The map above shows Nevada and South Dakota side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Nevada vs South Dakota Geography
Land area: Nevada has a land area of 109,860 square miles (284,537 km²), while South Dakota has 75,808 square miles (196,342 km²). Nevada's land area is 1.4 times (45%) larger than South Dakota's.
Total area: Nevada: 110,571 square miles (286,377 km²) vs South Dakota: 77,116 square miles (199,729 km²), including inland and coastal water. Nevada's total area is 1.4 times (43%) larger than South Dakota's.
Length: Nevada is 484 miles (780 km) long from north to south; South Dakota is 443 miles (712 km). Nevada's north-south length is 1.1 times (9%) longer than South Dakota's.
Width: Nevada spans 469 miles (755 km) east to west; South Dakota spans 371 miles (597 km). Nevada's east-west width is 1.3 times (26%) wider than South Dakota's.
Highest point: Nevada's highest point is Boundary Peak at 13,115 feet (3,997 m); South Dakota's is Black Elk Peak at 7,198 feet (2,194 m). Boundary Peak is 5,917 feet higher than Black Elk Peak.
Lowest point: Nevada's lowest point is Colorado River at 481 feet; South Dakota's is Big Stone Lake at 966 feet. Nevada's lowest point is 485 feet lower.
Nevada vs South Dakota Population and History
Population: Nevada has a population of 3,267,467 (2024), while South Dakota has 924,669 (2024). Nevada's population is 3.5 times (253%) larger than South Dakota's.
Population density: Nevada: 29.7 people per square mile vs South Dakota: 12.2. Nevada's population density is 2.4 times (143%) higher than South Dakota's.
Biggest city: Nevada's biggest city is Las Vegas with 678,922 people; South Dakota's is Sioux Falls with 209,289. Las Vegas' population is 3.2 times (224%) larger than Sioux Falls'.
Largest metro area: Nevada's largest metropolitan area is Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV metro area (2,398,871 people) vs South Dakota's Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area (308,266). Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV metro area's population is 7.8 times (678%) larger than Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area's.
History: Nevada: Admitted to the Union on October 31, 1864, as the 36th state. South Dakota: Admitted to the Union on November 2, 1889, as the 40th state. In its current form, Nevada is the older of the two by 25 years.
Nevada vs South Dakota Economy
GDP: Nevada's GDP is $269.0 billion (2024) vs South Dakota's $76.8 billion. Nevada's economic output is 3.5 times (250%) larger than South Dakota's.
GDP per capita: Nevada: $82,330 per person vs South Dakota: $83,052. Nevada and South Dakota have about the same GDP per capita.
Average income: Nevada: $69,805 vs South Dakota: $75,699 average income per person (per capita personal income). South Dakota's average income is 1.1 times (8%) higher than Nevada's.
Nevada vs South Dakota Counties
Number of counties: Nevada has 17 counties, while South Dakota has 66. South Dakota's county count is 3.9 times (288%) higher than Nevada's.
Biggest county by area: Nevada's largest county is Nye County at 18,182 square miles; South Dakota's is Meade County at 3,471 square miles. Nye County's land area is 5.2 times (424%) larger than Meade County's.
Smallest county by area: Nevada: Carson City (145 sq mi) vs South Dakota: Clay County (412 sq mi). Clay County's land area is 2.9 times (185%) larger than Carson City's.
Most populous county: Nevada: Clark County (2,398,871 people) vs South Dakota: Minnehaha County (208,639 people). Clark County's population is 11.5 times larger than Minnehaha County's.
Least populous county: Nevada: Esmeralda County (720 people) vs South Dakota: Jones County (874 people). Jones County's population is 1.2 times (21%) larger than Esmeralda County's.
Richest county: Nevada: Douglas County ($109,486 per capita income) vs South Dakota: Union County ($146,712). Union County's income is 1.3 times (34%) richer than Douglas County's.
Poorest county: Nevada: Pershing County ($45,906 per capita income) vs South Dakota: Ziebach County ($32,778). Pershing County's income is 1.4 times (40%) richer than Ziebach County's.
Nevada vs South Dakota Taxes
State income tax: Nevada has no state income tax, while South Dakota has no state income tax.
Property tax: Nevada: 0.47% effective rate vs South Dakota: 1.02% of home value per year. South Dakota's rate is 0.55 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Nevada: 8.24% combined state and average local rate vs South Dakota: 6.11%. Nevada's combined rate is 2.13 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Nevada official website · South Dakota official website
More Size Comparisons
All Nevada 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.