Sven Olof Joachim Palme ( Olof Palme (help·info)) (30 January 1927 – 28 February 1986) was a Swedish politician.

Palme was the leader of the Swedish Social Democratic Party from 1969 until his assassination in 1986. He was also the Prime Minister of Sweden twice during this period, heading a Privy Council Government from 1969 to 1976 and a cabinet government from 1982 until his death. Palme's murder was the first of its kind in modern Swedish history and had a great impact across Scandinavia.

Palme was born in Östermalm, Stockholm, Sweden. He was born into an upper-class, conservative family. His father was of Dutch ancestry and his mother, Freiin von Knieriem, was of Baltic German origin. Despite his upper class background, his political orientation came to be influenced by Social Democratic ideas and ideals. His travels in the Third World, as well as the United States – where he saw deep economic inequality and racial segregation – helped to define those views.