The map above shows Nebraska and South Dakota side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Nebraska vs South Dakota Geography
Land area: Nebraska has a land area of 76,815 square miles (198,950 km²), while South Dakota has 75,808 square miles (196,342 km²). Nebraska and South Dakota have about the same land area.
Total area: Nebraska: 77,347 square miles (200,329 km²) vs South Dakota: 77,116 square miles (199,729 km²), including inland and coastal water. Nebraska and South Dakota have about the same total area.
Length: Nebraska is 497 miles (800 km) long from north to south; South Dakota is 443 miles (712 km). Nebraska's north-south length is 1.1 times (12%) longer than South Dakota's.
Width: Nebraska spans 464 miles (747 km) east to west; South Dakota spans 371 miles (597 km). Nebraska's east-west width is 1.3 times (25%) wider than South Dakota's.
Highest point: Nebraska's highest point is Panorama Point at 5,428 feet (1,654 m); South Dakota's is Black Elk Peak at 7,198 feet (2,194 m). Black Elk Peak is 1,770 feet higher than Panorama Point.
Lowest point: Nebraska's lowest point is Missouri River at 840 feet; South Dakota's is Big Stone Lake at 966 feet. Nebraska's lowest point is 126 feet lower.
Nebraska vs South Dakota Population and History
Population: Nebraska has a population of 2,005,465 (2024), while South Dakota has 924,669 (2024). Nebraska's population is 2.2 times (117%) larger than South Dakota's.
Population density: Nebraska: 26.1 people per square mile vs South Dakota: 12.2. Nebraska's population density is 2.1 times (114%) higher than South Dakota's.
Biggest city: Nebraska's biggest city is Omaha with 489,265 people; South Dakota's is Sioux Falls with 209,289. Omaha's population is 2.3 times (134%) larger than Sioux Falls'.
Largest metro area: Nebraska's largest metropolitan area is Omaha, NE-IA metro area (1,001,010 people) vs South Dakota's Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area (308,266). Omaha, NE-IA metro area's population is 3.2 times (225%) larger than Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area's.
History: Nebraska: Admitted to the Union on March 1, 1867, as the 37th state. South Dakota: Admitted to the Union on November 2, 1889, as the 40th state. In its current form, Nebraska is the older of the two by 22 years.
Nebraska vs South Dakota Economy
GDP: Nebraska's GDP is $189.2 billion (2024) vs South Dakota's $76.8 billion. Nebraska's economic output is 2.5 times (146%) larger than South Dakota's.
GDP per capita: Nebraska: $94,363 per person vs South Dakota: $83,052. Nebraska's GDP per capita is 1.1 times (14%) higher than South Dakota's.
Average income: Nebraska: $72,701 vs South Dakota: $75,699 average income per person (per capita personal income). Nebraska and South Dakota have about the same average income.
Nebraska vs South Dakota Counties
Number of counties: Nebraska has 93 counties, while South Dakota has 66. Nebraska's county count is 1.4 times (41%) higher than South Dakota's.
Biggest county by area: Nebraska's largest county is Cherry County at 5,960 square miles; South Dakota's is Meade County at 3,471 square miles. Cherry County's land area is 1.7 times (72%) larger than Meade County's.
Smallest county by area: Nebraska: Sarpy County (238 sq mi) vs South Dakota: Clay County (412 sq mi). Clay County's land area is 1.7 times (73%) larger than Sarpy County's.
Most populous county: Nebraska: Douglas County (601,158 people) vs South Dakota: Minnehaha County (208,639 people). Douglas County's population is 2.9 times (188%) larger than Minnehaha County's.
Least populous county: Nebraska: McPherson County (376 people) vs South Dakota: Jones County (874 people). Jones County's population is 2.3 times (132%) larger than McPherson County's.
Richest county: Nebraska: Pierce County ($112,729 per capita income) vs South Dakota: Union County ($146,712). Union County's income is 1.3 times (30%) richer than Pierce County's.
Poorest county: Nebraska: Johnson County ($45,756 per capita income) vs South Dakota: Ziebach County ($32,778). Johnson County's income is 1.4 times (40%) richer than Ziebach County's.
Nebraska vs South Dakota Taxes
State income tax: Nebraska has a top income tax rate of 4.55%, while South Dakota has no state income tax. Nebraska's top rate is 4.55 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Nebraska: 1.42% effective rate vs South Dakota: 1.02% of home value per year. Nebraska's rate is 0.4 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Nebraska: 6.98% combined state and average local rate vs South Dakota: 6.11%. Nebraska's combined rate is 0.87 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Nebraska official website · South Dakota official website
More Size Comparisons
All Nebraska 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.