The map above shows Northern Territory and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Northern Territory vs South Africa Geography
Land area: Northern Territory has a land area of 520,902 square miles (1,349,129 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²). Northern Territory's land area is 1.1 times (11%) larger than South Africa's.
Total area: Northern Territory: 520,902 square miles (1,349,129 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water. Northern Territory's total area is 1.1 times (10%) larger than South Africa's.
Length: Northern Territory is 1,092 miles (1,758 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km). Northern Territory and South Africa have about the same north-south length.
Width: Northern Territory spans 610 miles (981 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km). South Africa's east-west width is 1.7 times (66%) wider than Northern Territory's.
Highest point: Northern Territory's highest point is Mount Zeil at 5,023 feet (1,531 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m). Mafadi is 6,296 feet higher than Mount Zeil.
Lowest point: Northern Territory's lowest point is Timor Sea at 0 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet. Both lowest points are at or near sea level.
Northern Territory vs South Africa Population and History
Population: Northern Territory has a population of 265,457 (2025), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026). South Africa's population is 239.3 times larger than Northern Territory's.
Population density: Northern Territory: 0.5 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5. South Africa's population density is 271.0 times higher than Northern Territory's.
Largest metro area: Northern Territory's largest metropolitan area is Greater Darwin (159,284 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175). Johannesburg's population is 44.4 times larger than Greater Darwin's.
History: Northern Territory: Became a federal territory on January 1, 1911; self-governing since 1978. South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961. In its current form, South Africa is the older of the two by 1 years.
Northern Territory vs South Africa Economy
GDP: Northern Territory's GDP is $22.4 billion (2025) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion. South Africa's economic output is 19.1 times larger than Northern Territory's.
GDP per capita: Northern Territory: $84,383 per person vs South Africa: $6,598. Northern Territory's GDP per capita is 12.8 times higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
Northern Territory official website · South Africa official website
More Size Comparisons
All Northern Territory size comparisons · All South Africa 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.