The map above shows Alaska and South Dakota side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Alaska vs South Dakota Geography
Land area: Alaska has a land area of 571,242 square miles (1,479,509 km²), while South Dakota has 75,808 square miles (196,342 km²). Alaska's land area is 7.5 times (654%) larger than South Dakota's.
Total area: Alaska: 665,725 square miles (1,724,220 km²) vs South Dakota: 77,116 square miles (199,729 km²), including inland and coastal water. Alaska's total area is 8.6 times (763%) larger than South Dakota's.
Length: Alaska is 1,201 miles (1,933 km) long from north to south; South Dakota is 443 miles (712 km). Alaska's north-south length is 2.7 times (171%) longer than South Dakota's.
Width: Alaska spans 1,544 miles (2,485 km) east to west; South Dakota spans 371 miles (597 km). Alaska's east-west width is 4.2 times (316%) wider than South Dakota's.
Highest point: Alaska's highest point is Denali at 20,235 feet (6,168 m); South Dakota's is Black Elk Peak at 7,198 feet (2,194 m). Denali is 13,037 feet higher than Black Elk Peak.
Lowest point: Alaska's lowest point is Pacific Ocean at 0 feet; South Dakota's is Big Stone Lake at 966 feet. Alaska's lowest point is 966 feet lower.
Alaska vs South Dakota Population and History
Population: Alaska has a population of 740,133 (2024), while South Dakota has 924,669 (2024). South Dakota's population is 1.2 times (25%) larger than Alaska's.
Population density: Alaska: 1.3 people per square mile vs South Dakota: 12.2. South Dakota's population density is 9.4 times (838%) higher than Alaska's.
Biggest city: Alaska's biggest city is Anchorage with 289,600 people; South Dakota's is Sioux Falls with 209,289. Anchorage's population is 1.4 times (38%) larger than Sioux Falls'.
Largest metro area: Alaska's largest metropolitan area is Anchorage, AK metro area (407,213 people) vs South Dakota's Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area (308,266). Anchorage, AK metro area's population is 1.3 times (32%) larger than Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area's.
History: Alaska: Admitted to the Union on January 3, 1959, as the 49th state. South Dakota: Admitted to the Union on November 2, 1889, as the 40th state. In its current form, South Dakota is the older of the two by 70 years.
Alaska vs South Dakota Economy
GDP: Alaska's GDP is $71.6 billion (2024) vs South Dakota's $76.8 billion. South Dakota's economic output is 1.1 times (7%) larger than Alaska's.
GDP per capita: Alaska: $96,695 per person vs South Dakota: $83,052. Alaska's GDP per capita is 1.2 times (16%) higher than South Dakota's.
Average income: Alaska: $76,234 vs South Dakota: $75,699 average income per person (per capita personal income). Alaska and South Dakota have about the same average income.
Alaska vs South Dakota Counties
Number of counties: Alaska has 30 counties, while South Dakota has 66. South Dakota's county count is 2.2 times (120%) higher than Alaska's.
Biggest county by area: Alaska's largest county is Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area at 145,769 square miles; South Dakota's is Meade County at 3,471 square miles. Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area's land area is 42.0 times larger than Meade County's.
Smallest county by area: Alaska: Skagway Municipality (443 sq mi) vs South Dakota: Clay County (412 sq mi). Skagway Municipality's land area is 1.1 times (8%) larger than Clay County's.
Most populous county: Alaska: Anchorage Municipality (289,600 people) vs South Dakota: Minnehaha County (208,639 people). Anchorage Municipality's population is 1.4 times (39%) larger than Minnehaha County's.
Least populous county: Alaska: Yakutat City and Borough (690 people) vs South Dakota: Jones County (874 people). Jones County's population is 1.3 times (27%) larger than Yakutat City and Borough's.
Richest county: Alaska: Bristol Bay Borough ($158,406 per capita income) vs South Dakota: Union County ($146,712). Bristol Bay Borough's income is 1.1 times (8%) richer than Union County's.
Poorest county: Alaska: Kusilvak Census Area ($37,765 per capita income) vs South Dakota: Ziebach County ($32,778). Kusilvak Census Area's income is 1.2 times (15%) richer than Ziebach County's.
Alaska vs South Dakota Taxes
State income tax: Alaska has no state income tax, while South Dakota has no state income tax.
Property tax: Alaska: 1.06% effective rate vs South Dakota: 1.02% of home value per year. Alaska's rate is 0.04 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Alaska: 1.82% combined state and average local rate vs South Dakota: 6.11%. South Dakota's combined rate is 4.29 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Alaska official website · South Dakota official website
More Size Comparisons
All Alaska size comparisons · All South Dakota 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.