This is a list of Chief Ministers of the Northern Territory by time in office. The basis of the list is the inclusive number of days between dates.
Parties:
Goff Letts (CLP) won the first Northern Territory election on the 19th October 1974. His role was as Majority Leader. Paul Everingham (CLP) became the first Chief Minister of the Northern Territory when the territory attained self-government on July 1, 1978.
| Rank | Chief Minister | Days | Years | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Paul Everingham | 2621 | 13 August 1977-15 October 1984 | ||
| 2. | Marshall Perron | 2507 | 13 July 1988-24 May 1995 | ||
| 3. | Clare Martin | 2290 | 18 August 2001-24 November 2007 | 1st Female Chief Minister of Northern Territory. | |
| 4. | Paul Henderson | 1568 | 25 November 2007- | Incumbent. Paul Henderson's time in office as of 10 March 2012. | |
| 5. | Shane Stone | 1355 | 25 May 1995-7 February 1999 | ||
| 6. | Goff Letts | 1029 | 19 October 1974-12 August 1977 | ||
| 7. | Denis Burke | 922 | 8 February 1999-17 August 2001 | ||
| 8. | Stephen Hatton | 791 | 14 May 1986-12 July 1988 | ||
| 9. | Ian Tuxworth | 575 | 16 October 1984-13 May 1986 |