The map above shows South Dakota and West Virginia side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
South Dakota vs West Virginia Geography
Land area: South Dakota has a land area of 75,808 square miles (196,342 km²), while West Virginia has 24,041 square miles (62,266 km²). South Dakota's land area is 3.2 times (215%) larger than West Virginia's.
Total area: South Dakota: 77,116 square miles (199,729 km²) vs West Virginia: 24,230 square miles (62,755 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Dakota's total area is 3.2 times (218%) larger than West Virginia's.
Length: South Dakota is 443 miles (712 km) long from north to south; West Virginia is 245 miles (394 km). South Dakota's north-south length is 1.8 times (81%) longer than West Virginia's.
Width: South Dakota spans 371 miles (597 km) east to west; West Virginia spans 276 miles (444 km). South Dakota's east-west width is 1.3 times (34%) wider than West Virginia's.
Highest point: South Dakota's highest point is Black Elk Peak at 7,198 feet (2,194 m); West Virginia's is Spruce Knob at 4,863 feet (1,482 m). Black Elk Peak is 2,335 feet higher than Spruce Knob.
Lowest point: South Dakota's lowest point is Big Stone Lake at 966 feet; West Virginia's is Potomac River at 240 feet. West Virginia's lowest point is 726 feet lower.
South Dakota vs West Virginia Population and History
Population: South Dakota has a population of 924,669 (2024), while West Virginia has 1,769,979 (2024). West Virginia's population is 1.9 times (91%) larger than South Dakota's.
Population density: South Dakota: 12.2 people per square mile vs West Virginia: 73.6. West Virginia's population density is 6.0 times (503%) higher than South Dakota's.
Biggest city: South Dakota's biggest city is Sioux Falls with 209,289 people; West Virginia's is Charleston with 46,482. Sioux Falls' population is 4.5 times (350%) larger than Charleston's.
Largest metro area: South Dakota's largest metropolitan area is Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area (308,266 people) vs West Virginia's Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area (6,436,489). 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: South Dakota: Admitted to the Union on November 2, 1889, as the 40th state. West Virginia: Admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863, as the 35th state. In its current form, West Virginia is the older of the two by 26 years.
South Dakota vs West Virginia Economy
GDP: South Dakota's GDP is $76.8 billion (2024) vs West Virginia's $106.5 billion. West Virginia's economic output is 1.4 times (39%) larger than South Dakota's.
GDP per capita: South Dakota: $83,052 per person vs West Virginia: $60,156. South Dakota's GDP per capita is 1.4 times (38%) higher than West Virginia's.
Average income: South Dakota: $75,699 vs West Virginia: $55,351 average income per person (per capita personal income). South Dakota's average income is 1.4 times (37%) higher than West Virginia's.
South Dakota vs West Virginia Counties
Number of counties: South Dakota has 66 counties, while West Virginia has 55. South Dakota's county count is 1.2 times (20%) higher than West Virginia's.
Biggest county by area: South Dakota's largest county is Meade County at 3,471 square miles; West Virginia's is Randolph County at 1,040 square miles. Meade County's land area is 3.3 times (234%) larger than Randolph County's.
Smallest county by area: South Dakota: Clay County (412 sq mi) vs West Virginia: Hancock County (83 sq mi). Clay County's land area is 5.0 times (399%) larger than Hancock County's.
Most populous county: South Dakota: Minnehaha County (208,639 people) vs West Virginia: Kanawha County (173,906 people). Minnehaha County's population is 1.2 times (20%) larger than Kanawha County's.
Least populous county: South Dakota: Jones County (874 people) vs West Virginia: Wirt County (4,924 people). Wirt County's population is 5.6 times (463%) larger than Jones County's.
Richest county: South Dakota: Union County ($146,712 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Jefferson County ($70,542). Union County's income is 2.1 times (108%) richer than Jefferson County's.
Poorest county: South Dakota: Ziebach County ($32,778 per capita income) vs West Virginia: Webster County ($35,039). Webster County's income is 1.1 times (7%) richer than Ziebach County's.
South Dakota vs West Virginia Taxes
State income tax: South Dakota has no state income tax, while West Virginia has a top income tax rate of 4.82%. West Virginia's top rate is 4.82 percentage points higher.
Property tax: South Dakota: 1.02% effective rate vs West Virginia: 0.52% of home value per year. South Dakota's rate is 0.5 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: South Dakota: 6.11% combined state and average local rate vs West Virginia: 6.6%. West Virginia's combined rate is 0.49 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
South Dakota official website · West Virginia official website
More Size Comparisons
All South Dakota size comparisons · All West Virginia 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.