The map above shows Northwest Territories and Nunavut side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Northwest Territories vs Nunavut Geography
Land area: Northwest Territories has a land area of 456,792 square miles (1,183,085 km²), while Nunavut has 747,537 square miles (1,936,113 km²). Nunavut's land area is 1.6 times (64%) larger than Northwest Territories'.
Total area: Northwest Territories: 519,734 square miles (1,346,106 km²) vs Nunavut: 808,185 square miles (2,093,190 km²), including inland and coastal water. Nunavut's total area is 1.6 times (55%) larger than Northwest Territories'.
Length: Northwest Territories is 1,310 miles (2,107 km) long from north to south; Nunavut is 2,112 miles (3,400 km). Nunavut's north-south length is 1.6 times (61%) longer than Northwest Territories'.
Width: Northwest Territories spans 990 miles (1,593 km) east to west; Nunavut spans 1,328 miles (2,137 km). Nunavut's east-west width is 1.3 times (34%) wider than Northwest Territories'.
Highest point: Northwest Territories's highest point is Mount Nirvana at 9,098 feet (2,773 m); Nunavut's is Barbeau Peak at 8,583 feet (2,616 m). Mount Nirvana is 515 feet higher than Barbeau Peak.
Lowest point: Northwest Territories's lowest point is Arctic Ocean at 0 feet; Nunavut's is Arctic Ocean at 0 feet. Both lowest points are at or near sea level.
Northwest Territories vs Nunavut Population and History
Population: Northwest Territories has a population of 45,257 (2024), while Nunavut has 41,410 (2024). Northwest Territories' population is 1.1 times (9%) larger than Nunavut's.
Population density: Northwest Territories: 0.1 people per square mile vs Nunavut: 0.1. Northwest Territories and Nunavut have about the same population density.
Biggest city: Northwest Territories's biggest city is Yellowknife with 20,340 people; Nunavut's is Iqaluit with 7,429. Yellowknife's population is 2.7 times (174%) larger than Iqaluit's.
History: Northwest Territories: Became a Canadian territory on July 15, 1870. Nunavut: Became a Canadian territory on April 1, 1999, the newest territory. In its current form, Northwest Territories is the older of the two by 129 years.
Northwest Territories vs Nunavut Economy
GDP: Northwest Territories's GDP is $3.7 billion (2024) vs Nunavut's $4.1 billion. Nunavut's economic output is 1.1 times (11%) larger than Northwest Territories'.
GDP per capita: Northwest Territories: $82,646 per person vs Nunavut: $99,932. Nunavut's GDP per capita is 1.2 times (21%) higher than Northwest Territories'.
Official Websites
Northwest Territories official website · Nunavut official website
More Size Comparisons
All Northwest Territories size comparisons · All Nunavut 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.