The map above shows California and Australian Capital Territory side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
California vs Australian Capital Territory Geography
Land area: California has a land area of 155,859 square miles (403,673 km²), while Australian Capital Territory has 910 square miles (2,358 km²). California's land area is 171.2 times larger than Australian Capital Territory's.
Total area: California: 163,694 square miles (423,965 km²) vs Australian Capital Territory: 910 square miles (2,358 km²), including inland and coastal water. California's total area is 179.8 times larger than Australian Capital Territory's.
Length: California is 761 miles (1,224 km) long from north to south; Australian Capital Territory is 54 miles (87 km). California's north-south length is 14.1 times longer than Australian Capital Territory's.
Width: California spans 706 miles (1,137 km) east to west; Australian Capital Territory spans 38 miles (61 km). California's east-west width is 18.6 times wider than Australian Capital Territory's.
Highest point: California's highest point is Mount Whitney at 14,484 feet (4,415 m); Australian Capital Territory's is Bimberi Peak at 6,273 feet (1,912 m). Mount Whitney is 8,211 feet higher than Bimberi Peak.
Lowest point: California's lowest point is Death Valley at -279 feet; Australian Capital Territory's is Molonglo River at 1,407 feet. California's lowest point is 1,686 feet lower.
California vs Australian Capital Territory Population and History
Population: California has a population of 39,431,263 (2024), while Australian Capital Territory has 486,231 (2025). California's population is 81.1 times larger than Australian Capital Territory's.
Population density: California: 253.0 people per square mile vs Australian Capital Territory: 534.3. Australian Capital Territory's population density is 2.1 times (111%) higher than California's.
Largest metro area: California's largest metropolitan area is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (12,927,614 people) vs Australian Capital Territory's Greater Canberra (486,231). Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area's population is 26.6 times larger than Greater Canberra's.
History: California: Admitted to the Union on September 9, 1850, as the 31st state. Australian Capital Territory: Established as the Federal Capital Territory on January 1, 1911. In its current form, California is the older of the two by 61 years.
California vs Australian Capital Territory Economy
GDP: California's GDP is $4,048.1 billion (2024) vs Australian Capital Territory's $38.0 billion. California's economic output is 106.5 times larger than Australian Capital Territory's.
GDP per capita: California: $102,662 per person vs Australian Capital Territory: $78,152. California's GDP per capita is 1.3 times (31%) higher than Australian Capital Territory's.
Official Websites
California official website · Australian Capital Territory official website
More Size Comparisons
All California size comparisons · All Australian Capital Territory 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.