The map above shows South Dakota and British Columbia side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
South Dakota vs British Columbia Geography
Land area: South Dakota has a land area of 75,808 square miles (196,342 km²), while British Columbia has 357,216 square miles (925,186 km²). British Columbia's land area is 4.7 times (371%) larger than South Dakota's.
Total area: South Dakota: 77,116 square miles (199,729 km²) vs British Columbia: 364,764 square miles (944,735 km²), including inland and coastal water. British Columbia's total area is 4.7 times (373%) larger than South Dakota's.
Length: South Dakota is 443 miles (712 km) long from north to south; British Columbia is 1,017 miles (1,637 km). British Columbia's north-south length is 2.3 times (130%) longer than South Dakota's.
Width: South Dakota spans 371 miles (597 km) east to west; British Columbia spans 1,245 miles (2,003 km). British Columbia's east-west width is 3.4 times (236%) wider than South Dakota's.
Highest point: South Dakota's highest point is Black Elk Peak at 7,198 feet (2,194 m); British Columbia's is Mount Fairweather at 15,299 feet (4,663 m). Mount Fairweather is 8,101 feet higher than Black Elk Peak.
Lowest point: South Dakota's lowest point is Big Stone Lake at 966 feet; British Columbia's is Pacific Ocean at 0 feet. British Columbia's lowest point is 966 feet lower.
South Dakota vs British Columbia Population and History
Population: South Dakota has a population of 924,669 (2024), while British Columbia has 5,658,528 (2026). British Columbia's population is 6.1 times (512%) larger than South Dakota's.
Population density: South Dakota: 12.2 people per square mile vs British Columbia: 15.8. British Columbia's population density is 1.3 times (30%) higher than South Dakota's.
Biggest city: South Dakota's biggest city is Sioux Falls with 209,289 people; British Columbia's is Vancouver with 662,248. Vancouver's population is 3.2 times (216%) larger than Sioux Falls'.
Largest metro area: South Dakota's largest metropolitan area is Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area (308,266 people) vs British Columbia's Vancouver CMA (2,642,825). Vancouver CMA's population is 8.6 times (757%) larger than Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area's.
History: South Dakota: Admitted to the Union on November 2, 1889, as the 40th state. British Columbia: Joined Confederation on July 20, 1871. In its current form, British Columbia is the older of the two by 18 years.
South Dakota vs British Columbia Economy
GDP: South Dakota's GDP is $76.8 billion (2024) vs British Columbia's $313.3 billion. British Columbia's economic output is 4.1 times (308%) larger than South Dakota's.
GDP per capita: South Dakota: $83,052 per person vs British Columbia: $55,241. South Dakota's GDP per capita is 1.5 times (50%) higher than British Columbia's.
Official Websites
South Dakota official website · British Columbia official website
More Size Comparisons
All South Dakota size comparisons · All British Columbia 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.