The map above shows Australian Capital Territory and Northwest Territories side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Australian Capital Territory vs Northwest Territories Geography
Land area: Australian Capital Territory has a land area of 910 square miles (2,358 km²), while Northwest Territories has 456,792 square miles (1,183,085 km²). Northwest Territories' land area is 501.7 times larger than Australian Capital Territory's.
Total area: Australian Capital Territory: 910 square miles (2,358 km²) vs Northwest Territories: 519,734 square miles (1,346,106 km²), including inland and coastal water. Northwest Territories' total area is 570.9 times larger than Australian Capital Territory's.
Length: Australian Capital Territory is 54 miles (87 km) long from north to south; Northwest Territories is 1,310 miles (2,107 km). Northwest Territories' north-south length is 24.3 times longer than Australian Capital Territory's.
Width: Australian Capital Territory spans 38 miles (61 km) east to west; Northwest Territories spans 990 miles (1,593 km). Northwest Territories' east-west width is 26.1 times wider than Australian Capital Territory's.
Highest point: Australian Capital Territory's highest point is Bimberi Peak at 6,273 feet (1,912 m); Northwest Territories's is Mount Nirvana at 9,098 feet (2,773 m). Mount Nirvana is 2,825 feet higher than Bimberi Peak.
Lowest point: Australian Capital Territory's lowest point is Molonglo River at 1,407 feet; Northwest Territories's is Arctic Ocean at 0 feet. Northwest Territories's lowest point is 1,407 feet lower.
Australian Capital Territory vs Northwest Territories Population and History
Population: Australian Capital Territory has a population of 486,231 (2025), while Northwest Territories has 45,257 (2024). Australian Capital Territory's population is 10.7 times larger than Northwest Territories'.
Population density: Australian Capital Territory: 534.3 people per square mile vs Northwest Territories: 0.1. Australian Capital Territory's population density is 5,343.0 times higher than Northwest Territories'.
Largest metro area: Australian Capital Territory's largest metropolitan area is Greater Canberra (486,231 people) vs Northwest Territories's Yellowknife CMA (20,340). Greater Canberra's population is 23.9 times larger than Yellowknife CMA's.
History: Australian Capital Territory: Established as the Federal Capital Territory on January 1, 1911. Northwest Territories: Became a Canadian territory on July 15, 1870. In its current form, Northwest Territories is the older of the two by 41 years.
Australian Capital Territory vs Northwest Territories Economy
GDP: Australian Capital Territory's GDP is $38.0 billion (2025) vs Northwest Territories's $3.7 billion. Australian Capital Territory's economic output is 10.3 times larger than Northwest Territories'.
GDP per capita: Australian Capital Territory: $78,152 per person vs Northwest Territories: $82,646. Northwest Territories' GDP per capita is 1.1 times (6%) higher than Australian Capital Territory's.
Official Websites
Australian Capital Territory official website · Northwest Territories official website
More Size Comparisons
All Australian Capital Territory size comparisons · All Northwest Territories size comparisons
Area, elevation and boundary figures come from official national statistics and US Census Bureau and Natural Earth boundary data; US state population, economic, county and tax figures come from the US Census Bureau, the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Tax Foundation. Figures are rounded and for general reference.