The map above shows South Dakota and Northern Territory side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
South Dakota vs Northern Territory Geography
Land area: South Dakota has a land area of 75,808 square miles (196,342 km²), while Northern Territory has 520,902 square miles (1,349,129 km²). Northern Territory's land area is 6.9 times (587%) larger than South Dakota's.
Total area: South Dakota: 77,116 square miles (199,729 km²) vs Northern Territory: 520,902 square miles (1,349,129 km²), including inland and coastal water. Northern Territory's total area is 6.8 times (575%) larger than South Dakota's.
Length: South Dakota is 443 miles (712 km) long from north to south; Northern Territory is 1,092 miles (1,758 km). Northern Territory's north-south length is 2.5 times (147%) longer than South Dakota's.
Width: South Dakota spans 371 miles (597 km) east to west; Northern Territory spans 610 miles (981 km). Northern Territory's east-west width is 1.6 times (64%) wider than South Dakota's.
Highest point: South Dakota's highest point is Black Elk Peak at 7,198 feet (2,194 m); Northern Territory's is Mount Zeil at 5,023 feet (1,531 m). Black Elk Peak is 2,175 feet higher than Mount Zeil.
Lowest point: South Dakota's lowest point is Big Stone Lake at 966 feet; Northern Territory's is Timor Sea at 0 feet. Northern Territory's lowest point is 966 feet lower.
South Dakota vs Northern Territory Population and History
Population: South Dakota has a population of 924,669 (2024), while Northern Territory has 265,457 (2025). South Dakota's population is 3.5 times (248%) larger than Northern Territory's.
Population density: South Dakota: 12.2 people per square mile vs Northern Territory: 0.5. South Dakota's population density is 24.4 times higher than Northern Territory's.
Largest metro area: South Dakota's largest metropolitan area is Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area (308,266 people) vs Northern Territory's Greater Darwin (159,284). Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area's population is 1.9 times (94%) larger than Greater Darwin's.
History: South Dakota: Admitted to the Union on November 2, 1889, as the 40th state. Northern Territory: Became a federal territory on January 1, 1911; self-governing since 1978. In its current form, South Dakota is the older of the two by 22 years.
South Dakota vs Northern Territory Economy
GDP: South Dakota's GDP is $76.8 billion (2024) vs Northern Territory's $22.4 billion. South Dakota's economic output is 3.4 times (243%) larger than Northern Territory's.
GDP per capita: South Dakota: $83,052 per person vs Northern Territory: $84,383. South Dakota and Northern Territory have about the same GDP per capita.
Official Websites
South Dakota official website · Northern Territory official website
More Size Comparisons
All South Dakota size comparisons · All Northern Territory 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.