The map above shows Pennsylvania and South Dakota side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Pennsylvania vs South Dakota Geography
Land area: Pennsylvania has a land area of 44,742 square miles (115,882 km²), while South Dakota has 75,808 square miles (196,342 km²). South Dakota's land area is 1.7 times (69%) larger than Pennsylvania's.
Total area: Pennsylvania: 46,054 square miles (119,279 km²) vs South Dakota: 77,116 square miles (199,729 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Dakota's total area is 1.7 times (67%) larger than Pennsylvania's.
Length: Pennsylvania is 284 miles (458 km) long from north to south; South Dakota is 443 miles (712 km). South Dakota's north-south length is 1.6 times (56%) longer than Pennsylvania's.
Width: Pennsylvania spans 307 miles (495 km) east to west; South Dakota spans 371 miles (597 km). South Dakota's east-west width is 1.2 times (21%) wider than Pennsylvania's.
Highest point: Pennsylvania's highest point is Mount Davis at 3,210 feet (978 m); South Dakota's is Black Elk Peak at 7,198 feet (2,194 m). Black Elk Peak is 3,988 feet higher than Mount Davis.
Lowest point: Pennsylvania's lowest point is Delaware River at 0 feet; South Dakota's is Big Stone Lake at 966 feet. Pennsylvania's lowest point is 966 feet lower.
Pennsylvania vs South Dakota Population and History
Population: Pennsylvania has a population of 13,078,751 (2024), while South Dakota has 924,669 (2024). Pennsylvania's population is 14.1 times larger than South Dakota's.
Population density: Pennsylvania: 292.3 people per square mile vs South Dakota: 12.2. Pennsylvania's population density is 24.0 times higher than South Dakota's.
Biggest city: Pennsylvania's biggest city is Philadelphia with 1,573,916 people; South Dakota's is Sioux Falls with 209,289. Philadelphia's population is 7.5 times (652%) larger than Sioux Falls'.
Largest metro area: Pennsylvania's largest metropolitan area is Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area (6,330,422 people) vs South Dakota's Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area (308,266). Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area's population is 20.5 times larger than Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area's.
History: Pennsylvania: Admitted to the Union on December 12, 1787, as the 2nd state. South Dakota: Admitted to the Union on November 2, 1889, as the 40th state. In its current form, Pennsylvania is the older of the two by 102 years.
Pennsylvania vs South Dakota Economy
GDP: Pennsylvania's GDP is $1,007.9 billion (2024) vs South Dakota's $76.8 billion. Pennsylvania's economic output is 13.1 times larger than South Dakota's.
GDP per capita: Pennsylvania: $77,062 per person vs South Dakota: $83,052. South Dakota's GDP per capita is 1.1 times (8%) higher than Pennsylvania's.
Average income: Pennsylvania: $70,678 vs South Dakota: $75,699 average income per person (per capita personal income). South Dakota's average income is 1.1 times (7%) higher than Pennsylvania's.
Pennsylvania vs South Dakota Counties
Number of counties: Pennsylvania has 67 counties, while South Dakota has 66. Pennsylvania and South Dakota have about the same county count.
Biggest county by area: Pennsylvania's largest county is Lycoming County at 1,229 square miles; South Dakota's is Meade County at 3,471 square miles. Meade County's land area is 2.8 times (182%) larger than Lycoming County's.
Smallest county by area: Pennsylvania: Montour County (130 sq mi) vs South Dakota: Clay County (412 sq mi). Clay County's land area is 3.2 times (216%) larger than Montour County's.
Most populous county: Pennsylvania: Philadelphia County (1,573,916 people) vs South Dakota: Minnehaha County (208,639 people). Philadelphia County's population is 7.5 times (654%) larger than Minnehaha County's.
Least populous county: Pennsylvania: Cameron County (4,348 people) vs South Dakota: Jones County (874 people). Cameron County's population is 5.0 times (397%) larger than Jones County's.
Richest county: Pennsylvania: Chester County ($110,883 per capita income) vs South Dakota: Union County ($146,712). Union County's income is 1.3 times (32%) richer than Chester County's.
Poorest county: Pennsylvania: Forest County ($30,234 per capita income) vs South Dakota: Ziebach County ($32,778). Ziebach County's income is 1.1 times (8%) richer than Forest County's.
Pennsylvania vs South Dakota Taxes
State income tax: Pennsylvania has a top income tax rate of 3.07%, while South Dakota has no state income tax. Pennsylvania's top rate is 3.07 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Pennsylvania: 1.16% effective rate vs South Dakota: 1.02% of home value per year. Pennsylvania's rate is 0.14 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Pennsylvania: 6.34% combined state and average local rate vs South Dakota: 6.11%. Pennsylvania's combined rate is 0.23 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Pennsylvania official website · South Dakota official website
More Size Comparisons
All Pennsylvania 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.