The map above shows South Dakota and China side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
South Dakota vs China Geography
Land area: South Dakota has a land area of 75,808 square miles (196,342 km²), while China has 3,600,947 square miles (9,326,410 km²). China's land area is 47.5 times larger than South Dakota's.
Total area: South Dakota: 77,116 square miles (199,729 km²) vs China: 3,705,407 square miles (9,596,960 km²), including inland and coastal water. China's total area is 48.0 times larger than South Dakota's.
Length: South Dakota is 443 miles (712 km) long from north to south; China is 2,551 miles (4,105 km). China's north-south length is 5.8 times (476%) longer than South Dakota's.
Width: South Dakota spans 371 miles (597 km) east to west; China spans 3,040 miles (4,892 km). China's east-west width is 8.2 times (719%) wider than South Dakota's.
Highest point: South Dakota's highest point is Black Elk Peak at 7,198 feet (2,194 m); China's is Mount Everest at 29,032 feet (8,849 m). Mount Everest is 21,834 feet higher than Black Elk Peak.
Lowest point: South Dakota's lowest point is Big Stone Lake at 966 feet; China's is Turpan Depression at -505 feet. China's lowest point is 1,471 feet lower.
South Dakota vs China Population and History
Population: South Dakota has a population of 924,669 (2024), while China has 1,404,890,000 (2025). China's population is 1,519.3 times larger than South Dakota's.
Population density: South Dakota: 12.2 people per square mile vs China: 390.1. China's population density is 32.0 times higher than South Dakota's.
Biggest city: South Dakota's biggest city is Sioux Falls with 209,289 people; China's is Shanghai with 24,870,895. Shanghai's population is 118.8 times larger than Sioux Falls'.
Largest metro area: South Dakota's largest metropolitan area is Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area (308,266 people) vs China's Shanghai (29,558,908). Shanghai's population is 95.9 times larger than Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area's.
History: South Dakota: Admitted to the Union on November 2, 1889, as the 40th state. China: The People's Republic of China was founded on October 1, 1949. In its current form, South Dakota is the older of the two by 60 years.
South Dakota vs China Economy
GDP: South Dakota's GDP is $76.8 billion (2024) vs China's $19,498.0 billion. China's economic output is 253.9 times larger than South Dakota's.
GDP per capita: South Dakota: $83,052 per person vs China: $13,862. South Dakota's GDP per capita is 6.0 times (499%) higher than China's.
Average income: South Dakota: $75,699 vs China: $14,230 average income per person (per capita personal income). South Dakota's average income is 5.3 times (432%) higher than China's.
Official Websites
South Dakota official website · China official website
More Size Comparisons
All South Dakota size comparisons · All China 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.