The map above shows New Mexico and South Dakota side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
New Mexico vs South Dakota Geography
Land area: New Mexico has a land area of 121,313 square miles (314,198 km²), while South Dakota has 75,808 square miles (196,342 km²). New Mexico's land area is 1.6 times (60%) larger than South Dakota's.
Total area: New Mexico: 121,593 square miles (314,925 km²) vs South Dakota: 77,116 square miles (199,729 km²), including inland and coastal water. New Mexico's total area is 1.6 times (58%) larger than South Dakota's.
Length: New Mexico is 395 miles (635 km) long from north to south; South Dakota is 443 miles (712 km). South Dakota's north-south length is 1.1 times (12%) longer than New Mexico's.
Width: New Mexico spans 498 miles (801 km) east to west; South Dakota spans 371 miles (597 km). New Mexico's east-west width is 1.3 times (34%) wider than South Dakota's.
Highest point: New Mexico's highest point is Wheeler Peak at 13,150 feet (4,008 m); South Dakota's is Black Elk Peak at 7,198 feet (2,194 m). Wheeler Peak is 5,952 feet higher than Black Elk Peak.
Lowest point: New Mexico's lowest point is Red Bluff Reservoir at 2,842 feet; South Dakota's is Big Stone Lake at 966 feet. South Dakota's lowest point is 1,876 feet lower.
New Mexico vs South Dakota Population and History
Population: New Mexico has a population of 2,130,256 (2024), while South Dakota has 924,669 (2024). New Mexico's population is 2.3 times (130%) larger than South Dakota's.
Population density: New Mexico: 17.6 people per square mile vs South Dakota: 12.2. New Mexico's population density is 1.4 times (44%) higher than South Dakota's.
Biggest city: New Mexico's biggest city is Albuquerque with 560,326 people; South Dakota's is Sioux Falls with 209,289. Albuquerque's population is 2.7 times (168%) larger than Sioux Falls'.
Largest metro area: New Mexico's largest metropolitan area is Albuquerque, NM metro area (926,303 people) vs South Dakota's Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area (308,266). Albuquerque, NM metro area's population is 3.0 times (200%) larger than Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area's.
History: New Mexico: Admitted to the Union on January 6, 1912, as the 47th state. South Dakota: Admitted to the Union on November 2, 1889, as the 40th state. In its current form, South Dakota is the older of the two by 23 years.
New Mexico vs South Dakota Economy
GDP: New Mexico's GDP is $147.1 billion (2024) vs South Dakota's $76.8 billion. New Mexico's economic output is 1.9 times (92%) larger than South Dakota's.
GDP per capita: New Mexico: $69,046 per person vs South Dakota: $83,052. South Dakota's GDP per capita is 1.2 times (20%) higher than New Mexico's.
Average income: New Mexico: $58,249 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 New Mexico's.
New Mexico vs South Dakota Counties
Number of counties: New Mexico has 33 counties, while South Dakota has 66. South Dakota's county count is 2.0 times (100%) higher than New Mexico's.
Biggest county by area: New Mexico's largest county is Catron County at 6,924 square miles; South Dakota's is Meade County at 3,471 square miles. Catron County's land area is 2.0 times (99%) larger than Meade County's.
Smallest county by area: New Mexico: Los Alamos County (109 sq mi) vs South Dakota: Clay County (412 sq mi). Clay County's land area is 3.8 times (278%) larger than Los Alamos County's.
Most populous county: New Mexico: Bernalillo County (671,747 people) vs South Dakota: Minnehaha County (208,639 people). Bernalillo County's population is 3.2 times (222%) larger than Minnehaha County's.
Least populous county: New Mexico: Harding County (635 people) vs South Dakota: Jones County (874 people). Jones County's population is 1.4 times (38%) larger than Harding County's.
Richest county: New Mexico: Los Alamos County ($98,378 per capita income) vs South Dakota: Union County ($146,712). Union County's income is 1.5 times (49%) richer than Los Alamos County's.
Poorest county: New Mexico: Cibola County ($36,397 per capita income) vs South Dakota: Ziebach County ($32,778). Cibola County's income is 1.1 times (11%) richer than Ziebach County's.
New Mexico vs South Dakota Taxes
State income tax: New Mexico has a top income tax rate of 5.9%, while South Dakota has no state income tax. New Mexico's top rate is 5.9 percentage points higher.
Property tax: New Mexico: 0.63% effective rate vs South Dakota: 1.02% of home value per year. South Dakota's rate is 0.39 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: New Mexico: 7.68% combined state and average local rate vs South Dakota: 6.11%. New Mexico's combined rate is 1.57 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
New Mexico official website · South Dakota official website
More Size Comparisons
All New Mexico 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.