Minister for Foreign Affairs (Sweden)

Category:Articles with short descriptionCategory:Short description is different from Wikidata

Category:Use dmy dates from March 2022

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden
Statsråd och chef för utrikesdepartementet
Lesser coat of arms of Sweden
since 10 September 2024
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
StyleExcellency
was used up to the 1970s in Sweden; but is still used in diplomatic writing[1]
Member ofGovernment of Sweden
National Security Council
SeatArvfurstens palats, Stockholm, Sweden
AppointerThe Prime Minister
Term lengthNo fixed term
Serves as long as the Prime Minister sees fit
Formation6 June 1809 (as Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs)
20 March 1876 (as Minister for Foreign Affairs)
6 June 1974 (as Councilor of State and Head of the Foreign Department)
First holderOscar Björnstjerna
DeputyState Secretary for Foreign Affairs
Websitewww.sweden.gov.se

The Minister for Foreign Affairs (Swedish: utrikesministerCategory:Articles containing Swedish-language text) is the foreign minister of Sweden and the head of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

The current Minister for Foreign Affairs is Maria Malmer Stenergard of the Moderate Party.

History

The office was instituted in 1809 as a result of the constitutional Instrument of Government promulgated in the same year. Until 1876 the office was called Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs (Swedish: statsminister för utrikes ärendenaCategory:Articles containing Swedish-language text, commonly known as utrikesstatsminister), similar to the office of Prime Minister for Justice (Swedish: justitiestatsministerCategory:Articles containing Swedish-language text). The Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs initially served as head of the Cabinet of Foreign Mail Exchange at the Royal Office. Following the ministry reform in 1840, the Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs became head of the newly instituted Ministry for Foreign Affairs. In 1876 the office proper of Prime Minister of Sweden was created and at the same time the Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs was nominally demoted to a mere Minister. The holder of the office did however continue to be styled as "Your excellency", until 1974 when the new Instrument of Government came into force. Before the parliamentary breakthrough in the early 20th century, that title had been granted exclusively to members of the most prominent noble families.

Office holders

Prime Ministers for Foreign Affairs (1809–1876)

Portrait Name Took office Left office Political party
Lars von Engeström 9 June 1809 8 June 1824 Independent
Gustaf af Wetterstedt 8 June 1824 15 May 1837 Independent
Adolf Mörner (acting) 15 May 1837 30 January 1838 Independent
Gustaf Algernon Stierneld 30 January 1838 11 July 1842 Independent
Albrecht Elof Ihre (acting) 5 September 1840 29 December 1842 Independent
Albrecht Elof Ihre 29 December 1842 10 April 1848 Independent
Gustaf Algernon Stierneld 10 April 1848 8 September 1856 Independent
Elias Lagerheim 8 September 1856 16 March 1858 Independent
Ludvig Manderström 16 March 1858 4 June 1868 Independent
Carl Wachtmeister 4 June 1868 14 October 1871 Independent
Baltzar von Platen 10 November 1871 17 December 1872 Independent
Oscar Björnstjerna 17 December 1872 20 March 1876 Independent

Ministers for Foreign Affairs (1876–present)

Parties

Status

  Denotes acting Minister for Foreign Affairs
No. Portrait Minister
(Born–Died)		 Tenure Political party Cabinet
Took office Left office Duration
1 Oscar Björnstjerna
(1819–1905)		 20 March 1876 19 April 1880 4 years, 30 days Independent De Geer Sr. (II)
2 Carl Hochschild
(1831–1898)		 27 April 1880 25 September 1885 5 years, 151 days Independent Posse
Thyselius
3 Albert Ehrensvärd the Elder
(1821–1901)		 25 September 1885 12 June 1889 3 years, 260 days Independent Themptander
Gillis Bildt
4 Gustaf Åkerhielm
(1833–1900)		 12 June 1889 12 October 1889 122 days Protectionist Party
5 Carl Lewenhaupt
(1835–1906)		 12 October 1889 1 June 1895 5 years, 232 days Independent Åkerhielm
Boström (I)
6 Ludvig Douglas
(1849–1916)		 1 June 1895 13 October 1899 4 years, 134 days Independent
7 Alfred Lagerheim
(1843–1924)		 20 December 1899 7 December 1904 4 years, 353 days Lantmanna Party von Otter
Boström (II)
8 August Gyldenstolpe
(1849–1928)		 22 December 1904 2 August 1905 223 days Independent Ramstedt
9 Fredrik Wachtmeister
(1855–1919)		 2 August 1905 7 November 1905 97 days Protectionist Party Lundeberg
10 Eric Trolle
(1863–1934)		 7 November 1905 17 March 1909 3 years, 130 days Independent Staaff (I)
Lindman (I)
11 Arvid Taube
(1853–1916)		 30 April 1909 7 October 1911 2 years, 160 days General Electoral League
12 Albert Ehrensvärd the Younger
(1867–1940)		 7 October 1911 17 February 1914 2 years, 133 days Liberal Coalition Party Staaff (I)
13 Knut Wallenberg
(1853–1938)		 17 February 1914 30 March 1917 3 years, 41 days National Party Hammarskjöld
14 Arvid Lindman
(1862–1936)		 30 March 1917 19 October 1917 203 days General Electoral League Swartz
15 Johannes Hellner
(1866–1947)		 19 October 1917 10 March 1920 2 years, 143 days Liberal Coalition Party Edén
16 Erik Palmstierna
(1877–1959)		 10 March 1920 27 October 1920 231 days Social Democrats Branting (I)
17 Herman Wrangel
(1857–1934)		 27 October 1920 13 October 1921 351 days Independent De Geer Jr.
von Sydow
18 Hjalmar Branting
(1860–1925)		 13 October 1921 19 April 1923 1 year, 188 days Social Democrats Branting (II)
19 Carl Hederstierna
(1861–1928)		 19 April 1923 11 November 1923 206 days General Electoral League Trygger
20 Erik Marks von Würtemberg
(1861–1937)		 11 November 1923 18 October 1924 342 days General Electoral League
21 Östen Undén
(1886–1974)		 18 October 1924 7 June 1926 1 year, 232 days Social Democrats Branting (III)
Sandler
22 Eliel Löfgren
(1872–1940)		 7 June 1926 2 October 1928 2 years, 117 days Liberal Party Ekman (I)
23 Ernst Trygger
(1857–1943)		 2 October 1928 7 June 1930 1 year, 248 days National Party Lindman (II)
24 Fredrik Ramel
(1872–1947)		 7 June 1930 24 September 1932 2 years, 109 days Independent Ekman (II)
Hamrin
25 Rickard Sandler
(1884–1964)		 24 September 1932 19 June 1936 3 years, 269 days Social Democrats Hansson (I)
26 Karl Gustaf Westman
(1876–1944)		 19 June 1936 28 September 1936 101 days Farmer's League Pehrsson-Bramstorp
27 Rickard Sandler
(1884–1964)		 28 September 1936 13 December 1939 3 years, 76 days Social Democrats Hansson (II)
28 Christian Günther
(1886–1966)		 13 December 1939 31 July 1945 5 years, 230 days Independent Hansson (III)
29 Östen Undén
(1886–1974)		 31 July 1945 19 September 1962 17 years, 50 days Social Democrats Hansson (IV)
Erlander (I)
Erlander (II)
Erlander (III)
30 Torsten Nilsson
(1905–1997)		 19 September 1962 30 June 1971 8 years, 284 days Social Democrats Erlander (III)
Palme (I)
31 Krister Wickman
(1924–1993)		 30 June 1971 3 November 1973 2 years, 126 days Social Democrats
32 Sven Andersson
(1910–1987)		 3 November 1973 8 October 1976 2 years, 340 days Social Democrats
33 Karin Söder
(1928–2015)		 8 October 1976 18 October 1978 2 years, 10 days Centre Party Fälldin (I)
34 Hans Blix
(born 1928)		 18 October 1978 12 October 1979 359 days People's Party Ullsten
35 Ola Ullsten
(1931–2018)		 12 October 1979 8 October 1982 2 years, 361 days People's Party Fälldin (II)
Fälldin (III)
36 Lennart Bodström
(1928–2015)		 8 October 1982 17 October 1985 3 years, 9 days Social Democrats Palme (II)
37 Sten Andersson
(1923–2006)		 17 October 1985 4 October 1991 5 years, 352 days Social Democrats Palme (II)
Carlsson (I)
Carlsson (II)
38 Margaretha af Ugglas
(born 1939)		 4 October 1991 7 October 1994 3 years, 3 days Moderate Party Carl Bildt
39 Lena Hjelm-Wallén
(born 1943)		 7 October 1994 7 October 1998 4 years, 0 days Social Democrats Carlsson (III)
Persson
40 Anna Lindh
(1957–2003)		 7 October 1998 11 September 2003 4 years, 339 days Social Democrats
– Jan O. Karlsson
(1939–2016)		 11 September 2003 10 October 2003 29 days Social Democrats
41 Laila Freivalds
(born 1942)		 10 October 2003 21 March 2006 2 years, 162 days Social Democrats
– Bo Ringholm
(born 1942)		 21 March 2006 27 March 2006 6 days Social Democrats
– Carin Jämtin
(born 1964)		 27 March 2006 24 April 2006 28 days Social Democrats
42 Jan Eliasson
(born 1940)		 24 April 2006 6 October 2006 165 days Social Democrats
43 Carl Bildt
(born 1949)		 6 October 2006 3 October 2014 7 years, 362 days Moderate Party Reinfeldt
44 Margot Wallström
(born 1954)		 3 October 2014 10 September 2019 4 years, 342 days Social Democrats Löfven (I)
Löfven (II)
45 Ann Linde
(born 1961)		 10 September 2019 18 October 2022 3 years, 38 days Social Democrats Löfven (II) · (III)
Andersson
46 Tobias Billström
(born 1973)		 18 October 2022 10 September 2024 1 year, 328 days Moderate Party Kristersson
47 Maria Malmer Stenergard
(born 1981)		 10 September 2024 Incumbent 326 days

Timeline

Maria Malmer StenergardTobias BillströmAnn LindeMargot WallströmCarl BildtJan EliassonLaila FreivaldsAnna LindhLena Hjelm-WallénMargaretha af UgglasSten AnderssonLennart BodströmOla UllstenHans BlixKarin SöderSven AnderssonKrister WickmanTorsten NilssonÖsten UndénChristian GüntherRickard SandlerKarl Gustaf WestmanFredrik RamelErnst TryggerEliel LöfgrenErik Marks von WürtembergCarl HederstiernaHjalmar BrantingHerman WrangelErik PalmstiernaJohannes HellnerArvind LindmanKnut Agathon WallenbergAlbert Ehrensvärd d.y.Arvid TaubeErik Trolle (diplomat)Fredrik WachtmeisterAugust GyldenstolpeAlfred LagerheimLudvig DouglasCarl LewenhauptGustaf ÅkerhielmAlbert Ehrensvärd d.ä.Carl Fredrik HochschildOscar Björnstjerna

Statistics

# Minister for Foreign Affairs Date of birth Age at ascension
(first term)		 Time in office
(total)		 Age at retirement
(last term)		 Date of death Longevity
1 Oscar BjörnstjernaCategory:Articles with hCards 6 March 1819 57 years, 14 days 4 years, 30 days 61 years, 44 days 2 September 1905 86 years, 180 days
2 Carl HochschildCategory:Articles with hCards 13 September 1831 48 years, 227 days 5 years, 151 days 54 years, 12 days 12 December 1898 67 years, 90 days
3 Albert Ehrensvärd, Sr.Category:Articles with hCards 10 January 1821 64 years, 258 days 3 years, 260 days 68 years, 153 days 31 January 1901 80 years, 21 days
4 Gustaf ÅkerhielmCategory:Articles with hCards 24 June 1833 55 years, 353 days 0 years, 122 days 56 years, 110 days 2 April 1900 66 years, 282 days
5 Carl LewenhauptCategory:Articles with hCards 19 March 1835 54 years, 207 days 5 years, 232 days 60 years, 74 days 10 December 1906 71 years, 266 days
6 Ludvig DouglasCategory:Articles with hCards 24 November 1849 45 years, 189 days 4 years, 134 days 49 years, 323 days 20 July 1916 66 years, 239 days
7 Alfred LagerheimCategory:Articles with hCards 4 October 1843 56 years, 77 days 4 years, 353 days 61 years, 64 days 23 May 1924 80 years, 232 days
8 August GyldenstolpeCategory:Articles with hCards 22 July 1849 55 years, 153 days 0 years, 223 days 56 years, 11 days 30 June 1928 78 years, 344 days
9 Fredrik WachtmeisterCategory:Articles with hCards 10 February 1855 50 years, 173 days 0 years, 97 days 50 years, 270 days 6 September 1919 64 years, 208 days
10 Eric TrolleCategory:Articles with hCards 23 September 1863 41 years, 349 days 3 years, 130 days 45 years, 114 days 21 April 1934 70 years, 149 days
11 Arvid TaubeCategory:Articles with hCards 19 January 1853 56 years, 101 days 2 years, 160 days 58 years, 261 days 14 October 1916 63 years, 269 days
12 Albert Ehrensvärd, Jr.Category:Articles with hCards 9 May 1867 44 years, 151 days 2 years, 133 days 46 years, 284 days 6 March 1940 72 years, 302 days
13 Knut WallenbergCategory:Articles with hCards 19 May 1853 60 years, 274 days 3 years, 41 days 63 years, 315 days 1 June 1938 85 years, 13 days
14 Arvid LindmanCategory:Articles with hCards 19 September 1862 46 years, 55 days 0 years, 203 days 48 years, 198 days 9 December 1936 74 years, 81 days
15 Johannes HellnerCategory:Articles with hCards 22 April 1866 51 years, 180 days 2 years, 143 days 53 years, 323 days 19 February 1947 80 years, 303 days
16 Erik PalmstiernaCategory:Articles with hCards 10 November 1877 42 years, 121 days 0 years, 231 days 42 years, 352 days 22 October 1959 81 years, 346 days
17 Herman WrangelCategory:Articles with hCards 13 August 1857 63 years, 75 days 0 years, 351 days 64 years, 61 days 9 October 1934 77 years, 57 days
18 Hjalmar BrantingCategory:Articles with hCards 23 November 1860 60 years, 324 days 1 year, 188 days 62 years, 147 days 24 February 1925 64 years, 93 days
19 Carl HederstiernaCategory:Articles with hCards 1 December 1861 61 years, 139 days 0 years, 206 days 61 years, 345 days 17 November 1928 66 years, 352 days
20 Erik Marks von WürtembergCategory:Articles with hCards 11 May 1861 62 years, 184 days 0 years, 342 days 63 years, 160 days 22 July 1937 76 years, 72 days
21 Östen UndénCategory:Articles with hCards 25 August 1886 38 years, 54 days 18 years, 282 days 76 years, 25 days 14 January 1974 87 years, 142 days
22 Eliel LöfgrenCategory:Articles with hCards 15 March 1872 54 years, 84 days 2 years, 117 days 56 years, 201 days 8 April 1940 68 years, 24 days
23 Ernst TryggerCategory:Articles with hCards 27 October 1857 70 years, 341 days 1 years, 248 days 72 years, 223 days 23 September 1943 85 years, 331 days
24 Fredrik RamelCategory:Articles with hCards 9 December 1872 57 years, 180 days 2 years, 109 days 59 years, 290 days 30 October 1947 74 years, 325 days
25 Rickard SandlerCategory:Articles with hCards 29 January 1884 48 years, 239 days 6 years, 345 days 55 years, 318 days 12 November 1964 80 years, 288 days
26 Karl Gustaf WestmanCategory:Articles with hCards 18 August 1876 59 years, 306 days 0 years, 101 days 60 years, 41 days 24 January 1944 67 years, 159 days
27 Christian GüntherCategory:Articles with hCards 5 December 1886 53 years, 8 days 5 years, 230 days 58 years, 238 days 6 March 1966 79 years, 91 days
28 Torsten NilssonCategory:Articles with hCards 1 April 1905 57 years, 171 days 8 years, 284 days 66 years, 90 days 14 December 1997 92 years, 257 days
29 Krister WickmanCategory:Articles with hCards 13 April 1924 47 years, 78 days 2 years, 126 days 49 years, 204 days 10 September 1993 69 years, 150 days
30 Sven AnderssonCategory:Articles with hCards 5 April 1910 63 years, 212 days 2 years, 340 days 66 years, 186 days 21 September 1987 77 years, 169 days
31 Karin SöderCategory:Articles with hCards 30 November 1928 47 years, 313 days 2 years, 10 days 49 years, 322 days 19 December 2015 87 years, 19 days
32 Hans BlixCategory:Articles with hCards 28 June 1928 50 years, 112 days 0 years, 359 days 51 years, 106 days Living 97 years, 35 days (Living)
33 Ola UllstenCategory:Articles with hCards 23 June 1931 48 years, 111 days 2 years, 361 days 51 years, 107 days 28 May 2018 86 years, 339 days
34 Lennart BodströmCategory:Articles with hCards 20 April 1928 54 years, 171 days 3 years, 9 days 57 years, 180 days 30 April 2015 87 years, 10 days
35 Sten AnderssonCategory:Articles with hCards 20 April 1923 62 years, 180 days 5 years, 352 days 68 years, 167 days 13 September 2006 83 years, 210 days
36 Margaretha af UgglasCategory:Articles with hCards 5 January 1939 52 years, 272 days 3 years, 3 days 55 years, 275 days Living 86 years, 209 days (Living)
37 Lena Hjelm-WallénCategory:Articles with hCards 14 January 1943 51 years, 266 days 4 years, 0 days 55 years, 266 days Living 82 years, 200 days (Living)
38 Anna LindhCategory:Articles with hCards 19 June 1957 41 years, 110 days 4 years, 339 days 46 years, 84 days 11 September 2003 46 years, 84 days
39 Laila FreivaldsCategory:Articles with hCards 22 June 1942 61 years, 110 days 2 years, 162 days 63 years, 272 days Living 83 years, 41 days (Living)
40 Jan EliassonCategory:Articles with hCards 17 September 1940 65 years, 219 days 0 years, 165 days 66 years, 19 days Living 84 years, 319 days (Living)
41 Carl BildtCategory:Articles with hCards 15 July 1949 57 years, 83 days 7 years, 362 days 65 years, 80 days Living 76 years, 18 days (Living)
42 Margot WallströmCategory:Articles with hCards 28 September 1954 60 years, 5 days 4 years, 342 days 64 years, 347 days Living 70 years, 308 days (Living)
43 Ann LindeCategory:Articles with hCards 4 December 1961 57 years, 280 days 3 years, 38 days 60 years, 318 days Living 63 years, 241 days (Living)
44 Tobias BillströmCategory:Articles with hCards 27 December 1973 48 years, 295 days 1 years, 328 days 50 years, 258 days Living 51 years, 218 days (Living)
45 Maria Malmer StenergardCategory:Articles with hCards 23 March 1981 43 years, 171 days 326 days (Ongoing) Incumbent Living 44 years, 132 days (Living)

See also

References

Category:Ministers for foreign affairs of Sweden#%20 Category:Lists of political office-holders in Sweden Category:Sweden diplomacy-related lists Category:Lists of ministers of foreign affairs
Category:Articles containing Swedish-language text Category:Articles with hCards Category:Articles with short description Category:Lists of ministers of foreign affairs Category:Lists of political office-holders in Sweden Category:Ministers for foreign affairs of Sweden Category:Pages using the EasyTimeline extension Category:Short description is different from Wikidata Category:Sweden diplomacy-related lists Category:Use dmy dates from March 2022 Category:Webarchive template wayback links