Ministry of Social Affairs (Denmark)
Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing
Map
Headquarters of the ministry on Holmens Kanal
Agency overview
Formed23 April 1924 (1924-04-23)
JurisdictionGovernment of Denmark
Headquarters22 Holmens Kanal, Copenhagen
Agency executive
Child agency
Websitehttps://www.sm.dk

The Ministry of Social Affairs (Danish: Socialministeriet) is a Danish cabinetministry responsible for policies related to the social welfare of the inhabitants of Denmark. As of 2025, it is responsible for the following policy areas: disability law, family law, public housing, social exclusion, social vulnerability, and the voluntary sector.[1]

A ministry of social affairs was first established in Denmark in 1924. It has been re-organized, re-established, and renamed several times since. The ministry was established under its current name, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing (Danish: Social- og Boligministeriet), in 2024. The current minister is Sophie Hæstorp Andersen.[2]

History

The Ministry of Social Affairs was first established in 1924, under the first government led by the Social Democrats, Thorvald Stauning's first cabinet. The ministry overtook responsibility for social affairs, international social policy, child welfare, and mental health services—roles which previously fell within the purview of the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Education.[3]

The ministry was abolished in 1926 when Stauning's cabinet was succeeded by the Venstre Party. When Stauning came back to power in 1929, the ministry was re-established. In 1940, the responsibility for labor law was separated from the ministry, forming the Ministry of Labor. Between 1945–1947 and 1950–1953 the two ministries were merged.[3]

In 2007, the ministry was replaced by the Ministry of Welfare (Danish: Velfærdsministeriet) and the Ministry of Health and Prevention. The Ministry of Social Affairs was re-established in February 2010, taking over the roles of the Ministry of Welfare.[4] This included the supervision of the Sikringsstyrelsen, a directorate which worked to secure citizens' social rights, including in the form of international pension and social security, across national borders.

With the formation of Helle Thorning-Schmidt's first cabinet in October 2011, the ministry was renamed the Ministry of Social Affairs and Integration, and took over responsibility for integration policy from the Ministry of Refugees, Immigrants and Integration (Danish: Ministeriet for Flygtninge, Indvandrere og Integration). The name of the ministry again changed in 2013 to the Ministry of Social Affairs, Children and Integration when it overtook responsibility for child welfare from the Ministry of Education. In 2014, its name was changed to the Ministry of Children, Equality, Integration and Social Affairs and in 2015 it was renamed the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Interior.[3][5]

In 2016, the ministry was briefly reformed as the Ministry of Children and Social Affairs before returning to be the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Interior in 2019.[5] In 2021 the ministry was renamed as the Ministry of Social Affairs and Elderly Affairs.[6] In 2022, the ministry merged with the Ministry for Housing to form the Ministry of Social Affairs, Housing, and Elderly Affairs. In 2024, an independent Ministry of Elderly Affairs was formed and separated from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing.[2]

List of ministers

No.Portrait Name(born-died)Term of office Political party Government Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
Minister of Social Affairs(Socialminister)
1 Thorvald Stauning(1873–1942)18 November 1918 5 April 1920 1 year, 139 days Social DemocratsZahle II[7]
2 Jens Jensen(1859–1928)5 April 1920 5 May 1920 30 days Social DemocratsFriis[8]
3 Frederik Borgbjerg(1866–1936)23 April 1924 14 December 1926 2 years, 235 days Social DemocratsStauning I[9]
4 Karl Kristian Steincke(1880–1962)30 April 1929 4 November 1935 6 years, 188 days Social DemocratsStauning II[10]
5 Ludvig Christensen(1878–1956)5 November 1935 8 July 1940 4 years, 246 days Social DemocratsStauning III–IV–V[11][12][13]
Minister of Labour and Social Affairs(Arbejds- og socialminister)
6 Johannes Kjærbøl(1885–1973)8 July 1940 9 November 1942 2 years, 124 days Social DemocratsStauning VIBuhl I[14][15]
Minister of Social Affairs(Socialminister)
7 Laurits Hansen(1894–1965)9 November 1942 29 August 1943 287 days Social DemocratsScavenius[16]
No Danish government (29 August 1943[a] – 5 May 1945). Office is assumed by the permanent secretary.
Minister of Labour and Social Affairs(Arbejds- og socialminister)
8 Hans Hedtoft(1903–1955)5 May 1945 7 November 1945 186 days Social DemocratsBuhl II[17]
9 Søren Peter Larsen(1888–1948)7 November 1945 24 April 1947 1 year, 168 days VenstreKristensen[18]
10 Jens Sønderup(1894–1978)24 April 1947 13 November 1947 203 days VenstreKristensen[18]
Minister of Social Affairs(Socialminister)
11 Johan Strøm(1898–1958)13 November 1947 30 October 1950 2 years, 351 days Social DemocratsHedtoft I–II[19][20]
Minister of Labour and Social Affairs(Arbejds- og socialminister)
12 Poul Sørensen(1904–1969)30 October 1950 30 September 1953 2 years, 335 days Conservative People's PartyEriksen[21]
(11) Johan Strøm(1898–1958)30 September 1953 1 November 1953 32 days Social DemocratsHedtoft III[22]
Minister of Social Affairs(Socialminister)
(11) Johan Strøm(1898–1958)1 November 1953 28 May 1957 3 years, 208 days Social DemocratsHedtoft IIIHansen I[22][23]
13 Julius Bomholt(1896–1969)28 May 1957 7 September 1961 4 years, 102 days Social DemocratsHansen IIKampmann I–II[24][25][26]
14 Kaj Bundvad(1904–1976)7 September 1961 3 September 1962 361 days Social DemocratsKampmann II[26]
Minister of Labour and Social Affairs(Arbejds- og socialminister)
(14) Kaj Bundvad(1904–1976)3 September 1962 27 August 1963 358 days Social DemocratsKrag I[27]
Minister of Social Affairs(Socialminister)
(14) Kaj Bundvad(1904–1976)27 August 1963 2 February 1968 5 years, 152 days Social DemocratsKrag I–II[27][28]
15 Nathalie Lind(1918–1999)2 February 1968 11 October 1971 3 years, 251 days VenstreBaunsgaard[29]
16 Eva Gredal(1927–1995)11 October 1971 19 December 1973 2 years, 69 days Social DemocratsKrag IIIJørgensen I[30][31]
17 Jacob Sørensen(1915–1990)19 December 1973 13 February 1975 1 year, 56 days VenstreHartling[32]
(16) Eva Gredal(1927–1995)13 February 1975 30 August 1978 3 years, 198 days Social DemocratsJørgensen II[33]
18 Erling Jensen(1919–2000)30 August 1978 26 October 1979 1 year, 57 days VenstreJørgensen III[34]
19 Ritt Bjerregaard(1941–2023)26 October 1979 30 December 1981 2 years, 65 days Social DemocratsJørgensen IV[35]
20 Bent Hansen(1931–2000)30 December 1981 27 April 1982 118 days Social DemocratsJørgensen V[36]
21 Bent Rold Andersen(1929–2015)27 April 1982 10 September 1982 136 days Social DemocratsJørgensen V[36]
22 Palle Simonsen(1933–2014)10 September 1982 23 July 1984 1 year, 317 days Conservative People's PartySchlüter I[37]
23 Elsebeth Kock-Petersen(born 1949)23 July 1984 12 March 1986 1 year, 232 days VenstreSchlüter I[37]
24 Mimi Jakobsen(born 1948)12 March 1986 3 June 1988 2 years, 83 days Centre DemocratsSchlüter I–II[37][38]
25 Aase Olesen(1934–2013)3 June 1988 18 December 1990 2 years, 198 days Social LiberalSchlüter III[39]
26 Else Winther Andersen(born 1941)18 December 1990 25 January 1993 2 years, 38 days VenstreSchlüter IV[40]
27 Karen Jespersen(born 1947)25 January 1993 28 January 1994 1 year, 3 days Social DemocratsP. N. Rasmussen I[41]
28 Bente Juncker(born 1944)28 January 1994 11 February 1994 14 days Centre DemocratsP. N. Rasmussen I[41]
29 Yvonne Herløv Andersen(born 1942)11 February 1994 27 September 1994 228 days Centre DemocratsP. N. Rasmussen I[41]
(27) Karen Jespersen(born 1947)27 September 1994 23 February 2000 5 years, 149 days Centre DemocratsP. N. Rasmussen II–III–IV[42][43][44]
30 Henrik Dam Kristensen(born 1957)23 February 2000 27 November 2001 1 year, 277 days Social DemocratsP. N. Rasmussen IV[44]
31 Henriette Kjær(born 1966)27 November 2001 2 August 2004 2 years, 249 days Conservative People's PartyA. F. Rasmussen I[45]
32 Eva Kjer Hansen(born 1964)2 August 2004 12 September 2007 3 years, 41 days VenstreA. F. Rasmussen I–II[45][46]
(27) Karen Jespersen(born 1947)12 September 2007 23 November 2007 72 days VenstreA. F. Rasmussen II[46]
Minister of Welfare(Velfærdsminister)
(27) Karen Jespersen(born 1947)23 November 2007 7 April 2009 1 year, 135 days VenstreA. F. Rasmussen III[47]
Minister of the Interior and Social Affairs(Indenrigs- og socialminister)
33 Karen Ellemann(born 1969)7 April 2009 23 February 2010 322 days VenstreL. L. Rasmussen I[48]
Minister of Social Affairs(Socialminister)
34 Benedikte Kiær(born 1969)23 February 2010 3 October 2011 1 year, 222 days Conservative People's PartyL. L. Rasmussen I[48]
Minister of Social Affairs and Integration(Social- og integrationsminister)
35 Karen Hækkerup(born 1974)3 October 2011 9 August 2013 1 year, 310 days Social DemocratsThorning-Schmidt I[49]
Minister of Social Affairs, Children and Integration(Social-, børne- og integrationsminister)
36 Annette Vilhelmsen(born 1959)9 August 2013 3 February 2014 178 days Green LeftThorning-Schmidt I[49]
Minister of Children, Gender Equality, Integration and Social Affairs(Minister for Børn, Ligestilling, Integration og Sociale forhold)
37 Manu Sareen(born 1967)3 October 2011 28 June 2015 3 years, 268 days Social LiberalsThorning-Schmidt II[50]
Minister of the Interior and Social Affairs(Indenrigs- og socialminister)
(33) Karen Ellemann(born 1969)28 June 2015 28 November 2016 1 year, 153 days VenstreL. L. Rasmussen II[51]
Minister of Children and Social Affairs(Børne- og socialminister)
38 Mai Mercado(born 1980)28 November 2016 27 June 2019 2 years, 211 days ConservativesL. L. Rasmussen III[52]
Minister of Social Affairs and the Interior(Social- og indenrigsminister)
39 Astrid Krag(born 1982)27 June 2019 21 January 2021 1 year, 208 days Social DemocratsFrederiksen I[53]
Minister of Social and Elderly Affairs(Social- og ældreminister)
(39) Astrid Krag(born 1982)21 January 2021 15 December 2022 1 year, 328 days Social DemocratsFrederiksen I[53]
Minister of Social Affairs and Housing(Social- og boligminister)
40 Pernille Rosenkrantz-Theil(born 1977)15 December 2022 29 August 2024 1 year, 258 days Social DemocratsFrederiksen II[54]
41 Sophie Hæstorp Andersen(born 1974)29 August 2024 Incumbent1 year, 160 days Social DemocratFrederiksen II[54]

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. ^"Ministry of Social Affairs". Social- og Boligministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  2. ^ ab"Ændringer i regeringen". Statsministeriet (in Danish). 29 August 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  3. ^ abcRambusch, Sigurd; Rasmussen, Uffe (3 May 2023). "Socialministeriet". Danmarks Nationalleksikon (in Danish). Den Store Danske. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  4. ^Rasmussen, Uffe (11 October 2011). "Velfærdsministeriet". Danmarks Nationalleksikon (in Danish). Den Store Danske. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  5. ^ abRasmussen, Uffe (12 December 2016). "Social- og Indenrigsministeriet". Danmarks Nationalleksikon (in Danish). Den Store Danske. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  6. ^"Nyt Indenrigs- og Boligministerium". Statsministeriet (in Danish). 21 January 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  7. ^"Regeringen Zahle II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  8. ^"Regeringen Friis". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  9. ^"Regeringen Stauning I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  10. ^"Regeringen Stauning II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  11. ^"Regeringen Stauning III". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  12. ^"Regeringen Stauning IV". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  13. ^"Regeringen Stauning V". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  14. ^"Regeringen Stauning VI". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  15. ^"Regeringen Buhl I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  16. ^"Regeringen Scavenius". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  17. ^"Regeringen Buhl II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  18. ^ ab"Regeringen Kristensen". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  19. ^"Regeringen Hedtoft I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  20. ^"Regeringen Hedtoft II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  21. ^"Regeringen Erik Eriksen". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  22. ^ ab"Regeringen Hedtoft III". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  23. ^"Regeringen H.C. Hansen I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  24. ^"Regeringen H.C. Hansen II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  25. ^"Regeringen Viggo Kampmann I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  26. ^ ab"Regeringen Viggo Kampmann II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  27. ^ ab"Regeringen Jens Otto Krag I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  28. ^"Regeringen Jens Otto Krag II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  29. ^"Regeringen Hilmar Baunsgaard". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  30. ^"Regeringen Jens Otto Krag III". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  31. ^"Regeringen Anker Jørgensen I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  32. ^"Regeringen Poul Hartling". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  33. ^"Regeringen Anker Jørgensen II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  34. ^"Regeringen Anker Jørgensen III". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  35. ^"Regeringen Anker Jørgensen IV". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  36. ^ ab"Regeringen Anker Jørgensen V". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  37. ^ abc"Regeringen Poul Schlüter I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  38. ^"Regeringen Poul Schlüter II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  39. ^"Regeringen Poul Schlüter III". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  40. ^"Regeringen Poul Schlüter IV". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  41. ^ abc"Regeringen Poul Nyrup Rasmussen I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  42. ^"Regeringen Poul Nyrup Rasmussen II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  43. ^"Regeringen Poul Nyrup Rasmussen III". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  44. ^ ab"Regeringen Poul Nyrup Rasmussen IV". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  45. ^ ab"Regeringen Anders Fogh Rasmussen I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  46. ^ ab"Regeringen Anders Fogh Rasmussen II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  47. ^"Regeringen Anders Fogh Rasmussen III". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  48. ^ ab"Regeringen Lars Løkke Rasmussen I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Prime Minister's Office. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  49. ^ ab"Regeringen Helle Thorning-Schmidt I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  50. ^"Regeringen Helle Thorning-Schmidt II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  51. ^"Regeringen Lars Løkke Rasmussen II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  52. ^"Regeringen Lars Løkke Rasmussen III". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  53. ^ ab"Regeringen Mette Frederiksen I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  54. ^ ab"Regeringen Mette Frederiksen II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 17 September 2024.
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