The map above shows South Dakota and Nova Scotia side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
South Dakota vs Nova Scotia Geography
Land area: South Dakota has a land area of 75,808 square miles (196,342 km²), while Nova Scotia has 20,594 square miles (53,338 km²). South Dakota's land area is 3.7 times (268%) larger than Nova Scotia's.
Total area: South Dakota: 77,116 square miles (199,729 km²) vs Nova Scotia: 21,345 square miles (55,284 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Dakota's total area is 3.6 times (261%) larger than Nova Scotia's.
Length: South Dakota is 443 miles (712 km) long from north to south; Nova Scotia is 342 miles (550 km). South Dakota's north-south length is 1.3 times (30%) longer than Nova Scotia's.
Width: South Dakota spans 371 miles (597 km) east to west; Nova Scotia spans 338 miles (544 km). South Dakota's east-west width is 1.1 times (10%) wider than Nova Scotia's.
Highest point: South Dakota's highest point is Black Elk Peak at 7,198 feet (2,194 m); Nova Scotia's is White Hill at 1,749 feet (533 m). Black Elk Peak is 5,449 feet higher than White Hill.
Lowest point: South Dakota's lowest point is Big Stone Lake at 966 feet; Nova Scotia's is Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet. Nova Scotia's lowest point is 966 feet lower.
South Dakota vs Nova Scotia Population and History
Population: South Dakota has a population of 924,669 (2024), while Nova Scotia has 1,090,074 (2026). Nova Scotia's population is 1.2 times (18%) larger than South Dakota's.
Population density: South Dakota: 12.2 people per square mile vs Nova Scotia: 52.9. Nova Scotia's population density is 4.3 times (334%) higher than South Dakota's.
Biggest city: South Dakota's biggest city is Sioux Falls with 209,289 people; Nova Scotia's is ''Halifax'' with 439,819. ''Halifax'''s population is 2.1 times (110%) larger than Sioux Falls'.
Largest metro area: South Dakota's largest metropolitan area is Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area (308,266 people) vs Nova Scotia's Halifax CMA (465,703). Halifax CMA's population is 1.5 times (51%) larger than Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area's.
History: South Dakota: Admitted to the Union on November 2, 1889, as the 40th state. Nova Scotia: Joined Confederation on July 1, 1867, as one of the four founding provinces. In its current form, Nova Scotia is the older of the two by 22 years.
South Dakota vs Nova Scotia Economy
GDP: South Dakota's GDP is $76.8 billion (2024) vs Nova Scotia's $47.7 billion. South Dakota's economic output is 1.6 times (61%) larger than Nova Scotia's.
GDP per capita: South Dakota: $83,052 per person vs Nova Scotia: $44,056. South Dakota's GDP per capita is 1.9 times (89%) higher than Nova Scotia's.
Official Websites
South Dakota official website · Nova Scotia official website
More Size Comparisons
All South Dakota size comparisons · All Nova Scotia 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.