The office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs has existed in Sweden since 1809, its creation was a result of the constitutional Instrument of Government promulgated in the same year. Until 1876 the office was called Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs, or Utrikesstatsminister, similar to the office of Prime Minister for Justice, or Justitiestatsminister. However both offices were Prime Ministers in name only, and in reality they were no more than heads of their respective ministries.

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.

Prime Ministers for Foreign Affairs

1. Lars von Engeström (1809-1824)
2. Gustaf af Wetterstedt (1824-1837)
   • Count Adolf Göran Mörner (acting 1837-1838)
3. Gustaf Nils Algernon Stierneld (1838-1842)
4. Albrecht Ihre (1842-1848)
5. Gustaf Nils Algernon Stierneld (1848-1856)
6. Elias Lagerheim (1856-1858)
7. Ludvig Manderström (1858-1868)
8. Carl Wachtmeister (1868-1871)
9. Baltzar von Platen (1871-1872)
10. Oscar Magnus Fredrik Björnstjerna (1872-1876)

Ministers for Foreign Affairs

1. Oscar Björnstjerna (1876-1880)
2. Carl Hochschild (1880-1885)
3. Albert Ehrensvärd (1885-1889)
4. Gustaf Åkerhielm (1889)
5. Carl Lewenhaupt (1889-1895)
6. Ludwig Douglas (1895-1899)
7. Alfred Lagerheim (1899-1904)
8. August Gyldenstolpe (1904-1905)
9. Fredrik Wachtmeister (1905)
10. Eric Trolle (1905-1909)
11. Arvid Taube (1909-1911)
12. Albert Ehrensvärd Jr (1911-1914)
13. Knut Wallenberg (1914-1917)
14. Arvid Lindman (1917)
15. Johannes Hellner (1917-1920)
16. Erik Palmstierna (1920)
17. Herman Wrangel (1920-1921)
18. Hjalmar Branting (1921-1923)
19. Carl Hederstierna (1923)
20. Erik Marks von Würtemberg (1923-1924)
21. Östen Undén (1924-1926)
22. Eliel Löfgren (1926-1928)
23. Ernst Trygger (1928-1930)
24. Fredrik Ramel (1930-1932)
25. Rickard Sandler (1932-1936)
26. Karl Gustaf Westman (1936)
27. Rickard Sandler (1936-1939)
28. Christian Günther (1939-1945)
29. Östen Undén (1945-1962)
30. Torsten Nilsson (1962-1971)
31. Krister Wickman (1971-1973)
32. Sven Andersson (1973-1976)
33. Karin Söder, first female (1976-1978)
34. Hans Blix (1978-1979)
35. Ola Ullsten (1979-1982)
36. Lennart Bodström (1982-1985)
37. Sten Andersson (1985-1991)
38. Margaretha af Ugglas (1991-1994)
39. Lena Hjelm-Wallén (1994-1998)
40. Anna Lindh, assassinated on the post (1998-2003)
41. Laila Freivalds (Since 2003)

See also

• Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Sweden)
• Government of Sweden
• Privy Council of Sweden
• Politics of Sweden
• List of Swedish politicians