The map above shows Northwest Territories and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Northwest Territories vs South Africa Geography
Land area: Northwest Territories has a land area of 456,792 square miles (1,183,085 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²). Northwest Territories and South Africa have about the same land area.
Total area: Northwest Territories: 519,734 square miles (1,346,106 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water. Northwest Territories' total area is 1.1 times (10%) larger than South Africa's.
Length: Northwest Territories is 1,310 miles (2,107 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km). Northwest Territories' north-south length is 1.2 times (25%) longer than South Africa's.
Width: Northwest Territories spans 990 miles (1,593 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km). Northwest Territories and South Africa have about the same east-west width.
Highest point: Northwest Territories's highest point is Mount Nirvana at 9,098 feet (2,773 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m). Mafadi is 2,221 feet higher than Mount Nirvana.
Lowest point: Northwest Territories's lowest point is Arctic Ocean at 0 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet. Both lowest points are at or near sea level.
Northwest Territories vs South Africa Population and History
Population: Northwest Territories has a population of 45,257 (2024), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026). South Africa's population is 1,403.6 times larger than Northwest Territories'.
Population density: Northwest Territories: 0.1 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5. South Africa's population density is 1,355.0 times higher than Northwest Territories'.
Biggest city: Northwest Territories's biggest city is Yellowknife with 20,340 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262. Johannesburg's population is 236.1 times larger than Yellowknife's.
Largest metro area: Northwest Territories's largest metropolitan area is Yellowknife CMA (20,340 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175). Johannesburg's population is 347.9 times larger than Yellowknife CMA's.
History: Northwest Territories: Became a Canadian territory on July 15, 1870. South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961. In its current form, Northwest Territories is the older of the two by 40 years.
Northwest Territories vs South Africa Economy
GDP: Northwest Territories's GDP is $3.7 billion (2024) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion. South Africa's economic output is 115.5 times larger than Northwest Territories'.
GDP per capita: Northwest Territories: $82,646 per person vs South Africa: $6,598. Northwest Territories' GDP per capita is 12.5 times higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
Northwest Territories official website · South Africa official website
More Size Comparisons
All Northwest Territories 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.