The map above shows District of Columbia and Australian Capital Territory side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
District of Columbia vs Australian Capital Territory Geography
Land area: District of Columbia has a land area of 61 square miles (158 km²), while Australian Capital Territory has 910 square miles (2,358 km²). Australian Capital Territory's land area is 14.9 times larger than District of Columbia's.
Total area: District of Columbia: 68 square miles (177 km²) vs Australian Capital Territory: 910 square miles (2,358 km²), including inland and coastal water. Australian Capital Territory's total area is 13.3 times larger than District of Columbia's.
Length: District of Columbia is 13 miles (22 km) long from north to south; Australian Capital Territory is 54 miles (87 km). Australian Capital Territory's north-south length is 4.2 times (315%) longer than District of Columbia's.
Width: District of Columbia spans 12 miles (19 km) east to west; Australian Capital Territory spans 38 miles (61 km). Australian Capital Territory's east-west width is 3.2 times (217%) wider than District of Columbia's.
Highest point: District of Columbia's highest point is Fort Reno at 429 feet (131 m); Australian Capital Territory's is Bimberi Peak at 6,273 feet (1,912 m). Bimberi Peak is 5,844 feet higher than Fort Reno.
Lowest point: District of Columbia's lowest point is Potomac River at 0 feet; Australian Capital Territory's is Molonglo River at 1,407 feet. District of Columbia's lowest point is 1,407 feet lower.
District of Columbia vs Australian Capital Territory Population and History
Population: District of Columbia has a population of 702,250 (2024), while Australian Capital Territory has 486,231 (2025). District of Columbia's population is 1.4 times (44%) larger than Australian Capital Territory's.
Population density: District of Columbia: 11,493.5 people per square mile vs Australian Capital Territory: 534.3. District of Columbia's population density is 21.5 times higher than Australian Capital Territory's.
Largest metro area: District of Columbia's largest metropolitan area is Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area (6,436,489 people) vs Australian Capital Territory's Greater Canberra (486,231). Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area's population is 13.2 times larger than Greater Canberra's.
History: District of Columbia: The federal district, established by the Residence Act on July 16, 1790; not a state. Australian Capital Territory: Established as the Federal Capital Territory on January 1, 1911. In its current form, District of Columbia is the older of the two by 121 years.
District of Columbia vs Australian Capital Territory Economy
GDP: District of Columbia's GDP is $184.3 billion (2024) vs Australian Capital Territory's $38.0 billion. District of Columbia's economic output is 4.9 times (385%) larger than Australian Capital Territory's.
GDP per capita: District of Columbia: $262,439 per person vs Australian Capital Territory: $78,152. District of Columbia's GDP per capita is 3.4 times (236%) higher than Australian Capital Territory's.
Official Websites
District of Columbia official website · Australian Capital Territory official website
More Size Comparisons
All District of Columbia 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.