The map above shows South Dakota and New South Wales side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
South Dakota vs New South Wales Geography
Land area: South Dakota has a land area of 75,808 square miles (196,342 km²), while New South Wales has 309,130 square miles (800,642 km²). New South Wales' land area is 4.1 times (308%) larger than South Dakota's.
Total area: South Dakota: 77,116 square miles (199,729 km²) vs New South Wales: 309,130 square miles (800,642 km²), including inland and coastal water. New South Wales' total area is 4.0 times (301%) larger than South Dakota's.
Length: South Dakota is 443 miles (712 km) long from north to south; New South Wales is 678 miles (1,092 km). New South Wales' north-south length is 1.5 times (53%) longer than South Dakota's.
Width: South Dakota spans 371 miles (597 km) east to west; New South Wales spans 831 miles (1,338 km). New South Wales' east-west width is 2.2 times (124%) wider than South Dakota's.
Highest point: South Dakota's highest point is Black Elk Peak at 7,198 feet (2,194 m); New South Wales's is Mount Kosciuszko at 7,310 feet (2,228 m). Mount Kosciuszko is 112 feet higher than Black Elk Peak.
Lowest point: South Dakota's lowest point is Big Stone Lake at 966 feet; New South Wales's is Pacific Ocean at 0 feet. New South Wales's lowest point is 966 feet lower.
South Dakota vs New South Wales Population and History
Population: South Dakota has a population of 924,669 (2024), while New South Wales has 8,624,534 (2025). New South Wales' population is 9.3 times (833%) larger than South Dakota's.
Population density: South Dakota: 12.2 people per square mile vs New South Wales: 27.9. New South Wales' population density is 2.3 times (129%) higher than South Dakota's.
Largest metro area: South Dakota's largest metropolitan area is Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area (308,266 people) vs New South Wales's Greater Sydney (5,638,830). Greater Sydney's population is 18.3 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. New South Wales: Became an Australian state at Federation on January 1, 1901; founded as a colony in 1788. In its current form, South Dakota is the older of the two by 12 years.
South Dakota vs New South Wales Economy
GDP: South Dakota's GDP is $76.8 billion (2024) vs New South Wales's $547.1 billion. New South Wales' economic output is 7.1 times (612%) larger than South Dakota's.
GDP per capita: South Dakota: $83,052 per person vs New South Wales: $63,435. South Dakota's GDP per capita is 1.3 times (31%) higher than New South Wales'.
Official Websites
South Dakota official website · New South Wales official website
More Size Comparisons
All South Dakota size comparisons · All New South Wales 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.