South Dakota Demographics 2026: Population, Income, Race & Trends Explained, Population Review

Population & Growth

South Dakota's 899,194 residents make it the 46th-most populous US state. Over the long term, the state has been gaining population — +58.4% from 1910 to 2024.

Population density: 12 people per square mile. By comparison, the US national average is roughly 94/sq mi, while New Jersey leads with ~1,260/sq mi and Alaska is the lowest at ~1.3/sq mi.

Race & Ethnicity

By Census ACS classification, South Dakota is:

81.5% White (alone)
2.2% Black or African American
0.0% Asian
10.1% Hispanic or Latino (any race)
0.0% two or more races

Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals can exceed 100% in some breakdowns. The full racial composition (including Native Hawaiian, American Indian, etc.) is available on the South Dakota state page.

Income & Economy

Median household income in South Dakota is $72,421, with per-capita income at $38,880. 7.4% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Unemployment rate: 2.0%.

Income is concentrated in metro counties — see the county-level rankings on the cities ranking page and counties ranking page for sub-state variation.

Age & Households

Median age in South Dakota: 37.7 years (US median ~39). The population is 50.7% male and 49.3% female.

Largest Cities in South Dakota

Sioux Falls city — population 197,642
Rapid City city — population 76,836
Aberdeen city — population 28,297
Brookings city — population 23,710
Watertown city — population 22,859

Largest Counties in South Dakota

Minnehaha County — population 200,689
Pennington County — population 112,081
Lincoln County — population 68,286
Brown County — population 38,079
Brookings County — population 34,968

How South Dakota Compares Nationally

By population: ranked 46th of 50 states. By median household income: see the richest states ranking. By population growth: see fastest growing states. By cost of living: see cheapest states to live.

See the complete South Dakota state page with full demographic breakdown, age pyramid, languages, education, housing, and commute data →

Frequently Asked Questions

South Dakota has a population of 899,194 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, ranking 46th among the 50 states. Population density is 12 people per square mile.

South Dakota is gaining population, with a +58.4% change since 1910 (583,888 → 899,194). This is reported via Census ACS rolling 5-year estimates; for monthly/annual estimates between Census years, see the Census Population Estimates Program.

81.5% of South Dakota's population identifies as White, 2.2% as Black or African American, 0.0% as Asian, and 10.1% as Hispanic or Latino (any race). Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals may exceed 100%.

Median household income in South Dakota is $72,421 per the 2023 ACS. Per-capita income: $38,880. 7.4% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

The median age in South Dakota is 37.7 years. The population is 50.7% male and 49.3% female. Age distribution and population pyramids by 5-year age bands are visible on the South Dakota state page.

The largest cities in South Dakota by population: Sioux Falls city (197,642), Rapid City city (76,836), Aberdeen city (28,297), Brookings city (23,710), Watertown city (22,859).

California is the most populous US state at roughly 39 million, followed by Texas (~30M), Florida (~22M), New York (~20M), and Pennsylvania (~13M). South Dakota ranks 46th. Detailed rankings update each ACS release cycle.

Across recent Census Population Estimates, West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Illinois have shown the largest sustained population declines. South Dakota's own trend is gaining. National state-by-state rankings are published annually by the Census Population Estimates Program.

All demographic data on this page comes from the US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, currently the 2023 release. Historical population figures use Census Population Estimates Program annual estimates. Data is public domain and freely available at census.gov.