The map above shows Michigan and South Dakota side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Michigan vs South Dakota Geography
Land area: Michigan has a land area of 56,611 square miles (146,622 km²), while South Dakota has 75,808 square miles (196,342 km²). South Dakota's land area is 1.3 times (34%) larger than Michigan's.
Total area: Michigan: 96,713 square miles (250,486 km²) vs South Dakota: 77,116 square miles (199,729 km²), including inland and coastal water. Michigan's total area is 1.3 times (25%) larger than South Dakota's.
Length: Michigan is 489 miles (786 km) long from north to south; South Dakota is 443 miles (712 km). Michigan's north-south length is 1.1 times (10%) longer than South Dakota's.
Width: Michigan spans 453 miles (728 km) east to west; South Dakota spans 371 miles (597 km). Michigan's east-west width is 1.2 times (22%) wider than South Dakota's.
Highest point: Michigan's highest point is Mount Arvon at 2,014 feet (614 m); South Dakota's is Black Elk Peak at 7,198 feet (2,194 m). Black Elk Peak is 5,184 feet higher than Mount Arvon.
Lowest point: Michigan's lowest point is Lake Erie at 571 feet; South Dakota's is Big Stone Lake at 966 feet. Michigan's lowest point is 395 feet lower.
Michigan vs South Dakota Population and History
Population: Michigan has a population of 10,140,459 (2024), while South Dakota has 924,669 (2024). Michigan's population is 11.0 times larger than South Dakota's.
Population density: Michigan: 179.1 people per square mile vs South Dakota: 12.2. Michigan's population density is 14.7 times higher than South Dakota's.
Biggest city: Michigan's biggest city is Detroit with 645,705 people; South Dakota's is Sioux Falls with 209,289. Detroit's population is 3.1 times (209%) larger than Sioux Falls'.
Largest metro area: Michigan's largest metropolitan area is Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area (4,400,578 people) vs South Dakota's Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area (308,266). Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area's population is 14.3 times larger than Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area's.
History: Michigan: Admitted to the Union on January 26, 1837, as the 26th state. South Dakota: Admitted to the Union on November 2, 1889, as the 40th state. In its current form, Michigan is the older of the two by 52 years.
Michigan vs South Dakota Economy
GDP: Michigan's GDP is $702.5 billion (2024) vs South Dakota's $76.8 billion. Michigan's economic output is 9.1 times (815%) larger than South Dakota's.
GDP per capita: Michigan: $69,274 per person vs South Dakota: $83,052. South Dakota's GDP per capita is 1.2 times (20%) higher than Michigan's.
Average income: Michigan: $63,690 vs South Dakota: $75,699 average income per person (per capita personal income). South Dakota's average income is 1.2 times (19%) higher than Michigan's.
Michigan vs South Dakota Counties
Number of counties: Michigan has 83 counties, while South Dakota has 66. Michigan's county count is 1.3 times (26%) higher than South Dakota's.
Biggest county by area: Michigan's largest county is Marquette County at 1,809 square miles; South Dakota's is Meade County at 3,471 square miles. Meade County's land area is 1.9 times (92%) larger than Marquette County's.
Smallest county by area: Michigan: Benzie County (320 sq mi) vs South Dakota: Clay County (412 sq mi). Clay County's land area is 1.3 times (29%) larger than Benzie County's.
Most populous county: Michigan: Wayne County (1,771,063 people) vs South Dakota: Minnehaha County (208,639 people). Wayne County's population is 8.5 times (749%) larger than Minnehaha County's.
Least populous county: Michigan: Keweenaw County (2,161 people) vs South Dakota: Jones County (874 people). Keweenaw County's population is 2.5 times (147%) larger than Jones County's.
Richest county: Michigan: Oakland County ($93,579 per capita income) vs South Dakota: Union County ($146,712). Union County's income is 1.6 times (57%) richer than Oakland County's.
Poorest county: Michigan: Lake County ($39,505 per capita income) vs South Dakota: Ziebach County ($32,778). Lake County's income is 1.2 times (21%) richer than Ziebach County's.
Michigan vs South Dakota Taxes
State income tax: Michigan has a top income tax rate of 4.25%, while South Dakota has no state income tax. Michigan's top rate is 4.25 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Michigan: 1.18% effective rate vs South Dakota: 1.02% of home value per year. Michigan's rate is 0.16 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Michigan: 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
Michigan official website · South Dakota official website
More Size Comparisons
All Michigan 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.