List of prime ministers of Finland

This is a list of prime ministers of Finland since the establishment of that office in 1917.

History

In 1918, the Finnish Senate was transformed into the Finnish Government, and the position of vice-chairman of the economic division of the Senate was transformed into the position of prime minister. Kesäranta (in Swedish Villa Bjälbo), located in the Meilahti neighborhood of Helsinki, has been the official residence of the prime minister of Finland since 1919.

Since its independence (declared on 6 December 1917), Finland has had 75 cabinets, including the current one, the longest lasting being the cabinet of Prime Minister Juha Sipilä, lasting 1,469 days.

Before the 1980s, cabinets tended to be short lived; the president was the most important political figure, and he had the right to form a new cabinet whenever he wanted. From the 1980s onwards, cabinets have tended to serve full terms (although the prime minister changed midterm in a few cases, most of the other cabinet members have remained nearly unchanged) and the prime minister has become more powerful a figure than the president. Under the current constitution, the prime minister is chosen by the parliament and only formally appointed by the president.

List of prime ministers

Finnish cabinets and prime ministers are numbered sequentially. A prime minister can serve as the head of multiple cabinets. For example, Matti Vanhanen is both the 39th and the 40th prime minister.

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Election	Party		Cabinet Coalition	President (Tenure)
			Took office	Left office	Duration
1		Pehr Evind Svinhufvud (1861–1944)	27 November 1917	27 May 1918	182 days	1917		Young Finnish	1. Svinhufvud I SP–NSP–ML–RKP (minority)	None
2		Juho Kusti Paasikivi (1870–1956)	27 May 1918	27 November 1918	185 days	—		Finnish	2. Paasikivi I SP–NSP–ML–RKP (minority)	Regent Pehr Evind Svinhufvud (1918)
3		Lauri Ingman (1868–1934)	27 November 1918	17 April 1919	142 days	—		National Coalition	3. Ingman I KOK–ED–RKP
										Regent Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim (1918–1919)
4		Kaarlo Castrén (1860–1938)	17 April 1919	15 August 1919	121 days	1919		National Progressive	4. K. Castrén ML–ED–RKP (minority)
										Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg (1919–1925)
5		Juho Vennola (1872–1938)	15 August 1919	15 March 1920	214 days	—		National Progressive	5. Vennola I ML–ED (minority)
6		Rafael Erich (1879–1946)	15 March 1920	9 April 1921	1 year, 26 days	—		National Coalition	6. Erich KOK–ML–ED–RKP
(5)		Juho Vennola (1872–1938)	9 April 1921	2 June 1922	1 year, 55 days	—		National Progressive	7. Vennola II ML–ED (minority)
7		Aimo Cajander (1879–1943)	2 June 1922	14 November 1922	166 days	1922		Independent	8. Cajander I (caretaker)
8		Kyösti Kallio (1873–1940)	14 November 1922	18 January 1924	1 year, 66 days	—		Agrarian	9. Kallio I ML–ED (minority)
(7)		Aimo Cajander (1879–1943)	18 January 1924	31 May 1924	135 days	—		Independent	10. Cajander II (caretaker)
(3)		Lauri Ingman (1868–1934)	31 May 1924	31 March 1925	305 days	1924		National Coalition	11. Ingman II KOK–ML–ED–RKP
										Lauri Kristian Relander (1925–1931)
9		Antti Tulenheimo (1879–1952)	31 March 1925	31 December 1925	276 days	—		National Coalition	12. Tulenheimo KOK–ML (minority)
(8)		Kyösti Kallio (1873–1940)	31 December 1925	13 December 1926	348 days	—		Agrarian	13. Kallio II ML–KOK (minority)
10		Väinö Tanner (1881–1966)	13 December 1926	17 December 1927	1 year, 5 days	—		Social Democratic	14. Tanner SDP (minority)
11		Juho Sunila (1875–1936)	17 December 1927	22 December 1928	1 year, 6 days	1927		Agrarian	15. Sunila I ML (minority)
12		Oskari Mantere (1874–1942)	22 December 1928	16 August 1929	238 days	—		National Progressive	16. Mantere ED (minority)
(8)		Kyösti Kallio (1873–1940)	16 August 1929	4 July 1930	323 days	1929		Agrarian	17. Kallio III ML (minority)
(1)		Pehr Evind Svinhufvud (1861–1944)	4 July 1930	18 February 1931	230 days	—		National Coalition	18. Svinhufvud II ML–KOK–ED–RKP
						1930
—		Juho Vennola (1872–1938) Interim Prime Minister	18 February 1931	21 March 1931	32 days	—		National Progressive		Pehr Evind Svinhufvud (1931–1937)
(11)		Juho Sunila (1875–1936)	21 March 1931	14 December 1932	1 year, 269 days	—		Agrarian	19. Sunila II ML–KOK–ED–RKP
13		Toivo Mikael Kivimäki (1886–1968)	14 December 1932	7 October 1936	3 years, 298 days	—		National Progressive	20. Kivimäki ML–ED–RKP (minority)
						1933
(8)		Kyösti Kallio (1873–1940)	7 October 1936	17 February 1937	134 days	1936		Agrarian	21. Kallio IV ML–ED (minority)
—		Rudolf Holsti (1881–1945) Interim Prime Minister	17 February 1937	12 March 1937	24 days	—		National Progressive		Kyösti Kallio (1937–1940)
(7)		Aimo Cajander (1879–1943)	12 March 1937	1 December 1939	2 years, 265 days	—		National Progressive	22. Cajander III SDP–ML–ED–RKP
						1939
14		Risto Ryti (1889–1956)	1 December 1939	19 December 1940	1 year, 19 days	—		National Progressive	23. Ryti I SDP–ML–ED–RKP
						—			24. Ryti I SDP–ML–KOK–ED–RKP
—		Rudolf Walden (1878–1946) Interim Prime Minister	19 December 1940	4 January 1941	17 days	—		Independent		Risto Ryti (1940–1944)
15		Johan Wilhelm Rangell (1894–1982)	4 January 1941	5 March 1943	2 years, 61 days	—		National Progressive	25. Rangell SDP–ML–KOK–RKP–ED–IKL
16		Edwin Linkomies (1894–1963)	5 March 1943	8 August 1944	1 year, 157 days	—		National Coalition	26. Linkomies KOK–SDP–ML–RKP–ED
										Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim (1944–1946)
17		Antti Hackzell (1881–1946)	8 August 1944	21 September 1944	45 days	—		Independent	27. Hackzell KOK–SDP–ML–RKP–ED
18		Urho Castrén (1886–1965)	21 September 1944	17 November 1944	58 days	—		National Coalition	28. U. Castrén KOK–SDP–ML–RKP–ED
(2)		Juho Kusti Paasikivi (1870–1956)	17 November 1944	9 March 1946	1 year, 113 days	—		National Coalition	29. Paasikivi II SDP–SKDL–ML–KOK–RKP–ED
						1945			30. Paasikivi III SDP–SKDL–ML–ED–RKP
—		Carl Enckell (1876–1959) Interim Prime Minister	9 March 1946	26 March 1946	18 days	—		Independent
										Juho Kusti Paasikivi (1946–1956)
19		Mauno Pekkala (1890–1952)	26 March 1946	29 July 1948	2 years, 126 days	—		SKDL	31. Pekkala SKDL–SDP–ML–RKP
20		Karl-August Fagerholm (1901–1984)	29 July 1948	17 March 1950	1 year, 232 days	1948		Social Democratic	32. Fagerholm I SDP (minority)
21		Urho Kekkonen (1900–1986)	17 March 1950	17 November 1953	3 years, 246 days	—		Agrarian	33. Kekkonen I ML–RKP–ED (minority)
						—			34. Kekkonen II ML–SDP–RKP–ED
						1951			35. Kekkonen III ML–SDP–RKP
						—			36. Kekkonen IV ML–RKP (minority)
22		Sakari Tuomioja (1911–1964)	17 November 1953	5 May 1954	170 days	—		Independent	37. Tuomioja (caretaker)
23		Ralf Törngren (1899–1961)	5 May 1954	20 October 1954	169 days	1954		Swedish People's	38. Törngren SDP–ML–RKP
(21)		Urho Kekkonen (1900–1986)	20 October 1954	3 March 1956	1 year, 136 days	—		Agrarian	39. Kekkonen V ML–SDP
(20)		Karl-August Fagerholm (1901–1984)	3 March 1956	27 May 1957	1 year, 86 days	—		Social Democratic	40. Fagerholm II SDP–ML–RKP	Urho Kekkonen (1956–1982)
24		V. J. Sukselainen (1906–1995)	27 May 1957	29 November 1957	187 days	—		Agrarian	41. Sukselainen I ML–RKP–SDP–KP–TPSL
25		Rainer von Fieandt (1890–1972)	29 November 1957	26 April 1958	149 days	—		Independent	42. von Fieandt (caretaker)
26		Reino Kuuskoski (1907–1965)	26 April 1958	29 August 1958	126 days	—		Independent	43. Kuuskoski (caretaker)
(20)		Karl-August Fagerholm (1901–1984)	29 August 1958	13 January 1959	138 days	1958		Social Democratic	44. Fagerholm III SDP–ML–KOK–RKP–KP
(24)		V. J. Sukselainen (1906–1995)	13 January 1959	3 July 1961	2 years, 183 days	—		Agrarian	45. Sukselainen II ML–RKP (minority)
—		Eemil Luukka (1892–1970) Interim Prime Minister	3 July 1961	14 July 1961	12 days	—		Agrarian
27		Martti Miettunen (1907–2002)	14 July 1961	13 April 1962	274 days	—		Agrarian	46. Miettunen I ML (minority)
28		Ahti Karjalainen (1923–1990)	13 April 1962	18 December 1963	1 year, 250 days	1962		Agrarian	47. Karjalainen I ML–KOK–RKP–KP–SDP
29		Reino Ragnar Lehto (1898–1966)	18 December 1963	12 September 1964	270 days	—		Independent	48. Lehto (caretaker)
30		Johannes Virolainen (1914–2000)	12 September 1964	27 May 1966	1 year, 258 days	—		Agrarian	49. Virolainen ML–KOK–RKP–KP
31		Rafael Paasio (1903–1980)	27 May 1966	22 March 1968	1 year, 301 days	1966		Social Democratic	50. Paasio I SDP–KESK–SKDL–TPSL
32		Mauno Koivisto (1923–2017)	22 March 1968	14 May 1970	2 years, 54 days	—		Social Democratic	51. Koivisto I SDP–KESK–SKDL–TPSL–RKP
33		Teuvo Aura (1912–1999)	14 May 1970	15 July 1970	63 days	—		Independent	52. Aura I (caretaker)
(28)		Ahti Karjalainen (1923–1990)	15 July 1970	29 October 1971	1 year, 107 days	1970		Centre	53. Karjalainen II KESK–SDP–SKDL–RKP–LKP
(33)		Teuvo Aura (1912–1999)	29 October 1971	23 February 1972	118 days	—		Independent	54. Aura II (caretaker)
(31)		Rafael Paasio (1903–1980)	23 February 1972	4 September 1972	195 days	1972		Social Democratic	55. Paasio II SDP (minority)
34		Kalevi Sorsa (1930–2004)	4 September 1972	13 June 1975	2 years, 283 days	—		Social Democratic	56. Sorsa I SDP–KESK–RKP–LKP
35		Keijo Liinamaa (1929–1980)	13 June 1975	30 November 1975	171 days	—		Independent	57. Liinamaa (caretaker)
(27)		Martti Miettunen (1907–2002)	30 November 1975	15 May 1977	1 year, 167 days	1975		Centre	58. Miettunen II KESK–RKP–LKP (minority)
						—			59. Miettunen III KESK–RKP–LKP
(34)		Kalevi Sorsa (1930–2004)	15 May 1977	26 May 1979	2 years, 12 days	—		Social Democratic	60. Sorsa II SDP–KESK–SKDL–RKP–LKP
(32)		Mauno Koivisto (1923–2017)	26 May 1979	27 October 1981	2 years, 155 days	1979		Social Democratic	61. Koivisto II SDP–KESK–SKDL–RKP
—		Eino Uusitalo (1924–2015) Interim Prime Minister	27 October 1981	19 February 1982	117 days	—		Centre		Mauno Koivisto (1982–1994)
(34)		Kalevi Sorsa (1930–2004)	19 February 1982	30 April 1987	5 years, 71 days	—		Social Democratic	62. Sorsa III SDP–KESK–SKDL–RKP–LKP
						1983			63. Sorsa IV SDP–KESK–RKP–SMP
36		Harri Holkeri (1937–2011)	30 April 1987	26 April 1991	3 years, 362 days	1987		National Coalition	64. Holkeri KOK–SDP–RKP–SMP
37		Esko Aho (born 1954)	26 April 1991	13 April 1995	3 years, 353 days	1991		Centre	65. Aho KESK–KOK–RKP–SKL
										Martti Ahtisaari (1994–2000)
38		Paavo Lipponen (born 1941)	13 April 1995	17 April 2003	8 years, 5 days	1995		Social Democratic	66. Lipponen I SDP–KOK–RKP–VAS–VIHR
						1999			67. Lipponen II SDP–KOK–RKP–VAS–VIHR
										Tarja Halonen (2000–2012)
39		Anneli Jäätteenmäki (born 1955)	17 April 2003	24 June 2003	69 days	2003		Centre	68. Jäätteenmäki KESK–SDP–RKP
40		Matti Vanhanen (born 1955)	24 June 2003	22 June 2010	6 years, 364 days	—		Centre	69. Vanhanen I KESK–SDP–RKP
						2007			70. Vanhanen II KESK–KOK–RKP–VIHR
41		Mari Kiviniemi (born 1968)	22 June 2010	22 June 2011	1 year, 1 day	—		Centre	71. Kiviniemi KESK–KOK–RKP–VIHR
42		Jyrki Katainen (born 1971)	22 June 2011	24 June 2014	3 years, 3 days	2011		National Coalition	72. Katainen KOK–SDP–RKP–VAS–VIHR–KD
										Sauli Niinistö (2012–2024)
43		Alexander Stubb (born 1968)	24 June 2014	29 May 2015	340 days	—		National Coalition	73. Stubb KOK–SDP–RKP–VIHR–KD
44		Juha Sipilä (born 1961)	29 May 2015	6 June 2019	4 years, 9 days	2015		Centre	74. Sipilä KESK–PS–KOK
45		Antti Rinne (born 1962)	6 June 2019	10 December 2019	188 days	2019		Social Democratic	75. Rinne SDP–KESK–VIHR–VAS–RKP
46		Sanna Marin (born 1985)	10 December 2019	20 June 2023	3 years, 193 days	—		Social Democratic	76. Marin SDP–KESK–VIHR–VAS–RKP
47		Petteri Orpo (born 1969)	20 June 2023	Incumbent	1 year, 134 days	2023		National Coalition	77. Orpo KOK–PS–RKP–KD
										Alexander Stubb (since 2024)

Timeline

See also

• Politics of Finland
• Lists of incumbents
• President of Finland
  • List of presidents of Finland
• Senate of Finland

External links

• Media related to Prime ministers of Finland at Wikimedia Commons
• Official site
• From Senate to independent Government