01
Location
Neighboring states: Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Wyoming.
Local timePierre ·
U.S. States / Midwest · Card 041
South Dakota
South Dakota is a U.S. state in the Midwest. Its capital is Pierre.
Find South Dakota
● State capital · Gold highlights South Dakota.
Map: Natural Earth. Neighboring states use postal abbreviations.
Map: Natural Earth. Neighboring states use postal abbreviations.
At a glance
- Capital
- Pierre
- Postal abbreviation
- SD
- Population
- 935,094July 1, 2025 · Census estimate
- Total area
- 199,729 km²77,116 square miles · land and water
- Statehood
- November 2, 1889State number 40 · conventional order
- Currency
- U.S. dollar (USD)
Sources: Census · population · Census · area
South Dakota in context
Gold shows South Dakota. The dot marks Pierre.
Alaska and Hawaii are shown in separate insets at different scales.Geography & flag
02
Landscape & places
Badlands National Park combines sharply eroded rock formations, fossil-bearing beds and mixed-grass prairie.
03
Land and water
The total area includes 196,350 km² of land and 3,379 km² of water, according to Census area measurements.
State flag
The state seal surrounded by gold sun rays and lettering on a sky-blue field.
Sources: Census · geographic reference · Census · area measurements · National Park Service · Badlands
History & statehood
South Dakota developed from the southern part of Dakota Territory, established in 1861. It entered the Union on the same day as North Dakota in 1889. It is conventionally numbered the fortieth state.
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Dakota Territory established
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South Dakota and North Dakota admitted on the same day
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Statehood · State number 40 · conventional order
Sources: Congressional Research Service · statehood · U.S. Census Bureau · historical geography · National Park Service
Economy
Main activities
In 2025, finance and insurance was the largest of the broad industry groups compared here by current-dollar output. Other major groups included government and government enterprises, educational services, health care, and social assistance, and real estate and rental and leasing.
Total economic output was $80.7 billion in current dollars in 2025.
Largest industry groups · 2025
- Finance and insurance: 16.3%
- Government and government enterprises: 10.4%
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance: 10.3%
- Real estate and rental and leasing: 9.7%
Share of total current-dollar GDP. These figures measure output, not employment.
Sources: BEA · annual GDP by state, SAGDP2
Population & economic trends
Population, 2020–2025
Thousands of people935.092025 · thousands of people
July 1 resident population estimates, using the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 series.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau
View data table
| Year | People |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 887,808 |
| 2021 | 896,303 |
| 2022 | 909,156 |
| 2023 | 917,739 |
| 2024 | 927,110 |
| 2025 | 935,094 |
Real GDP, 2010–2025
Billions of chained 2017 dollars58.522025 · billions of chained 2017 dollars
Real GDP measures economic output adjusted for inflation. The chart uses BEA’s chained 2017 dollars.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
View data table
| Year | Millions of chained 2017 dollars |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 44,810.7 |
| 2011 | 47,630.3 |
| 2012 | 48,653.9 |
| 2013 | 48,610.1 |
| 2014 | 49,640.9 |
| 2015 | 50,860.8 |
| 2016 | 51,264.3 |
| 2017 | 51,615.1 |
| 2018 | 51,937.8 |
| 2019 | 52,510.2 |
| 2020 | 53,349.2 |
| 2021 | 56,015.4 |
| 2022 | 55,257.2 |
| 2023 | 57,253.0 |
| 2024 | 57,718.0 |
| 2025 | 58,515.2 |
Government
South Dakota has three branches of state government. The governor leads the executive branch. A Senate and House of Representatives form the legislature, which passes state laws and budgets. State courts interpret and apply the law.
Sources: USAGov · South Dakota
Knowledge check
Three questions about South Dakota.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
What is the capital of South Dakota?
Sources & notes
Prepared 27 September 2026. Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025, July 1 estimates for 2020–2025. Real GDP: BEA annual state accounts, SAGDP9, millions of chained 2017 dollars; industry shares: SAGDP2, current dollars. Data downloaded 27 September 2026. Area measurements include land and water.
Sources: Census · population estimates · BEA · state GDP · Census · area measurements · Natural Earth · map data
The capital clock shows current local time. Statistical figures are dated estimates and may be revised.