Minister of the Interior (Denmark)

Minister of the Interior
Indenrigsminister (Danish)
State coat of arms of the Kingdom of Denmark
Incumbent Sophie Løhde since 15 December 2022
Ministry of the Interior
Type	Minister
Member of	Cabinet State Council
Reports to	the prime minister
Seat	Slotsholmen
Appointer	The Monarch (on the advice of the prime minister)
Formation	16 November 1848; 177 years ago (1848-11-16)
First holder	Peter Georg Bang
Succession	depending on the order in the State Council
Deputy	Permanent Secretary
Salary	1.400.192,97 DKK (€187,839), in 2024[1]
Website	Official website

The Minister of the Interior (Danish: Indenrigsminister) is a member of the Danish cabinet and the head of the Ministry of the Interior.

After the 2007 Folketing elections, the ministry was disbanded, and its areas of responsibility divided between two newly created ministries, the Ministry of Welfare and the Ministry of Health and Prevention. With the announcement of the first Lars Løkke Rasmussen cabinet in 2009, the Ministry of Welfare was abolished and replaced by the Ministry of the Interior and Social Affairs, a de facto re-establishment of two old ministries. Only emancipation affairs were moved to the Ministry of Employment.

List of interior ministers

Ministers under Frederick VII (1848–1863)

No.	Portrait	Name (born–died)	Term of office			Political party		Government	Ref.
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Bang, Peter GeorgPeter Georg Bang (1797–1861)	16 November 1848	21 September 1849	309 days		Independent	Moltke I Moltke II
2		Bang, Peter GeorgMathias Hans Rosenørn [da] (1814–1902)	21 September 1849	13 July 1851	1 year, 295 days		Independent	Moltke II
3		Tillisch, rederik FerdinandFrederik Ferdinand von Tillisch [da] (1801–1889)	13 July 1851	27 January 1852	198 days		Independent	Moltke IV
(1)		Bang, Peter GeorgPeter Georg Bang (1797–1861)	27 January 1852	21 April 1853	1 year, 84 days		Independent	Bluhme I
4		Ørsted, Anders SandøeAnders Sandøe Ørsted (1778–1860)	21 April 1853	29 April 1854	1 year, 8 days		Independent	Ørsted
(3)		Tillisch, rederik FerdinandFrederik Ferdinand von Tillisch [da] (1801–1889)	29 April 1854	12 December 1854	227 days		Independent	Ørsted
(1)		Bang, Peter GeorgPeter Georg Bang (1797–1861)	12 December 1854	18 February 1856	4 years, 68 days		Independent	Bang
5		Simony, Carl FrederikCarl Frederik Simony [da] (1806–1872)	18 February 1856	4 June 1856	107 days		National Liberal	Bang
6		Unsgaard, Iver JohannesIver Johannes Unsgaard [da] (1798–1872)	4 June 1856	18 October 1856	136 days		Independent	Bang
7		Krieger, Andreas FrederikAndreas Frederik Krieger (1817–1893)	18 October 1856	1 August 1858	1 year, 287 days		National Liberal	Andræ Hall I
(6)		Unsgaard, Iver JohannesIver Johannes Unsgaard [da] (1798–1872)	1 August 1858	6 May 1859	278 days		Independent	Hall I
(7)		Krieger, Andreas FrederikAndreas Frederik Krieger (1817–1893)	6 May 1859	2 December 1859	210 days		National Liberal	Hall I
8		Krieger, Andreas FrederikJohan Christian von Jessen [da] (1817–1884)	2 December 1859	24 February 1860	84 days		National Liberal	Rotwitt
9		Monrad, Ditlev GothardDitlev Gothard Monrad (1811–1887)	24 February 1860	15 September 1861	1 year, 172 days		National Liberal	Hall II
10		Lehmann, Peter MartinPeter Martin Orla Lehmann (1810–1870)	15 September 1861	31 December 1863	2 years, 138 days		Bondevennerne	Hall II

Ministers under Christian IX (1863–1906)

No.	Portrait	Name (born–died)	Term of office			Political party		Government	Ref.
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
11		Nutzhorn, CarlCarl von Nutzhorn [da] (1828–1899)	31 December 1863	10 May 1864	131 days		Independent	Monrad
12		Carlsen, Hans RasmussenHans Rasmussen Carlsen [da] (1810–1887)	10 May 1864	11 July 1864	62 days		Independent	Monrad
(3)		Tillisch, rederik FerdinandFrederik Ferdinand von Tillisch [da] (1801–1889)	11 July 1864	6 November 1865	1 year, 118 days		Independent	Bluhme II
13		Estrup, Jacob Brønnum ScaveniusJacob Brønnum Scavenius Estrup (1825–1913)	6 November 1865	22 September 1869	3 years, 320 days		National Landowners	Frijs
14		Haffner, WolfgangWolfgang von Haffner (1810–1887)	22 September 1869	28 May 1870	248 days		National Landowners	Frijs
15		Fonnesbech, Christen AndreasChristen Andreas Fonnesbech (1817–1880)	28 May 1870	14 July 1874	4 years, 47 days		National Landowners	Holstein-Holsteinborg
16		Tobiesen, FritzFritz Tobiesen [da] (1829–1908)	14 July 1874	11 June 1875	332 days		Independent	Fonnesbech
17		Skeel, ErikErik Skeel [da] (1818–1884)	11 June 1875	29 August 1884	9 years, 79 days		Højre	Estrup
18		Finsen, HilmarHilmar Finsen (1824–1886)	29 August 1884	8 August 1885	344 days		Højre	Estrup
19		Finsen, HilmarHans Peter Ingerslev (1831–1896)	8 August 1885	15 January 1894	8 years, 160 days		Højre	Estrup
20		Hørring, Hugo EgmontHugo Egmont Hørring (1842–1909)	15 January 1894	23 May 1897	3 years, 128 days		Højre	Reedtz-Thott
21		Bardenfleth, VilhelmVilhelm Bardenfleth [da] (1850–1933)	23 May 1897	28 August 1899	2 years, 97 days		Højre	Hørring
22		Bramsen, Ludvig ErnstLudvig Ernst Bramsen [da] (1847–1914)	28 August 1899	24 July 1901	1 year, 330 days		Højre	Sehested
23		Sørensen, EnevoldEnevold Sørensen (1850–1920)	24 July 1901	14 January 1905	3 years, 174 days		Venstre Reform	Deuntzer
24		Berg, SigurdSigurd Berg [da] (1868–1921)	14 January 1905	12 October 1908	3 years, 272 days		Venstre Reform	Christensen I Cabinet–II

Ministers under Frederik VIII (1906–1912)

No.	Portrait	Name (born–died)	Term of office			Political party		Government	Ref.
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
25		Klaus Berntsen (1844–1927)	12 October 1908	28 October 1909	1 year, 16 days		Venstre Reform Party	Neergaard I Holstein-Ledreborg	[2][3]
26		Peter Rochegune Munch (1870–1948)	28 October 1909	5 July 1910	250 days		Social Liberal	Zahle I	[4]
27		Jens Jensen-Sønderup [da] (1862–1949)	5 July 1910	21 June 1913	2 years, 351 days		Venstre	Berntsen	[5]

Ministers under Christian X (1912–1947)

No.	Portrait	Name (born–died)	Term of office			Political party		Government	Ref.
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
28		Ove Rode (1867–1933)	21 June 1913	30 March 1920	6 years, 283 days		Social Liberal	Zahle II	[6]
29		Waldemar Oxholm [da] (1868–1945)	30 March 1920	5 April 1920	6 days		Independent	Liebe	[7]
30		Henrik Vedel [da] (1867–1932)	5 April 1920	5 May 1920	30 days		Independent	Friis	[8]
(24)		Sigurd Berg [da] (1868–1921)	5 May 1920	11 July 1921 #	1 year, 67 days		Venstre	Neergaard II	[9]
31		Oluf Christian Krag [da] (1870–1942)	18 July 1921	23 April 1924	2 years, 287 days		Venstre	Neergaard II–III	[9][10]
32		Christen Nielsen Hauge [da] (1870–1940)	23 April 1924	14 December 1926	2 years, 235 days		Social Democrats	Stauning I	[11]
(31)		Oluf Christian Krag [da] (1870–1942)	14 December 1926	30 April 1929	2 years, 137 days		Venstre	Madsen-Mygdal	[12]
33		Bertel Dahlgaard (1887–1972)	30 April 1929	8 July 1940	11 years, 69 days		Social Liberal	Stauning II–III–IV–V	[13][14] [15][16]
34		Knud Kristensen (1880–1962)	8 July 1940	29 August 1943	2 years, 93 days		Venstre	Stauning VI Buhl I	[17][18]
35		Jørgen Jørgensen (1888–1974)	9 November 1942	29 August 1943	324 days		Social Liberal	Scavenius	[19]
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.[a]
(34)		Knud Kristensen (1880–1962)	5 May 1945	7 November 1945	186 days		Venstre	Buhl II	[20]
36		Ejnar Martin Kjær (1893–1947)	7 November 1945	18 June 1947 #	2 years, 6 days		Venstre	Kristensen	[21]

Ministers under Frederik IX (1947–1972)

No.	Portrait	Name (born–died)	Term of office			Political party		Government	Ref.
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
37		Arnth-Jensen, NielsNiels Arnth-Jensen [da] (1883–1966)	30 June 1947	13 November 1947	136 days		Venstre	Kristensen
38		Andersen, Alsing EmanuelAlsing Emanuel Andersen (1893–1962)	13 November 1947	23 November 1947	10 days		Social Democrats	Hedtoft I
39		Smørum, JensJens Smørum [da] (1891–1976)	23 November 1947	30 October 1950	2 years, 341 days		Social Democrats	Hedtoft I–II
40		Møller, AkselAksel Møller (1906–1958)	30 October 1950	30 September 1953	2 years, 335 days		Conservatives	Eriksen
41		Kjærbøl, JohannesJohannes Kjærbøl (1885–1973)	30 September 1953	30 August 1955	1 year, 334 days		Social Democrats	Hedtoft III Hansen I
42		Petersen, CarlCarl Petersen (1894–1984)	30 August 1955	28 May 1957	1 year, 271 days		Social Democrats	Hansen I
43		Olesen, SørenSøren Olesen (1891–1973)	28 May 1957	18 November 1960	3 years, 174 days		Justice	Hansen II Kampmann I
44		Knudsen, Hans RynkebyHans Rynkeby Knudsen [da] (1903–1962)	18 November 1960	7 September 1961	293 days		Social Democrats	Kampmann II
45		Jensen, Lars PeterLars P. Jensen [da] (1909–1986)	7 September 1961	26 September 1964	3 years, 19 days		Social Democrats	Kampmann II Krag I
46		Hækkerup, Hans ErlingHans Erling Hækkerup [da] (1907–1974)	26 September 1964	2 February 1968	3 years, 129 days		Social Democrats	Krag II
47		Sørensen, Poul CloriusPoul Clorius Sørensen [da] (1904–1969)	2 February 1968	29 June 1969 †	1 year, 147 days		Conservatives	Baunsgaard
48		Toft, Hans CarlHans Carl Toft [da] (1914–2001)	11 July 1969	11 October 1971	2 years, 92 days		Conservatives	Baunsgaard
49		Jensen, EgonEgon Jensen (1922–1985)	11 October 1971	19 December 1973	2 years, 69 days		Social Democrats	Krag III Jørgensen I

Ministers under Margrethe II (1972–present)

No.	Portrait	Name (born–died)	Term of office			Political party		Government	Ref.
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
Minister of the Interior (Indenrigsminister)
50		Sørensen, JacobJacob Sørensen [da] (1915–1990)	19 December 1973	13 February 1975	1 year, 56 days		Venstre	Hartling Cabinet
(49)		Jensen, EgonEgon Jensen (1922–1985)	13 February 1975	30 August 1978	3 years, 198 days		Social Democrats	Jørgensen II Cabinet
51		Enggaard, KnudKnud Enggaard (1929–2024)	30 August 1978	26 October 1979	1 year, 57 days		Venstre	Jørgensen III Cabinet
52		Rasmussen, HenningHenning Rasmussen [da] (1926–1997)	26 October 1979	10 September 1982	2 years, 319 days		Social Democrats	Jørgensen IV Cabinet
53		Holberg, Britta CarocBritta Schall Holberg (1941–2022)	10 September 1982	12 March 1986	3 years, 183 days		Venstre	Schlüter I Cabinet
(51)		Enggaard, KnudKnud Enggaard (1929–2024)	12 March 1986	10 September 1987	1 year, 182 days		Venstre	Schlüter I Cabinet
54		Pedersen, ThorThor Pedersen (born 1945)	10 September 1987	25 January 1993	5 years, 137 days		Venstre	Schlüter II Cabinet–III–IV
55		Weiss, BirteBirte Weiss (born 1941)	25 January 1993	20 October 1997	4 years, 268 days		Social Democrats	Poul Nyrup Rasmussen I Cabinet–II–III
56		Simonsen, ThorkildThorkild Simonsen (1926–2022)	20 October 1997	23 February 2000	2 years, 126 days		Social Democrats	Poul Nyrup Rasmussen III Cabinet–IV
57		Jespersen, KarenKaren Jespersen (born 1947)	23 February 2000	27 November 2001	1 year, 277 days		Social Democrats	Poul Nyrup Rasmussen IV Cabinet
Minister of the Interior and Health (Indenrigs- og sundhedsminister)
58		Rasmussen, Lars LøkkeLars Løkke Rasmussen (born 1964)	27 November 2001	23 November 2007	5 years, 361 days		Venstre	Anders Fogh Rasmussen I Cabinet–II
Dismantled, role placed within the Ministry of Social Affairs
Ministry of the Interior and Social Affairs (Indenrigs- og Socialminister)
59		Ellemann, KarenKaren Ellemann (born 1969)	7 April 2009	23 February 2010	322 days		Venstre	Lars Løkke Rasmussen I Cabinet
Minister of the Interior and Health (Indenrigs- og sundhedsminister)
60		Haarder, BertelBertel Haarder (born 1944)	23 February 2010	3 October 2011	1 year, 222 days		Venstre	Lars Løkke Rasmussen I Cabinet
Ministry of Economy and the Interior (Økonomi- og Indenrigsministeriet)
61		Vestager, MargretheMargrethe Vestager (born 1968)	3 October 2011	2 September 2014	2 years, 334 days		Social Liberals	Thorning-Schmidt I Cabinet–II
62		Østergaard, MortenMorten Østergaard (born 1976)	2 September 2014	28 June 2015	299 days		Social Liberals	Thorning-Schmidt II Cabinet
Ministry of Social Affairs and the Interior (Social- og Indenrigsministeriet)
(59)		Ellemann, KarenKaren Ellemann (born 1969)	28 June 2015	28 November 2016	1 year, 153 days		Venstre	Lars Løkke Rasmussen II Cabinet
Ministry of Economy and the Interior (Økonomi- og Indenrigsministeriet)
63		Ammitzbøll-Bille, Simon EmilSimon Emil Ammitzbøll-Bille (born 1977)	28 November 2016	27 June 2019	2 years, 211 days		Liberal Alliance	Lars Løkke Rasmussen III Cabinet
Minister for Social Affairs and the Interior (Social- og indenrigsminister)
63		Astrid Krag (born 1982)	27 June 2019	21 January 2021	1 year, 208 days		Social Democrats	Frederiksen I Cabinet
Minister for Housing and Interior (Bolig- og indenrigsminister)
64		Kaare Dybvad (born 1984)	21 January 2021	2 May 2022	1 year, 101 days		Social Democrats	Frederiksen I Cabinet
65		Christian Rabjerg Madsen (born 1986)	2 May 2022	15 December 2022	227 days		Social Democrats	Frederiksen I Cabinet
Minister of the Interior and Health (Indenrigs- og sundhedsminister)
66		Sophie Løhde (born 1983)	15 December 2022	Incumbent	3 years, 35 days		Venstre	Frederiksen II Cabinet

Notes

1. On 29 August 1943, the Danish government resigned, refusing to grant further concessions to Nazi Germany. All government operations were assumed by the permanent secretaries of the individual departments, and this arrangement lasted until the Liberation of Denmark on 5 May 1945. Since King Christian X never accepted the resignation of the government, it existed de jure until a new cabinet was formed on 5 May 1945.

References

1. "Hvad tjener en minister?". Regeringen (in Danish). 31 March 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
2. "Regeringen Neergaard I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 2 November 2025.
3. "Regeringen Holstein-Ledreborg". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 2 November 2025.
4. "Regeringen Zahle I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 2 November 2025.
5. "Regeringen Berntsen". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 2 November 2025.
6. "Regeringen Zahle II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
7. "Regeringen Liebe". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
8. "Regeringen Friis". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
9. "Regeringen Neergaard II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
10. "Regeringen Neergaard III". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
11. "Regeringen Stauning I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
12. "Regeringen Madsen-Mygdal". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
13. "Regeringen Stauning II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
14. "Regeringen Stauning III". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
15. "Regeringen Stauning IV". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Prime Minister's Office. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
16. "Regeringen Stauning V". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Prime Minister's Office. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
17. "Regeringen Stauning VI". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
18. "Regeringen Buhl I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
19. "Regeringen Scavenius". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 8 November 2025.
20. "Regeringen Buhl II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Prime Minister's Office. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
21. "Regeringen Knud Kristensen". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Prime Minister's Office. Retrieved 13 November 2025.

• The Danish Ministry of the Interior. A history of the ministry
• The Danish Ministry of the Interior. A list of ministers^{[permanent dead link]}
• Lists of Danish governments since 1848

External links

• Official website of the Ministry of the Interior and Health