The map above shows Northern Territory and Northwest Territories side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Northern Territory vs Northwest Territories Geography
Land area: Northern Territory has a land area of 520,902 square miles (1,349,129 km²), while Northwest Territories has 456,792 square miles (1,183,085 km²). Northern Territory's land area is 1.1 times (14%) larger than Northwest Territories'.
Total area: Northern Territory: 520,902 square miles (1,349,129 km²) vs Northwest Territories: 519,734 square miles (1,346,106 km²), including inland and coastal water. Northern Territory and Northwest Territories have about the same total area.
Length: Northern Territory is 1,092 miles (1,758 km) long from north to south; Northwest Territories is 1,310 miles (2,107 km). Northwest Territories' north-south length is 1.2 times (20%) longer than Northern Territory's.
Width: Northern Territory spans 610 miles (981 km) east to west; Northwest Territories spans 990 miles (1,593 km). Northwest Territories' east-west width is 1.6 times (62%) wider than Northern Territory's.
Highest point: Northern Territory's highest point is Mount Zeil at 5,023 feet (1,531 m); Northwest Territories's is Mount Nirvana at 9,098 feet (2,773 m). Mount Nirvana is 4,075 feet higher than Mount Zeil.
Lowest point: Northern Territory's lowest point is Timor Sea at 0 feet; Northwest Territories's is Arctic Ocean at 0 feet. Both lowest points are at or near sea level.
Northern Territory vs Northwest Territories Population and History
Population: Northern Territory has a population of 265,457 (2025), while Northwest Territories has 45,257 (2024). Northern Territory's population is 5.9 times (487%) larger than Northwest Territories'.
Population density: Northern Territory: 0.5 people per square mile vs Northwest Territories: 0.1. Northern Territory's population density is 5.0 times (400%) higher than Northwest Territories'.
Largest metro area: Northern Territory's largest metropolitan area is Greater Darwin (159,284 people) vs Northwest Territories's Yellowknife CMA (20,340). Greater Darwin's population is 7.8 times (683%) larger than Yellowknife CMA's.
History: Northern Territory: Became a federal territory on January 1, 1911; self-governing since 1978. 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.
Northern Territory vs Northwest Territories Economy
GDP: Northern Territory's GDP is $22.4 billion (2025) vs Northwest Territories's $3.7 billion. Northern Territory's economic output is 6.1 times (505%) larger than Northwest Territories'.
GDP per capita: Northern Territory: $84,383 per person vs Northwest Territories: $82,646. Northern Territory and Northwest Territories have about the same GDP per capita.
Official Websites
Northern Territory official website · Northwest Territories official website
More Size Comparisons
All Northern 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.