The map above shows District of Columbia and South Dakota side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
District of Columbia vs South Dakota Geography
Land area: District of Columbia has a land area of 61 square miles (158 km²), while South Dakota has 75,808 square miles (196,342 km²). South Dakota's land area is 1,242.7 times larger than District of Columbia's.
Total area: District of Columbia: 68 square miles (177 km²) vs South Dakota: 77,116 square miles (199,729 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Dakota's total area is 1,128.4 times larger than District of Columbia's.
Length: District of Columbia is 13 miles (22 km) long from north to south; South Dakota is 443 miles (712 km). South Dakota's north-south length is 34.1 times longer than District of Columbia's.
Width: District of Columbia spans 12 miles (19 km) east to west; South Dakota spans 371 miles (597 km). South Dakota's east-west width is 30.9 times wider than District of Columbia's.
Highest point: District of Columbia's highest point is Fort Reno at 429 feet (131 m); South Dakota's is Black Elk Peak at 7,198 feet (2,194 m). Black Elk Peak is 6,769 feet higher than Fort Reno.
Lowest point: District of Columbia's lowest point is Potomac River at 0 feet; South Dakota's is Big Stone Lake at 966 feet. District of Columbia's lowest point is 966 feet lower.
District of Columbia vs South Dakota Population and History
Population: District of Columbia has a population of 702,250 (2024), while South Dakota has 924,669 (2024). South Dakota's population is 1.3 times (32%) larger than District of Columbia's.
Population density: District of Columbia: 11,493.5 people per square mile vs South Dakota: 12.2. District of Columbia's population density is 942.1 times higher than South Dakota's.
Biggest city: District of Columbia's biggest city is Washington with 702,250 people; South Dakota's is Sioux Falls with 209,289. Washington's population is 3.4 times (236%) larger than Sioux Falls'.
Largest metro area: District of Columbia's largest metropolitan area is Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area (6,436,489 people) vs South Dakota's Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area (308,266). Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area's population is 20.9 times larger than Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area's.
History: District of Columbia: The federal district, established by the Residence Act on July 16, 1790; not a state. South Dakota: Admitted to the Union on November 2, 1889, as the 40th state. In its current form, District of Columbia is the older of the two by 99 years.
District of Columbia vs South Dakota Economy
GDP: District of Columbia's GDP is $184.3 billion (2024) vs South Dakota's $76.8 billion. District of Columbia's economic output is 2.4 times (140%) larger than South Dakota's.
GDP per capita: District of Columbia: $262,439 per person vs South Dakota: $83,052. District of Columbia's GDP per capita is 3.2 times (216%) higher than South Dakota's.
Average income: District of Columbia: $111,185 vs South Dakota: $75,699 average income per person (per capita personal income). District of Columbia's average income is 1.5 times (47%) higher than South Dakota's.
District of Columbia vs South Dakota Counties
Number of counties: District of Columbia has 1 counties, while South Dakota has 66. South Dakota's county count is 66.0 times higher than District of Columbia's.
Biggest county by area: District of Columbia's largest county is District of Columbia at 61 square miles; South Dakota's is Meade County at 3,471 square miles. Meade County's land area is 56.8 times larger than District of Columbia's.
Smallest county by area: District of Columbia: District of Columbia (61 sq mi) vs South Dakota: Clay County (412 sq mi). Clay County's land area is 6.7 times (574%) larger than District of Columbia's.
Most populous county: District of Columbia: District of Columbia (702,250 people) vs South Dakota: Minnehaha County (208,639 people). District of Columbia's population is 3.4 times (237%) larger than Minnehaha County's.
Least populous county: District of Columbia: District of Columbia (702,250 people) vs South Dakota: Jones County (874 people). District of Columbia's population is 803.5 times larger than Jones County's.
Richest county: District of Columbia: District of Columbia ($111,185 per capita income) vs South Dakota: Union County ($146,712). Union County's income is 1.3 times (32%) richer than District of Columbia's.
Poorest county: District of Columbia: District of Columbia ($111,185 per capita income) vs South Dakota: Ziebach County ($32,778). District of Columbia's income is 3.4 times (239%) richer than Ziebach County's.
District of Columbia vs South Dakota Taxes
State income tax: District of Columbia has a top income tax rate of 10.75%, while South Dakota has no state income tax. District of Columbia's top rate is 10.75 percentage points higher.
Property tax: District of Columbia: 0.63% effective rate vs South Dakota: 1.02% of home value per year. South Dakota's rate is 0.39 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: District of Columbia: 6% combined state and average local rate vs South Dakota: 6.11%. South Dakota's combined rate is 0.11 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
District of Columbia official website · South Dakota official website
More Size Comparisons
All District of Columbia 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.