Minister for Foreign Affairs (Sweden) facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden
Lesser coat of arms of Sweden
Incumbent Tobias Billström since 18 October 2022
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Style	Excellency was used up to the 1970s in Sweden; but is still used in diplomatic writing
Member of	Government of Sweden National Security Council
Seat	Arvfurstens palats, Stockholm, Sweden
Appointer	The Prime Minister
Term length	No fixed term Serves as long as the Prime Minister sees fit
Formation	6 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 holder	Oscar Björnstjerna
Deputy	State Secretary for Foreign Affairs
Website	www.sweden.gov.se

The Minister for Foreign Affairs (Swedish: utrikesminister) is the foreign minister of Sweden and the head of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

The current Minister for Foreign Affairs is Tobias Billström of the Moderate Party.

History
Office holders
- Prime Ministers for Foreign Affairs (1809–1876)
- Ministers for Foreign Affairs (1876–present)
  - Timeline
  - Statistics
See also

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 ärendena, commonly known as utrikesstatsminister), similar to the office of Prime Minister for Justice (Swedish: justitiestatsminister). 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)

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

No party Lantmanna Party Social Democrat Conservative / Moderate Party Liberal / People's Party Centre Party

Status

Denotes acting Minister for Foreign Affairs

No.	Portrait	Minister (Born–Died)	Tenure			Political party	Cabinet
No.	Portrait	Minister (Born–Died)	Took office	Left office	Duration	Political party	Cabinet
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
2		Carl Hochschild (1831–1898)	27 April 1880	25 September 1885	5 years, 151 days	Independent		Thyselius
3		Albert Ehrensvärd the Elder (1821–1901)	25 September 1885	12 June 1889	3 years, 260 days	Independent		Themptander
3		Albert Ehrensvärd the Elder (1821–1901)	25 September 1885	12 June 1889	3 years, 260 days	Independent		Gillis Bildt
4		Gustaf Åkerhielm (1833–1900)	12 June 1889	12 October 1889	122 days	Protectionist Party		Gillis Bildt
5		Carl Lewenhaupt (1835–1906)	12 October 1889	1 June 1895	5 years, 232 days	Independent		Åkerhielm
5		Carl Lewenhaupt (1835–1906)	12 October 1889	1 June 1895	5 years, 232 days	Independent		Boström (I)
6		Ludvig Douglas (1849–1916)	1 June 1895	13 October 1899	4 years, 134 days	Independent		Boström (I)
7		Alfred Lagerheim (1843–1924)	20 December 1899	7 December 1904	4 years, 353 days	Lantmanna Party		von Otter
7		Alfred Lagerheim (1843–1924)	20 December 1899	7 December 1904	4 years, 353 days	Lantmanna Party		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)
10		Eric Trolle (1863–1934)	7 November 1905	17 March 1909	3 years, 130 days	Independent		Lindman (I)
11		Arvid Taube (1853–1916)	30 April 1909	7 October 1911	2 years, 160 days	General Electoral League		Lindman (I)
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.
17		Herman Wrangel (1857–1934)	27 October 1920	13 October 1921	351 days	Independent		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		Trygger
21		Östen Undén (1886–1974)	18 October 1924	7 June 1926	1 year, 232 days	Social Democrats		Branting (III)
21		Östen Undén (1886–1974)	18 October 1924	7 June 1926	1 year, 232 days	Social Democrats		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)
24		Fredrik Ramel (1872–1947)	7 June 1930	24 September 1932	2 years, 109 days	Independent		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)
30		Torsten Nilsson (1905–1997)	19 September 1962	30 June 1971	8 years, 284 days	Social Democrats		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)
35		Ola Ullsten (1931–2018)	12 October 1979	8 October 1982	2 years, 361 days	People's Party		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)
39		Lena Hjelm-Wallén (born 1943)	7 October 1994	7 October 1998	4 years, 0 days	Social Democrats		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)
44		Margot Wallström (born 1954)	3 October 2014	10 September 2019	4 years, 342 days	Social Democrats		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	Incumbent	1 year, 273 days	Moderate Party		Kristersson

Timeline

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	Björnstjerna, OscarOscar Björnstjerna	(1819-03-06)6 March 1819	57 014 57 years, 14 days	04 030 4 years, 30 days	61 044 61 years, 44 days	2 September 1905(1905-09-02)	&&&&&&&&&&031591.&&&&&031,591 86 years, 180 days
2	Hochschild, CarlCarl Hochschild	(1831-09-13)13 September 1831	48 227 48 years, 227 days	05 151 5 years, 151 days	54 012 54 years, 12 days	12 December 1898(1898-12-12)	&&&&&&&&&&024562.&&&&&024,562 67 years, 90 days
3	Ehrensvärd, Sr., AlbertAlbert Ehrensvärd, Sr.	(1821-01-10)10 January 1821	64 258 64 years, 258 days	03 260 3 years, 260 days	68 153 68 years, 153 days	31 January 1901(1901-01-31)	&&&&&&&&&&029240.&&&&&029,240 80 years, 21 days
4	Åkerhielm, GustafGustaf Åkerhielm	(1833-06-24)24 June 1833	55 353 55 years, 353 days	00 122 0 years, 122 days	56 110 56 years, 110 days	2 April 1900(1900-04-02)	&&&&&&&&&&024388.&&&&&024,388 66 years, 282 days
5	Lewenhaupt, CarlCarl Lewenhaupt	(1835-03-19)19 March 1835	54 207 54 years, 207 days	05 232 5 years, 232 days	60 074 60 years, 74 days	10 December 1906(1906-12-10)	&&&&&&&&&&026198.&&&&&026,198 71 years, 266 days
6	Douglas, LudvigLudvig Douglas	(1849-11-24)24 November 1849	45 189 45 years, 189 days	04 134 4 years, 134 days	49 323 49 years, 323 days	20 July 1916(1916-07-20)	&&&&&&&&&&024344.&&&&&024,344 66 years, 239 days
7	Lagerheim, AlfredAlfred Lagerheim	(1843-10-04)4 October 1843	56 077 56 years, 77 days	04 353 4 years, 353 days	61 064 61 years, 64 days	23 May 1924(1924-05-23)	&&&&&&&&&&029451.&&&&&029,451 80 years, 232 days
8	Gyldenstolpe, AugustAugust Gyldenstolpe	(1849-07-22)22 July 1849	55 153 55 years, 153 days	00 223 0 years, 223 days	56 011 56 years, 11 days	30 June 1928(1928-06-30)	&&&&&&&&&&028832.&&&&&028,832 78 years, 344 days
9	Wachtmeister, FredrikFredrik Wachtmeister	(1855-02-10)10 February 1855	50 173 50 years, 173 days	00 097 0 years, 97 days	50 270 50 years, 270 days	6 September 1919(1919-09-06)	&&&&&&&&&&023583.&&&&&023,583 64 years, 208 days
10	Trolle, EricEric Trolle	(1863-09-23)23 September 1863	41 349 41 years, 349 days	03 130 3 years, 130 days	45 114 45 years, 114 days	21 April 1934(1934-04-21)	&&&&&&&&&&025777.&&&&&025,777 70 years, 149 days
11	Taube, ArvidArvid Taube	(1853-01-19)19 January 1853	56 101 56 years, 101 days	02 160 2 years, 160 days	58 261 58 years, 261 days	14 October 1916(1916-10-14)	&&&&&&&&&&023278.&&&&&023,278 63 years, 269 days
12	Ehrensvärd, Jr., AlbertAlbert Ehrensvärd, Jr.	(1867-05-09)9 May 1867	44 151 44 years, 151 days	02 133 2 years, 133 days	46 284 46 years, 284 days	6 March 1940(1940-03-06)	&&&&&&&&&&026599.&&&&&026,599 72 years, 302 days
13	Wallenberg, KnutKnut Wallenberg	(1853-05-19)19 May 1853	60 274 60 years, 274 days	03 041 3 years, 41 days	63 315 63 years, 315 days	1 June 1938(1938-06-01)	&&&&&&&&&&031058.&&&&&031,058 85 years, 13 days
14	Lindman, ArvidArvid Lindman	(1862-09-19)19 September 1862	46 055 46 years, 55 days	00 203 0 years, 203 days	48 198 48 years, 198 days	9 December 1936(1936-12-09)	&&&&&&&&&&027109.&&&&&027,109 74 years, 81 days
15	Hellner, JohannesJohannes Hellner	(1866-04-22)22 April 1866	51 180 51 years, 180 days	02 143 2 years, 143 days	53 323 53 years, 323 days	19 February 1947(1947-02-19)	&&&&&&&&&&029522.&&&&&029,522 80 years, 303 days
16	Palmstierna, ErikErik Palmstierna	(1877-11-10)10 November 1877	42 121 42 years, 121 days	00 231 0 years, 231 days	42 352 42 years, 352 days	22 October 1959(1959-10-22)	&&&&&&&&&&029930.&&&&&029,930 81 years, 346 days
17	Wrangel, HermanHerman Wrangel	(1857-08-13)13 August 1857	63 075 63 years, 75 days	00 351 0 years, 351 days	64 061 64 years, 61 days	9 October 1934(1934-10-09)	&&&&&&&&&&028180.&&&&&028,180 77 years, 57 days
18	Branting, HjalmarHjalmar Branting	(1860-11-23)23 November 1860	60 324 60 years, 324 days	01 188 1 year, 188 days	62 147 62 years, 147 days	24 February 1925(1925-02-24)	&&&&&&&&&&023468.&&&&&023,468 64 years, 93 days
19	Hederstierna, CarlCarl Hederstierna	(1861-12-01)1 December 1861	61 139 61 years, 139 days	00 206 0 years, 206 days	61 345 61 years, 345 days	17 November 1928(1928-11-17)	&&&&&&&&&&024457.&&&&&024,457 66 years, 352 days
20	Würtemberg, Erik Marks vonErik Marks von Würtemberg	(1861-05-11)11 May 1861	62 184 62 years, 184 days	0 342 0 years, 342 days	63 160 63 years, 160 days	22 July 1937(1937-07-22)	&&&&&&&&&&027830.&&&&&027,830 76 years, 72 days
21	Undén, ÖstenÖsten Undén	(1886-08-25)25 August 1886	38 054 38 years, 54 days	18 282 18 years, 282 days	76 025 76 years, 25 days	14 January 1974(1974-01-14)	&&&&&&&&&&031921.&&&&&031,921 87 years, 142 days
22	Löfgren, ElielEliel Löfgren	(1872-03-15)15 March 1872	54 082 54 years, 84 days	02 117 2 years, 117 days	56 201 56 years, 201 days	8 April 1940(1940-04-08)	&&&&&&&&&&024860.&&&&&024,860 68 years, 24 days
23	Trygger, ErnstErnst Trygger	(1857-10-27)27 October 1857	70 341 70 years, 341 days	01 248 1 years, 248 days	72 223 72 years, 223 days	23 September 1943(1943-09-23)	&&&&&&&&&&031376.&&&&&031,376 85 years, 331 days
24	Ramel, FredrikFredrik Ramel	(1872-12-09)9 December 1872	57 180 57 years, 180 days	02 109 2 years, 109 days	59 290 59 years, 290 days	30 October 1947(1947-10-30)	&&&&&&&&&&027352.&&&&&027,352 74 years, 325 days
25	Sandler, RickardRickard Sandler	(1884-01-29)29 January 1884	48 239 48 years, 239 days	06 345 6 years, 345 days	55 318 55 years, 318 days	12 November 1964(1964-11-12)	&&&&&&&&&&029507.&&&&&029,507 80 years, 288 days
26	Westman, Karl GustafKarl Gustaf Westman	(1876-08-18)18 August 1876	59 306 59 years, 306 days	00 101 0 years, 101 days	60 041 60 years, 41 days	24 January 1944(1944-01-24)	&&&&&&&&&&024629.&&&&&024,629 67 years, 159 days
27	Günther, ChristianChristian Günther	(1886-12-05)5 December 1886	53 008 53 years, 8 days	05 230 5 years, 230 days	58 238 58 years, 238 days	6 March 1966(1966-03-06)	&&&&&&&&&&028945.&&&&&028,945 79 years, 91 days
28	Nilsson, TorstenTorsten Nilsson	(1905-04-01)1 April 1905	57 171 57 years, 171 days	08 284 8 years, 284 days	69 090 66 years, 90 days	14 December 1997(1997-12-14)	&&&&&&&&&&033860.&&&&&033,860 92 years, 257 days
29	Wickman, KristerKrister Wickman	(1924-04-13)13 April 1924	47 078 47 years, 78 days	02 126 2 years, 126 days	49 204 49 years, 204 days	10 September 1993(1993-09-10)	&&&&&&&&&&025352.&&&&&025,352 69 years, 150 days
30	Andersson, SvenSven Andersson	(1910-04-05)5 April 1910	63 212 63 years, 212 days	02 340 2 years, 340 days	66 186 66 years, 186 days	21 September 1987(1987-09-21)	&&&&&&&&&&028293.&&&&&028,293 77 years, 169 days
31	Söder, KarinKarin Söder	(1928-11-30)30 November 1928	47 313 47 years, 313 days	02 010 2 years, 10 days	49 322 49 years, 322 days	19 December 2015(2015-12-19)	&&&&&&&&&&031795.&&&&&031,795 87 years, 19 days
32	Blix, HansHans Blix	(1928-06-28)28 June 1928	50 112 50 years, 112 days	00 359 0 years, 359 days	51 106 51 years, 106 days	Living	&&&&&&&&&&035083.&&&&&035,083 96 years, 19 days (Living)
33	Ullsten, OlaOla Ullsten	(1931-06-23)23 June 1931	48 111 48 years, 111 days	02 361 2 years, 361 days	51 107 51 years, 107 days	28 May 2018(2018-05-28)	&&&&&&&&&&031751.&&&&&031,751 86 years, 339 days
34	Bodström, LennartLennart Bodström	(1928-04-20)20 April 1928	54 171 54 years, 171 days	03 009 3 years, 9 days	57 180 57 years, 180 days	30 April 2015(2015-04-30)	&&&&&&&&&&035152.&&&&&035,152 87 years, 10 days
35	Andersson, StenSten Andersson	(1923-04-20)20 April 1923	62 180 62 years, 180 days	05 352 5 years, 352 days	68 167 68 years, 167 days	13 September 2006(2006-09-13)	&&&&&&&&&&030462.&&&&&030,462 83 years, 210 days
36	af Ugglas, MargarethaMargaretha af Ugglas	(1939-01-05)5 January 1939	52 272 52 years, 272 days	03 003 3 years, 3 days	57 180 55 years, 275 days	Living	&&&&&&&&&&031240.&&&&&031,240 85 years, 194 days (Living)
37	Hjelm-Wallén, LenaLena Hjelm-Wallén	(1943-01-14)14 January 1943	51 266 51 years, 266 days	04 000 4 years, 0 days	55 266 55 years, 266 days	Living	&&&&&&&&&&029770.&&&&&029,770 81 years, 185 days (Living)
38	Lindh, AnnaAnna Lindh	(1957-06-19)19 June 1957	41 110 41 years, 110 days	04 339 4 years, 339 days	46 084 46 years, 84 days	11 September 2003(2003-09-11)	&&&&&&&&&&016885.&&&&&016,885 46 years, 84 days
39	Freivalds, LailaLaila Freivalds	(1942-06-22)22 June 1942	61 110 61 years, 110 days	02 162 2 years, 162 days	63 272 63 years, 272 days	Living	&&&&&&&&&&029976.&&&&&029,976 82 years, 25 days (Living)
40	Eliasson, JanJan Eliasson	(1940-09-17)17 September 1940	61 110 65 years, 219 days	00 165 0 years, 165 days	66 019 66 years, 19 days	Living	&&&&&&&&&&030619.&&&&&030,619 83 years, 304 days (Living)
41	Bildt, CarlCarl Bildt	(1949-07-15)15 July 1949	57 083 57 years, 83 days	07 362 7 years, 362 days	65 080 65 years, 80 days	Living	&&&&&&&&&&027396.&&&&&027,396 75 years, 2 days (Living)
42	Wallström, MargotMargot Wallström	(1954-09-28)28 September 1954	60 005 60 years, 5 days	04 342 4 years, 342 days	64 347 64 years, 347 days	Living	&&&&&&&&&&025495.&&&&&025,495 69 years, 293 days (Living)
43	Linde, AnnAnn Linde	(1961-12-04)4 December 1961	57 280 57 years, 280 days	03 038 3 years, 38 days	60 318 60 years, 318 days	Living	&&&&&&&&&&022871.&&&&&022,871 62 years, 226 days (Living)
44	Billström, TobiasTobias Billström	(1973-12-27)27 December 1973	48 295 48 years, 295 days	01 255 273 1 year, 273 days (Ongoing)	Incumbent	Living	&&&&&&&&&&018465.&&&&&018,465 50 years, 207 days (Living)