The map above shows Northern Territory and South Australia side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Northern Territory vs South Australia Geography
Land area
- Northern Territory has a land area of 520,902 square miles (1,349,129 km²), while South Australia has 380,048 square miles (984,321 km²).
- Northern Territory's land area is 1.4 times (37%) larger than South Australia's.
Total area
- Northern Territory: 520,902 square miles (1,349,129 km²) vs South Australia: 380,048 square miles (984,321 km²), including inland and coastal water.
- Northern Territory's total area is 1.4 times (37%) larger than South Australia's.
Length
- Northern Territory is 1,092 miles (1,758 km) long from north to south; South Australia is 1,078 miles (1,735 km).
- Northern Territory and South Australia have about the same north-south length.
Width
- Northern Territory spans 610 miles (981 km) east to west; South Australia spans 825 miles (1,328 km).
- South Australia's east-west width is 1.4 times (35%) wider than Northern Territory's.
Highest point
- Northern Territory's highest point is Mount Zeil at 5,023 feet (1,531 m); South Australia's is Mount Woodroffe at 4,708 feet (1,435 m).
- Mount Zeil is 315 feet higher than Mount Woodroffe.
Lowest point
- Northern Territory's lowest point is Timor Sea at 0 feet; South Australia's is Lake Eyre at -49 feet.
- South Australia's lowest point is 49 feet lower.
Northern Territory vs South Australia Population and History
Population
- Northern Territory has a population of 265,457 (2025), while South Australia has 1,908,182 (2025).
- South Australia's population is 7.2 times (619%) larger than Northern Territory's.
Population density
- Northern Territory: 0.5 people per square mile vs South Australia: 5.0.
- South Australia's population density is 10.0 times higher than Northern Territory's.
Largest metro area
- Northern Territory's largest metropolitan area is Greater Darwin (159,284 people) vs South Australia's Greater Adelaide (1,491,015).
- Greater Adelaide's population is 9.4 times (836%) larger than Greater Darwin's.
History
- Northern Territory: Became a federal territory on January 1, 1911; self-governing since 1978.
- South Australia: Became an Australian state at Federation on January 1, 1901; founded as a colony in 1836.
- In its current form, South Australia is the older of the two by 10 years.
Northern Territory vs South Australia Economy
GDP
- Northern Territory's GDP is $22.4 billion (2025) vs South Australia's $100.2 billion.
- South Australia's economic output is 4.5 times (347%) larger than Northern Territory's.
GDP per capita
- Northern Territory: $84,383 per person vs South Australia: $52,511.
- Northern Territory's GDP per capita is 1.6 times (61%) higher than South Australia's.
Official Websites
Northern Territory official website · South Australia official website
Download the Northern Territory vs South Australia Size Comparison Map for free
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More Size Comparisons
All Northern Territory 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.