The map above shows Kentucky and South Dakota side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Kentucky vs South Dakota Geography
Land area: Kentucky has a land area of 39,485 square miles (102,267 km²), while South Dakota has 75,808 square miles (196,342 km²). South Dakota's land area is 1.9 times (92%) larger than Kentucky's.
Total area: Kentucky: 40,406 square miles (104,651 km²) vs South Dakota: 77,116 square miles (199,729 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Dakota's total area is 1.9 times (91%) larger than Kentucky's.
Length: Kentucky is 257 miles (414 km) long from north to south; South Dakota is 443 miles (712 km). South Dakota's north-south length is 1.7 times (72%) longer than Kentucky's.
Width: Kentucky spans 418 miles (672 km) east to west; South Dakota spans 371 miles (597 km). Kentucky's east-west width is 1.1 times (13%) wider than South Dakota's.
Highest point: Kentucky's highest point is Black Mountain at 4,134 feet (1,260 m); South Dakota's is Black Elk Peak at 7,198 feet (2,194 m). Black Elk Peak is 3,064 feet higher than Black Mountain.
Lowest point: Kentucky's lowest point is Mississippi River at 270 feet; South Dakota's is Big Stone Lake at 966 feet. Kentucky's lowest point is 696 feet lower.
Kentucky vs South Dakota Population and History
Population: Kentucky has a population of 4,588,372 (2024), while South Dakota has 924,669 (2024). Kentucky's population is 5.0 times (396%) larger than South Dakota's.
Population density: Kentucky: 116.2 people per square mile vs South Dakota: 12.2. Kentucky's population density is 9.5 times (852%) higher than South Dakota's.
Biggest city: Kentucky's biggest city is Louisville with 640,796 people; South Dakota's is Sioux Falls with 209,289. Louisville's population is 3.1 times (206%) larger than Sioux Falls'.
Largest metro area: Kentucky's largest metropolitan area is Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area (2,302,815 people) vs South Dakota's Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area (308,266). Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro area's population is 7.5 times (647%) larger than Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area's.
History: Kentucky: Admitted to the Union on June 1, 1792, as the 15th state. South Dakota: Admitted to the Union on November 2, 1889, as the 40th state. In its current form, Kentucky is the older of the two by 97 years.
Kentucky vs South Dakota Economy
GDP: Kentucky's GDP is $295.4 billion (2024) vs South Dakota's $76.8 billion. Kentucky's economic output is 3.8 times (285%) larger than South Dakota's.
GDP per capita: Kentucky: $64,375 per person vs South Dakota: $83,052. South Dakota's GDP per capita is 1.3 times (29%) higher than Kentucky's.
Average income: Kentucky: $58,256 vs South Dakota: $75,699 average income per person (per capita personal income). South Dakota's average income is 1.3 times (30%) higher than Kentucky's.
Kentucky vs South Dakota Counties
Number of counties: Kentucky has 120 counties, while South Dakota has 66. Kentucky's county count is 1.8 times (82%) higher than South Dakota's.
Biggest county by area: Kentucky's largest county is Pike County at 786 square miles; South Dakota's is Meade County at 3,471 square miles. Meade County's land area is 4.4 times (341%) larger than Pike County's.
Smallest county by area: Kentucky: Gallatin County (98 sq mi) vs South Dakota: Clay County (412 sq mi). Clay County's land area is 4.2 times (319%) larger than Gallatin County's.
Most populous county: Kentucky: Jefferson County (793,881 people) vs South Dakota: Minnehaha County (208,639 people). Jefferson County's population is 3.8 times (281%) larger than Minnehaha County's.
Least populous county: Kentucky: Robertson County (2,382 people) vs South Dakota: Jones County (874 people). Robertson County's population is 2.7 times (173%) larger than Jones County's.
Richest county: Kentucky: Oldham County ($87,137 per capita income) vs South Dakota: Union County ($146,712). Union County's income is 1.7 times (68%) richer than Oldham County's.
Poorest county: Kentucky: Elliott County ($31,817 per capita income) vs South Dakota: Ziebach County ($32,778). Elliott County and Ziebach County have about the same income.
Kentucky vs South Dakota Taxes
State income tax: Kentucky has a top income tax rate of 3.5%, while South Dakota has no state income tax. Kentucky's top rate is 3.5 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Kentucky: 0.71% effective rate vs South Dakota: 1.02% of home value per year. South Dakota's rate is 0.31 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Kentucky: 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
Kentucky official website · South Dakota official website
More Size Comparisons
All Kentucky 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.