The map above shows New South Wales and South Australia side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
New South Wales vs South Australia Geography
Land area: New South Wales has a land area of 309,130 square miles (800,642 km²), while South Australia has 380,048 square miles (984,321 km²). South Australia's land area is 1.2 times (23%) larger than New South Wales'.
Total area: New South Wales: 309,130 square miles (800,642 km²) vs South Australia: 380,048 square miles (984,321 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Australia's total area is 1.2 times (23%) larger than New South Wales'.
Length: New South Wales is 678 miles (1,092 km) long from north to south; South Australia is 1,078 miles (1,735 km). South Australia's north-south length is 1.6 times (59%) longer than New South Wales'.
Width: New South Wales spans 831 miles (1,338 km) east to west; South Australia spans 825 miles (1,328 km). New South Wales and South Australia have about the same east-west width.
Highest point: New South Wales's highest point is Mount Kosciuszko at 7,310 feet (2,228 m); South Australia's is Mount Woodroffe at 4,708 feet (1,435 m). Mount Kosciuszko is 2,602 feet higher than Mount Woodroffe.
Lowest point: New South Wales's lowest point is Pacific Ocean at 0 feet; South Australia's is Lake Eyre at -49 feet. South Australia's lowest point is 49 feet lower.
New South Wales vs South Australia Population and History
Population: New South Wales has a population of 8,624,534 (2025), while South Australia has 1,908,182 (2025). New South Wales' population is 4.5 times (352%) larger than South Australia's.
Population density: New South Wales: 27.9 people per square mile vs South Australia: 5.0. New South Wales' population density is 5.6 times (458%) higher than South Australia's.
Largest metro area: New South Wales's largest metropolitan area is Greater Sydney (5,638,830 people) vs South Australia's Greater Adelaide (1,491,015). Greater Sydney's population is 3.8 times (278%) larger than Greater Adelaide's.
History: New South Wales: Became an Australian state at Federation on January 1, 1901; founded as a colony in 1788. South Australia: Became an Australian state at Federation on January 1, 1901; founded as a colony in 1836.
New South Wales vs South Australia Economy
GDP: New South Wales's GDP is $547.1 billion (2025) vs South Australia's $100.2 billion. New South Wales' economic output is 5.5 times (446%) larger than South Australia's.
GDP per capita: New South Wales: $63,435 per person vs South Australia: $52,511. New South Wales' GDP per capita is 1.2 times (21%) higher than South Australia's.
Official Websites
New South Wales official website · South Australia official website
More Size Comparisons
All New South Wales size comparisons · All South Australia 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.