Prime Minister of Iceland

Last updated

Prime Minister of Iceland
Forsætisráðherra Íslands (Icelandic)
Coat of arms of Iceland.svg
Coat of arms of Iceland
Kristrun Frostadottir 2021.jpg
since 21 December 2024
Prime Minister's Office
Style
Member of
Seat Reykjavík, Iceland
Appointer President
Term length No term limit
Constituting instrument
Precursor Minister for Iceland
Inaugural holder Hannes Hafstein (under Home Rule as Minister for Iceland)
Jón Magnússon (under Kingdom of Iceland)
Formation1 February 1904;121 years ago (1904-02-01)
Salary2,021,825 kr/US$ 14,038 monthly [1]
Website eng.forsaetisraduneyti.is (in English)
forsaetisraduneyti.is (in Icelandic)

The prime minister of Iceland (Icelandic : Forsætisráðherra Íslands) is head of government of the country of Iceland. The prime minister is appointed formally by the president and exercises executive authority along with the cabinet subject to parliamentary support.

Contents

Constitutional basis

The prime minister is appointed by the president under the Constitution of Iceland, Section II Article 17, and chairs the Cabinet of Iceland:

Fundunum stjórnar sá ráðherra, er forseti lýðveldisins hefur kvatt til forsætis, og nefnist hann forsætisráðherra. [2]
The [cabinet] meetings shall be presided over by the Minister called upon by the President of the Republic to do so, who is designated Prime Minister. [3]

Locations

The prime minister's office is located in the Governing Council (Stjórnarráðið), Reykjavik, where their secretariat is based and where cabinet meetings are held. [4] The prime minister has a summer residence, Þingvallabær in Þingvellir. The prime minister also has a reception house in Tjarnargata, Reykjavik, which was the prime ministerial residence until 1943. [5]

List of officeholders

Home Rule (1904–1918)

Despite Hannes Hafstein being a Minister for Iceland, he and his successors are considered to be the first Prime Ministers of Iceland by the national government. [6]

No. [6] PortraitName
(born–died)		Term of officePolitical partyGovernmentRef.
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
1 Hannes Hafstein by Elfelt.jpg Hannes Hafstein
(1861–1922)
MP for Eyjafjarðarsýsla 		1 February 190431 March 19095 years, 58 days Home Rule Party Deuntzer
Christensen I–II
Neergaard I 		[7] [8]
[9] [10]
2 Bjorn Jonsson.jpg Björn Jónsson
(1846–1912)
MP for Barðastrandarsýsla 		31 March 190914 March 19111 year, 348 days Independence Party Neergaard I
Holstein-Ledreborg
Zahle I
Berntsen 		[10] [11]
[12] [13]
3 Kristjan Jonsson.jpg Kristján Jónsson
(1852–1926)
MP for Borgarfjarðarsýsla 		14 March 191125 July 19121 year, 133 days Independent Berntsen [13]
(1) Hannes Hafstein by Elfelt.jpg Hannes Hafstein
(1861–1922)
MP for Eyjafjarðarsýsla 		25 July 191221 July 19141 year, 361 days Union Party Berntsen
Zahle II 		[13] [14]
4 Sigurdur Eggerz.jpg Sigurður Eggerz
(1875–1945)
MP for West Skaftafellssýsla 		21 July 19144 May 1915287 days Independence Party Zahle II [14]
5 EinarArnorsson.jpg Einar Arnórsson
(1880–1955)
MP for Árnessýsla 		4 May 19154 January 19171 year, 245 days Independence Party – Langsum Zahle II [14]

Kingdom (1918–1944)

Political party:   Home Rule    Independence    Conservative    Progressive    Independent

No. [6] PortraitName
(birth–death)
Constituency		Term of officePartyElectedCabinet
coalition		 Monarch
(reign)
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
6 Jon Magnusson1.jpg Jón Magnússon
(1859–1926)
MP for Reykjavík until 1920
not in Parliament from 1920		4 January 19177 March 19225 years, 62 days Home Rule Party Oct.
1916 		Magnússon I
HP–IP–PP 		Kristján X
Christian X of Denmark circa 1915.jpg
(1918–1944)
1919 Magnússon II
HP–others
(4) Sigurdur Eggerz.jpg Sigurður Eggerz
(1875–1945)
MP without constituency		7 March 192222 March 19242 years, 15 days Independence Party – Eggerz
IP–others
(6) Jon Magnusson1.jpg Jón Magnússon
(1859–1926)
MP without constituency		22 March 192423 June 1926  # 2 years, 93 days Conservative Party 1923 Magnússon III
CP
7 Magnus Gudmundsson.jpg Magnús Guðmundsson
Acting
(1879–1937)
MP for Skagafjarðarsýsla 		23 June 19268 July 192615 days Conservative Party
CP 		–
8 JThorl1927.jpg Jón Þorláksson
(1877–1935)
MP without constituency		8 July 192628 August 19271 year, 51 days Conservative Party – Þorláksson
CP
9 Tryggvi Thorhallson.jpg Tryggvi Þórhallsson
(1889–1935)
MP for Strandasýsla 		28 August 19273 June 19324 years, 280 days Progressive Party 1927 Þórhallsson
PP
1931
10 Asgeir Asgeirsson.jpg Ásgeir Ásgeirsson
(1894–1972)
MP for West Ísafjarðarsýsla 		3 June 193228 July 19342 years, 55 days Progressive Party – Ásgeirsson
PP–IP–Peasants
1933
11 Hermann Jonasson.jpg Hermann Jónasson
(1896–1976)
MP for Strandasýsla 		28 July 193416 May 19427 years, 292 days Progressive Party 1934 Jónasson I
PP–SDP
1937 Jónasson II
PP
– Jónasson III
PP–IP–SDP
– Jónasson IV
PP–IP–SDP
12 Olafur Thors.jpg Ólafur Thors
(1892–1964)
MP for Gullbringu and Kjósarsýsla		16 May 194216 December 1942214 days Independence Party Jul.
1942 		Thors I
IP
Oct.
1942
13 Bjorn Thordarson.png Björn Þórðarson
(1879–1963)
Not in Parliament		16 December 194221 October 19441 year, 310 days Independent – Þórðarson

Republic (1944–present)

Political party:   Independence    Progressive    Social Democratic Party    Social Democratic Alliance    Left-Green

No. [6] PortraitName
(birth–death)
Constituency		Term of officePartyElectedCabinet
coalition		 President(s)
(term)
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
(12) Olafur Thors.jpg Ólafur Thors
(1892–1964)
MP for Gullbringu and Kjósarsýsla		21 October 19444 February 19472 years, 106 days Independence Party – Thors II
IP–SDP–SP 		Sveinn
Björnsson
Sveinn Bjornsson.jpg
(1944–1952)
1946
14 Stefan Johann Stefansson.jpg Stefán Jóhann Stefánsson
(1894–1980)
MP for Eyjafjarðarsýsla 		4 February 19476 December 19492 years, 305 days Social Democratic Party – Stefánsson
IP–SDP–SP
(12) Olafur Thors.jpg Ólafur Thors
(1892–1964)
MP for Gullbringu and Kjósarsýsla		6 December 194914 March 195098 days Independence Party 1949 Thors III
IP
15 Steingrimur Steinthorsson.jpg Steingrímur Steinþórsson
(1893–1966)
MP for Skagafjarðarsýsla 		14 March 195011 September 19533 years, 181 days Progressive Party – Steinþórsson
PP–IP
(12) Olafur Thors.jpg Ólafur Thors
(1892–1964)
MP for Gullbringu and Kjósarsýsla		11 September 195324 July 19562 years, 305 days Independence Party 1953 Thors IV
PP–IP 		Ásgeir
Ásgeirsson
Iceland President Asgeir Asgeirsson. Jerusalem 1966 (D803-058) (cropped).jpg
(1952–1968)
(11) Hermann Jonasson.jpg Hermann Jónasson
(1896–1976)
MP for Strandasýsla 		24 July 195623 December 19582 years, 164 days Progressive Party 1956 Jónasson V
PP–SDP–PA
16 Emil Jonsson.jpg Emil Jónsson
(1902–1986)
MP for Hafnarfjörður 		23 December 195820 November 1959332 days Social Democratic Party Jun.
1959 		Jónsson
SDP
(12) Olafur Thors.jpg Ólafur Thors
(1892–1964)
MP for Gullbringu and Kjósarsýsla		20 November 19598 September 19611 year, 292 days Independence Party Oct.
1959 		Thors V
IP–SDP
– Bjarni Benediktsson 1908.jpg Bjarni Benediktsson
(1908–1970)
acting
MP for Reykjavík 		8 September 196131 December 1961114 days Independence Party –
(12) Olafur Thors.jpg Ólafur Thors
(1892–1964)
MP for Gullbringu and Kjósarsýsla		1 January 196214 November 19631 year, 317 days Independence Party –
17 Bjarni Benediktsson 1908.jpg Bjarni Benediktsson
(1908–1970)
MP for Reykjavík 		14 November 196310 July 1970  # 6 years, 238 days Independence Party 1963 Benediktsson
IP–SDP
1967 Kristján
Eldjárn
Kristjan Eldjarn (1982).jpg
(1968–1980)
– Johann Hafstein.jpg Jóhann Hafstein
(1915–1980)
MP for Reykjavík 		10 July 197010 October 197092 days Independence Party – Hafstein
IP–SDP
1810 October 197014 July 1971277 days
19 Ólafur Jóhannesson
(1913–1984)
MP for Northwestern 		14 July 197128 August 19743 years, 45 days Progressive Party 1971 Jóhannesson I
PP–PA–LL
20 Geir Hallgrimsson (cropped).jpg Geir Hallgrímsson
(1925–1990)
MP for Reykjavík 		28 August 19741 September 19784 years, 4 days Independence Party 1974 Hallgrímsson
IP–PP
(19) Ólafur Jóhannesson
(1913–1984)
MP for Northwestern 		1 September 197815 October 19791 year, 44 days Progressive Party 1978 Jóhannesson II
PP–PA
21 Benedikt Gröndal
(1924–2010)
MP for Reykjavík 		15 October 19798 February 1980116 days Social Democratic Party 1979 Sigurðsson Gröndal
SDP
22 Gunnar Thoroddsen
(1910–1983)
MP for Reykjavík 		8 February 198026 May 19833 years, 107 days Independence Party
(*Gunnar's faction)		– Thoroddsen
IP*–PP–PA 		Vigdís
Finnbogadóttir
Vigdis Finnbogadottir (1985).jpg
(1980–1996)
23 Visit of Steingrimur Hermannsson, Icelandic Prime Minister, to the CEC (cropped).jpg Steingrímur Hermannsson
(1928–2010)
MP for Westfjords 		26 May 19838 July 19874 years, 43 days Progressive Party 1983 Hermannsson I
PP–IP
24 Thorsteinn Palsson (cropped).jpeg Þorsteinn Pálsson
(born 1947)
MP for Southern 		8 July 198728 September 19881 year, 82 days Independence Party 1987 Pálsson
IP–PP–SDP
(23) Visit of Steingrimur Hermannsson, Icelandic Prime Minister, to the CEC (cropped).jpg Steingrímur Hermannsson
(1928–2010)
MP for Reykjanes 		28 September 198830 April 19912 years, 214 days Progressive Party – Hermannsson II
PP–SDP–PA
– Hermannsson III
PP–SDP–PA–CiP
25 Bilden ar tagen vid Nordiska radets session i Oslo, 2003.jpg Davíð Oddsson
(born 1948)
MP for Reykjavík until 2003
MP for Reykjavík North from 2003		30 April 199115 September 200413 years, 138 days Independence Party 1991 Oddsson I
IP–SDP
1995 Oddsson II
IP–PP 		Ólafur
Ragnar
Grímsson
Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, September 2011 (cropped).jpeg
(1996–2016)
1999 Oddsson III
IP–PP
2003 Oddsson IV
IP–PP
26 Halldor Asgrimsson generalsekreterare Nordiska ministerradet.jpg Halldór Ásgrímsson
(1947–2015)
MP for Reykjavík North 		15 September 200415 June 20061 year, 273 days Progressive Party – Ásgrímsson
IP–PP
27 Geir H. Haarde Islands utrikesminister (cropped).png Geir Haarde
(born 1951)
MP for Reykjavík South 		15 June 20061 February 20092 years, 231 days Independence Party – Haarde I
IP–PP
2007 Haarde II
IP–SDA
28 Johanna sigurdardottir official portrait.jpg Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir
(born 1942)
MP for Reykjavík North 		1 February 200923 May 20134 years, 111 days Social Democratic Alliance – Sigurðardóttir I
SDA–LGM
2009 Sigurðardóttir II
SDA–LGM
29 Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson 2013.jpg Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson
(born 1975)
MP for Northeast 		23 May 20137 April 20162 years, 319 days Progressive Party 2013 Gunnlaugsson
PP–IP
30 Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson 2016.jpg Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson
(born 1962)
MP for South 		7 April 201611 January 2017280 days Progressive Party – Jóhannsson
PP–IP 		Guðni
Thorlacius
Jóhannesson
Gudni Th. Johannesson (cropped).jpg
(2016–2024)
31 Bjarni Benediktsson 2016.jpg Bjarni Benediktsson
(born 1970)
MP for Southwest 		11 January 201730 November 2017323 days Independence Party 2016 Benediktsson I
IP–C–BF
32 Katrin Jakobsdottir 2017.jpg Katrín Jakobsdóttir
(born 1976)
MP for Reykjavík North 		30 November 20179 April 20246 years, 131 days Left-Green Movement 2017 Jakobsdóttir I
LGM–IP–PP
2021 Jakobsdóttir II
LGM–IP–PP
(31) Bjarni Benediktsson - 2023 (cropped).jpg Bjarni Benediktsson
(born 1970)
MP for Southwest 		9 April 202421 December 2024256 days Independence Party – Benediktsson II
LGM–IP–PP 		Halla
Tómasdóttir
Halla Tomasdottir at Arctic Circle 2024 cropped.jpg
(2024–present)
33 Kristrun Frostadottir 2021.jpg Kristrún Frostadóttir
(born 1988)
MP for Reykjavík South 		21 December 2024Incumbent356 days Social Democratic Alliance 2024 Frostadóttir
SDA–RP–PP

Timeline

Kristrún FrostadóttirKatrín JakobsdóttirBjarni Benediktsson (born 1970)Sigurður Ingi JóhannssonSigmundur Davíð GunnlaugssonJóhanna SigurðardóttirGeir HaardeHalldór ÁsgrímssonDavíð OddssonÞorsteinn PálssonSteingrímur HermannssonGunnar ThoroddsenBenedikt Sigurðsson GröndalGeir HallgrímssonÓlafur JóhannessonJóhann HafsteinBjarni Benediktsson (born 1908)Emil JónssonSteingrímur SteinþórssonStefán Jóhann StefánssonBjörn ÞórðarsonÓlafur ThorsHermann JónassonÁsgeir ÁsgeirssonTryggvi ÞórhallssonJón ÞorlákssonMagnús GuðmundssonSigurður EggerzJón Magnússon (politician)Prime Minister of Iceland

See also

References

  1. ↑ "2016.3.001 Alþingismenn, ráðherrar og forseti Íslands" [2016.3.001 Parliamentarians, Ministers and President of Iceland](PDF). Kjararáð (in Icelandic). p. 7.
  2. ↑ Constitution of Iceland (Icelandic version)
  3. ↑ Constitution of Iceland (English version)
  4. ↑ "The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in Iceland". Prime Minister's Office. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  5. ↑ "Minister's Residence". Prime Minister's Office. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Former Prime Ministers". www.government.is. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
  7. ↑ "Regeringen Deuntzer". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  8. ↑ "Regeringen Christensen I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  9. ↑ "Regeringen Christensen II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  10. 1 2 "Regeringen Neergaard I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  11. ↑ "Regeringen Holstein-Ledreborg". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  12. ↑ "Regeringen Zahle I". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  13. 1 2 3 "Regeringen Berntsen". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  14. 1 2 3 "Regeringen Zahle II". Statsministeriet (in Danish). Retrieved 11 October 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.