Map of Northern Territory
Northern Territory is a first-level division of Australia. Its largest mapped city is Darwin, with about 93,080 people in the metropolitan area. The interactive map below is centred on Northern Territory, and the tables list its 11 mapped cities along with the mountains, lakes, ports, World Heritage Sites nearest to them.
- Cities Mapped
- 11
- Largest City
- Darwin
- Country
- Australia
- Highest Point Mapped
- 863 m
Interactive Map of Northern Territory
About Northern Territory
The Northern Territory (abbreviated as NT; known formally as the Northern Territory of Australia and informally as the Territory) is an Australian internal territory in the central and central-northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory shares its borders with Western Australia to the west (129th meridian east), South Australia to the south (26th parallel south), and Queensland to the east (138th meridian east). To the north, the Northern Territory looks out to the Timor Sea, the Arafura Sea, and the Gulf of Carpentaria, including Western New Guinea and various other islands of the Indonesian archipelago.
The NT covers 1,347,791 square kilometres (520,385 sq mi), making it the third-largest Australian federal division, and the 11th-largest country subdivision in the world. It is sparsely populated, with a population of only 260,400 as of March 2025 – fewer than half the population of Tasmania. The largest population centre is the capital city of Darwin, having about 52.6% of the Territory's population. The largest inland settlement is Alice Springs with a population of about 25,000 people.
The archaeological history of the Northern Territory may have begun more than 60,000 years ago when humans first settled this region of the Sahul Continent. From at least the 18th century, Makassan traders began a relationship with the indigenous people of the Northern Territory around the trading of trepang. The coast of the Territory was first seen by Europeans in the 17th century. The British were the first Europeans to attempt to settle the coastal regions. After three failed attempts to establish a settlement (1824–1828, 1838–1849, and 1864–1866), success was achieved in 1869 with the establishment of a settlement at Port Darwin.
The economy is based largely on mining and petroleum, which during 2018–2019 contributed 23% of the gross state product, or $5.68 billion, accounting for 92.4% of exports.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Northern Territory (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Northern Territory in Depth
History
Humans have lived in the present area of the Northern Territory since at least 48,400 to 68,700 years ago.
From the 17th or 18th century AD onwards, traders from Sulawesi established extensive seasonal trade links with the Indigenous peoples of Kimberley region, the modern-day Northern Territory, and Arnhem Land. They collected trepang (sea cucumber) for Chinese markets and introduced several goods and technologies to the Indigenous peoples. There is significant evidence of contact with Makassan fishers in examples of Indigenous Australian rock art and bark painting of northern Australia, with the Makassan perahu a prominent feature.
Geography
There are many very small settlements scattered across the Territory. The larger population centres are located on the single paved road that links Darwin to southern Australia, the Stuart Highway, known to locals simply as "the track".
The Territory is home to many spectacular natural rock formations, including Uluru / Ayers Rock and Kata Tjuta / The Olgas in the Central Australian region and Kakadu National Park in the north. Each of these sites are sacred to the local Aboriginal people and which have become major International tourist attractions and recognised UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Economy
The Northern Territory's economy is largely driven by mining, which is concentrated on energy producing minerals, petroleum and energy. In 2011, mining and resources contributed around $2.5 billion to the gross state product and employed over 4,600 people. Mining accounted for 14.9% of the gross state product in 2014–15 compared to just 7% nationally.
In 2016, largely due to the effect of major infrastructure projects and mine expansions, construction overtook mining as the largest single industry in the territory. Construction, mining and manufacturing, and government and community services, combine to account for about half of the territory's gross state product (GSP), compared to about a third of national gross domestic product (GDP).
Demographics
The population of the Northern Territory at the 2011 Australian census was 211,945, a 10 per cent increase from the 2006 census. The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated a June 2015 resident population of 244,300, taking into account residents overseas or interstate. The territory's population represents 1% of the total population of Australia.
The Northern Territory's population is the youngest in Australia and has the largest proportion (23.2%) under 15 years of age and the smallest proportion (5.7%) aged 65 and over. The median age of residents of the Northern Territory is 31 years, six years younger than the national median age.
Indigenous Australians make up 30.3% of population and own some 49% of the land.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Northern Territory (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Northern Territory: Key Facts
| Population | 262,200 (2024) |
|---|---|
| Area | 1,347,791 km² |
| Capital | Darwin |
| Head of government | Eva Lawler |
| Established | 1 January 1911 |
Facts from Wikidata Q3235 (CC0).
History of Northern Territory: Empires and States
The atlas records 3 polities whose mapped territory included part of Northern Territory, from British Colonial Empire in 1863 CE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here |
|---|---|
| British Colonial Empire | 1863–1904 CE |
| The British Empire | 1863–1904 CE |
| Commonwealth of Australia | 1905–2024 CE |
Historical Maps of Northern Territory
Northern Territory on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting Northern Territory
The Northern Territory (NT) is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions. It is bordered to the west by Western Australia, to the east by Queensland and to the south by South Australia.
With a land area near Mongolia in size but with only a quarter million inhabitants, the Northern Territory is known as the "real outback", representing nature on a grand scale and containing some of the most recognisable natural icons in Australia. The NT is sparse, with only a population density of 0.17 people per km2, much lower than the rest of Australia or the world for that matter. The Northern Territory contains hundreds of rare species of flora, native wildlife and, of course, crocodiles in the territory’s 52 national parks and nature conservation reserves, while the outback offers vast wide-open spaces and pioneering journeys.
The NT is also renowned for the Aboriginal cultural experiences it offers.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Northern Territory (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Northern Territory
11 cities mapped. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Darwin | 93,080 | Northern Territory | Admin-1 capital |
| 2 | Alice Springs | 27,710 | Northern Territory | Populated place |
| 3 | Katherine | 10,141 | Northern Territory | Populated place |
| 4 | McMinns Lagoon | 5,025 | Northern Territory | Populated place |
| 5 | Tennant Creek | 3,889 | Northern Territory | Populated place |
| 6 | Yulara | 930 | Northern Territory | Populated place |
| 7 | Pine Creek | 665 | Northern Territory | Populated place |
| 8 | Kaltukatjara | 355 | Northern Territory | Populated place |
| 9 | Adelaide River | 237 | Northern Territory | Populated place |
| 10 | Newcastle Waters | 10 | Northern Territory | Populated place |
| 11 | Erldunda | 10 | Northern Territory | Populated place |
Highest Mountains in Northern Territory
1 mountain mapped. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries. Assigned by the nearest mapped city, so features near the boundary may belong to a neighbouring division.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uluru/Ayers Rock | 863 m | 2,831 ft | Oceania |
Largest Lakes in Northern Territory
1 lake mapped. Ranked by mapped surface area. A lake on a border is listed under each country it lies in, with the area of the whole lake. Assigned by the nearest mapped city, so features near the boundary may belong to a neighbouring division.
| # | Name | Surface Area | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Amadeus | 1,067 km² | Alkaline Lake |
Ports in Northern Territory
1 port mapped. Ranked by approach channel depth, the figure that limits which ships can call. Harbours link to their write-up on the page of the sea or coast they lie on. Assigned by the nearest mapped city, so features near the boundary may belong to a neighbouring division.
| # | Name | Channel Depth | Class | Sea | Max Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Darwin | 16.5 m | Minor | Australia & New Zealand | medium vessels |
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Northern Territory
2 World Heritage Sites mapped. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each. Assigned by the nearest mapped city, so features near the boundary may belong to a neighbouring division.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kakadu National Park | 1981 | Mixed | (i) (vi) (vii) (ix) (x) |
| 2 | Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park | 1987 | Mixed | (v) (vi) (vii) (viii) |
Northern Territory: Quick Answers
- Where is Northern Territory?
- Northern Territory is a first-level division of Australia, in Oceania. Its mapped cities centre on 18.5142° S, 131.9834° E.
- What is the largest city in Northern Territory?
- Darwin is the largest city mapped in Northern Territory, with a metropolitan population of about 93,080.
- How many cities are in Northern Territory?
- YearMaps maps 11 cities and towns in Northern Territory, with a combined metropolitan population of about 142,052. This counts mapped settlements, not every municipality.
- What is the highest mountain in Northern Territory?
- The highest summit mapped in Northern Territory is Uluru/Ayers Rock at 863 m.
- What is the largest lake in Northern Territory?
- The largest lake mapped in or beside Northern Territory is Lake Amadeus, at about 1,067 km².