 | | Lars Korvald (1916–2006) | 18 October 1972 | 16 October 1973 | 363 days | | Christian Democratic Party | — | Korvald KrF–Sp–V | Olav V (1957–1991) |
| (19) | | Trygve Bratteli (1910–1984) | 16 October 1973 | 15 January 1976 | 2 years, 91 days | | Labour Party | 1973 | Bratteli II Ap | Olav V (1957–1991) |
| 21 | | Odvar Nordli (1927–2018) | 15 January 1976 | 4 February 1981 | 5 years, 20 days | | Labour Party | — | Nordli Ap | Olav V (1957–1991) |
| 21 | | Odvar Nordli (1927–2018) | 15 January 1976 | 4 February 1981 | 5 years, 20 days | | Labour Party | 1977 | Nordli Ap | Olav V (1957–1991) |
| 22 | | Gro Harlem Brundtland (born 1939) | 4 February 1981 | 14 October 1981 | 252 days | | Labour Party | — | Brundtland I Ap | Olav V (1957–1991) |
| 23 | | Kåre Willoch (1928–2021) | 14 October 1981 | 9 May 1986 | 4 years, 207 days | | Conservative Party | 1981 | Willoch I H | Olav V (1957–1991) |
| 23 | | Kåre Willoch (1928–2021) | 14 October 1981 | 9 May 1986 | 4 years, 207 days | | Conservative Party | 1985 | Willoch II H–KrF–Sp | Olav V (1957–1991) |
| (22) | | Gro Harlem Brundtland (born 1939) | 9 May 1986 | 16 October 1989 | 3 years, 160 days | | Labour Party | — | Brundtland II Ap | Olav V (1957–1991) |
| 24 | | Jan Peder Syse (1930–1997) | 16 October 1989 | 3 November 1990 | 1 year, 18 days | | Conservative Party | 1989 | Syse H–KrF–Sp | Olav V (1957–1991) |
| (22) | | Gro Harlem Brundtland (born 1939) | 3 November 1990 | 25 October 1996 | 5 years, 357 days | | Labour Party | — | Brundtland III Ap | Olav V (1957–1991) |
| (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) |
| (22) | | Gro Harlem Brundtland (born 1939) | 3 November 1990 | 25 October 1996 | 5 years, 357 days | | Labour Party | 1993 | Brundtland III Ap | Harald V (1991–present) |
| 25 | | Thorbjørn Jagland (born 1950) | 25 October 1996 | 17 October 1997 | 357 days | | Labour Party | — | Jagland Ap | Harald V (1991–present) |
| 26 | | Kjell Magne Bondevik (born 1947) | 17 October 1997 | 17 March 2000 | 2 years, 152 days | | Christian Democratic Party | 1997 | Bondevik I KrF–Sp–V | Harald V (1991–present) |
| 27 | | Jens Stoltenberg (born 1959) | 17 March 2000 | 19 October 2001 | 1 year, 216 days | | Labour Party | — | Stoltenberg I Ap | Harald V (1991–present) |
| (26) | | Kjell Magne Bondevik (born 1947) | 19 October 2001 | 17 October 2005 | 3 years, 363 days | | Christian Democratic Party | 2001 | Bondevik II KrF–H–V | Harald V (1991–present) |
| (27) | | Jens Stoltenberg (born 1959) | 17 October 2005 | 16 October 2013 | 7 years, 364 days | | Labour Party | 2005 | Stoltenberg II Ap–SV–Sp | Harald V (1991–present) |
| (27) | | Jens Stoltenberg (born 1959) | 17 October 2005 | 16 October 2013 | 7 years, 364 days | | Labour Party | 2009 | Stoltenberg II Ap–SV–Sp | Harald V (1991–present) |
| 28 | | Erna Solberg (born 1961) | 16 October 2013 | 14 October 2021 | 7 years, 363 days | | Conservative Party | 2013 | Solberg I H–FrP | Harald V (1991–present) |
| 28 | | Erna Solberg (born 1961) | 16 October 2013 | 14 October 2021 | 7 years, 363 days | | Conservative Party | 2017 | Solberg II H–FrP–V | Harald V (1991–present) |
| 28 | | Erna Solberg (born 1961) | 16 October 2013 | 14 October 2021 | 7 years, 363 days | | Conservative Party | — | Solberg III H–FrP–V-KrF | Harald V (1991–present) |
| 28 | | Erna Solberg (born 1961) | 16 October 2013 | 14 October 2021 | 7 years, 363 days | | Conservative Party | — | Solberg IV H–V–KrF | Harald V (1991–present) |
| 29 | | Jonas Gahr Støre (born 1960) | 14 October 2021 | Incumbent | 3 years, 119 days | | Labour Party | 2021 | Støre I Ap–Sp | Harald V (1991–present) |
| 29 | | Jonas Gahr Støre (born 1960) | 14 October 2021 | Incumbent | 3 years, 119 days | | Labour Party | — | Støre II Ap | Harald V (1991–present) |