The map above shows South Dakota and Alberta side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
South Dakota vs Alberta Geography
Land area: South Dakota has a land area of 75,808 square miles (196,342 km²), while Alberta has 248,000 square miles (642,317 km²). Alberta's land area is 3.3 times (227%) larger than South Dakota's.
Total area: South Dakota: 77,116 square miles (199,729 km²) vs Alberta: 255,541 square miles (661,848 km²), including inland and coastal water. Alberta's total area is 3.3 times (231%) larger than South Dakota's.
Length: South Dakota is 443 miles (712 km) long from north to south; Alberta is 810 miles (1,303 km). Alberta's north-south length is 1.8 times (83%) longer than South Dakota's.
Width: South Dakota spans 371 miles (597 km) east to west; Alberta spans 544 miles (876 km). Alberta's east-west width is 1.5 times (47%) wider than South Dakota's.
Highest point: South Dakota's highest point is Black Elk Peak at 7,198 feet (2,194 m); Alberta's is Mount Columbia at 12,293 feet (3,747 m). Mount Columbia is 5,095 feet higher than Black Elk Peak.
Lowest point: South Dakota's lowest point is Big Stone Lake at 966 feet; Alberta's is Slave River at 499 feet. Alberta's lowest point is 467 feet lower.
South Dakota vs Alberta Population and History
Population: South Dakota has a population of 924,669 (2024), while Alberta has 5,048,151 (2026). Alberta's population is 5.5 times (446%) larger than South Dakota's.
Population density: South Dakota: 12.2 people per square mile vs Alberta: 20.4. Alberta's population density is 1.7 times (67%) higher than South Dakota's.
Biggest city: South Dakota's biggest city is Sioux Falls with 209,289 people; Alberta's is Calgary with 1,306,784. Calgary's population is 6.2 times (524%) larger than Sioux Falls'.
Largest metro area: South Dakota's largest metropolitan area is Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area (308,266 people) vs Alberta's Calgary CMA (1,481,806). Calgary CMA's population is 4.8 times (381%) larger than Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area's.
History: South Dakota: Admitted to the Union on November 2, 1889, as the 40th state. Alberta: Joined Confederation on September 1, 1905. In its current form, South Dakota is the older of the two by 16 years.
South Dakota vs Alberta Economy
GDP: South Dakota's GDP is $76.8 billion (2024) vs Alberta's $346.0 billion. Alberta's economic output is 4.5 times (351%) larger than South Dakota's.
GDP per capita: South Dakota: $83,052 per person vs Alberta: $70,487. South Dakota's GDP per capita is 1.2 times (18%) higher than Alberta's.
Official Websites
South Dakota official website · Alberta official website
More Size Comparisons
All South Dakota size comparisons · All Alberta 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.