The Canadian province of Nova Scotia was a British colony with a system of responsible government since 1848, before it joined Canadian Confederation in 1867. Since Confederation, the province has been a part of the Canadian federation and has kept its own legislature to deal with provincial matters.

Nova Scotia has a unicameral Westminster-style parliamentary government, in which the Premier is the leader of the party that controls the most seats in the House of Assembly. The Premier is Nova Scotia's head of government, and the Queen of Nova Scotia is its head of state and is represented by the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia. The Premier picks a cabinet from the elected members to form the Executive Council of Nova Scotia, and presides over that body.

Members are first elected to the House during general elections. General elections must be conducted every five years from the date of the last election, but the Premier may ask for early dissolution of the Legislative Assembly. An election may also occur if the governing party loses the confidence of the legislature by the defeat of a supply bill or tabling of a confidence motion.

Premiers of the Colony of Nova Scotia (1848 to 1867)

Liberal Colony Premiers

• James Boyle Unlacke (2 February 1848 to 3 April 1854)
• William Young (4 April 1854 to 20 February 1857) 1st time

Conservative Colony Premier

• James William Johnston (24 February 1857 to 7 February 1860) 1st time

Liberal Colony Premiers

• William Young (10 February 1860 to 3 August 1860) 2nd time
• Joseph Howe (3 August 1860 to 5 June 1863)

Conservative Colony Premier

• James William Johnston (11 June 1863 to 11 May 1864) 2nd time

Confederation Party of Nova Scotia

• Sir Charles Tupper (11 May 1864 to 3 July 1867)

Premiers of the Province of Nova Scotia (1867 to present)

Conservative Party of Nova Scotia Premier

• Hiram (2) Blanchard (4 July 1867 to 30 September 1867)

Anti-Confederation-Liberal Premier

• William Annand (7 November 1867 to 8 May 1875)

Nova Scotia Liberal Party Premier

• Philip Carteret Hill (11 May 1875 to 15 October 1878)

Conservative Party of Nova Scotia Premiers

• Simon Hugh Holmes (22 October 1878 to 23 May 1882)
• Sir John Sparrow David Thompson (25 May 1882 to 18 July 1882)

Nova Scotia Liberal Party Premiers

• William Thomas Pipes (3 August 1882 to 15 July 1884)
• William Stevens Fielding (28 July 1884 to 18 July 1896)
• George Henry Murray (20 July 1896 to 24 January 1923)
• Ernest Howard Armstrong (24 January 1923 to 16 July 1925)

Conservative Party of Nova Scotia Premiers

• Edgar Nelson Rhodes (16 July 1925 to 11 August 1930)
• Gordon Sidney Harrington (11 August 1930 to 5 September 1933)

Nova Scotia Liberal Party Premiers

• Angus L. Macdonald (5 September 1933 to 10 July 1940) 1st time
• Alexander Stirling MacMillan (10 July 1940 to 8 September 1945)
• Angus L. Macdonald (8 September 1945 to 13 April 1954) 2nd time
• Harold Connolly (13 April 1954 to 30 September 1954)
• Henry Hicks (30 September 1954 to 20 November 1956)

Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia Premiers

• Robert Stanfield (20 November 1956 to 13 September 1967)
• George Isaac Smith (13 September 1967 to 28 October 1970)

Nova Scotia Liberal Party Premier

• Gerald Regan (28 October 1970 to 5 October 1978)

Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia Premiers

• John Buchanan (5 October 1978 to 12 September 1990)
• Roger Stuart Bacon (12 September 1990 to 26 February 1991)
• Donald William Cameron (26 February 1991 to 11 June 1993)

Nova Scotia Liberal Party Premiers

• John Savage (11 June 1993 to 18 July 1997)
• Russell MacLellan (18 July 1997 to 16 August 1999)

Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia Premiers

• John F. Hamm (16 August 1999 to 24 February 2006)
• Rodney MacDonald (24 February 2006 to 19 June 2009)

Nova Scotia New Democratic Party Premier

• Darrell Dexter (19 June 2009 to 22 October 2013)

Nova Scotia Liberal Party Premiers

• Stephen McNeil (22 October 2013 to 23 February 2021)
• Iain Rankin (23 February 2021 to 31 August 2021)

Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia Premiers

• Tim Houston (31 August 2021 to present)