Unites States >> States >> South Dakota
Population and Demography of South Dakota
South Dakota is a U.S. state in the North Central region of the United States. It is bordered by the states of North Dakota to the north; Minnesota to the east; Iowa to the southeast, Nebraska to the south, Wyoming to the west, and Montana to the northwest.
South Dakota is the fifth least populous state in the United States. The total Land area is 75,811 square miles (196,350 square kilometers) and an average of 12 people for every square mile. This makes South Dakota the 5th least densely populated state in the US. As per the United States Census Bureau, the population of South Dakota in 2020 was 886,667 (0.88 million)
Population of South Dakota in 2024 – 919,318 or 0.9 million
South Dakota Population (2010 - 2020)
South Dakota has a population growth rate of 8.9% during 2010-2020. It has had a population increase of 72,487 since 2010. The median age in South Dakota is approximately 36.8 years. The female to Male ratio stands at 49.7% females and males at 50.3%.
| South Dakota | Census 2020 |
| Total Population | 886,667 (0.88 million) |
| Percentage Change | 8.9% |
| Population Rank | 46th |
| Total Land Area | 75,811 sq mi (196,350 km2) |
| Area Rank | 17th |
| Population Density | 11.50/sq mi (4.44/km2) |
| Capital City | Pierre |
| Largest City | Sioux Falls |
South Dakota Historical Population
In 1910 Population of South Dakota was 0.4 million & Year 2020 it reached 8.9 million, an increase of almost half a million.
Let’s look at decade population & percentage change
| Census Year | Pop. | % Change |
| 1860 | 4,837 | — |
| 1870 | 11,776 | 143.50% |
| 1880 | 98,268 | 734.50% |
| 1890 | 348,600 | 254.70% |
| 1900 | 401,570 | 15.20% |
| 1910 | 583,888 | 45.40% |
| 1920 | 636,547 | 9.00% |
| 1930 | 692,849 | 8.80% |
| 1940 | 642,961 | −7.2% |
| 1950 | 652,740 | 1.50% |
| 1960 | 680,514 | 4.30% |
| 1970 | 665,507 | −2.2% |
| 1980 | 690,768 | 3.80% |
| 1990 | 696,004 | 0.80% |
| 2000 | 754,844 | 8.50% |
| 2010 | 814,180 | 7.90% |
| 2020 | 886,667 | 8.90% |
Religion and affiliations
Christianity is the majority religion in South Dakota followed by 79% of the population. The largest Christian denomination in South Dakota is Protestant (58%) and Roman Catholic (22%).
Next comes the Unaffiliated population, 18% of the population doesn’t follow or adhere to any faith or religion. Other non-Christian-based religions are followed by 3% of the population and include Jewish, Hinduism, Buddhist, Muslim, and other smaller faiths.
For more details read Religion in South Dakota
Race and Ethnicity
In 2020, the White alone (non-Hispanic) population was the largest racial or ethnic group in South Dakota, comprising 79.58% of the total population. It was followed by the Native American Indian population whose share was 8.41%. Hispanic or Latino was the third largest group at 4.37%. Two or more races population was at 3.57% & African American at 1.97%.
Ancestry in South Dakota
As per Census Studies & estimate German, Norwegian, Irish, English, and American have made the five largest ancestry groups in South Dakota.
For more Details read Race and Ethnicity in South Dakota
Top cities and counties in South Dakota
As of 2022, South Dakota is divided into 66 counties. The two most populated counties in the state are Minnehaha and Pennington with respective populations of 188,616 and 110,141. The largest county by area is Meade County (3,471 sq mi)
The most populated city in South Dakota is Sioux Falls (192,517). It’s the only city in South Dakota with a population of more than 100,000. Other Big cities are Rapid City (74,703) and Aberdeen (28,495)
read about Cities and Counties in South Dakota
English
Español
Português
Deutsch