The map above shows South Dakota and New Zealand side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
South Dakota vs New Zealand Geography
Land area: South Dakota has a land area of 75,808 square miles (196,342 km²), while New Zealand has 102,138 square miles (264,537 km²). New Zealand's land area is 1.3 times (35%) larger than South Dakota's.
Total area: South Dakota: 77,116 square miles (199,729 km²) vs New Zealand: 103,799 square miles (268,838 km²), including inland and coastal water. New Zealand's total area is 1.3 times (35%) larger than South Dakota's.
Length: South Dakota is 443 miles (712 km) long from north to south; New Zealand is 1,185 miles (1,908 km). New Zealand's north-south length is 2.7 times (167%) longer than South Dakota's.
Width: South Dakota spans 371 miles (597 km) east to west; New Zealand spans 969 miles (1,559 km). New Zealand's east-west width is 2.6 times (161%) wider than South Dakota's.
Highest point: South Dakota's highest point is Black Elk Peak at 7,198 feet (2,194 m); New Zealand's is Aoraki / Mount Cook at 12,218 feet (3,724 m). Aoraki / Mount Cook is 5,020 feet higher than Black Elk Peak.
Lowest point: South Dakota's lowest point is Big Stone Lake at 966 feet; New Zealand's is Taieri Plains at -7 feet. New Zealand's lowest point is 973 feet lower.
South Dakota vs New Zealand Population and History
Population: South Dakota has a population of 924,669 (2024), while New Zealand has 5,357,300 (2026). New Zealand's population is 5.8 times (479%) larger than South Dakota's.
Population density: South Dakota: 12.2 people per square mile vs New Zealand: 52.5. New Zealand's population density is 4.3 times (330%) 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 Zealand's Auckland Region (1,715,600). Auckland Region's population is 5.6 times (457%) 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 Zealand: A dominion from September 26, 1907; fully independent by statute in 1947. In its current form, South Dakota is the older of the two by 18 years.
South Dakota vs New Zealand Economy
GDP: South Dakota's GDP is $76.8 billion (2024) vs New Zealand's $264.1 billion. New Zealand's economic output is 3.4 times (244%) larger than South Dakota's.
GDP per capita: South Dakota: $83,052 per person vs New Zealand: $49,591. South Dakota's GDP per capita is 1.7 times (67%) higher than New Zealand's.
Average income: South Dakota: $75,699 vs New Zealand: $46,630 average income per person (per capita personal income). South Dakota's average income is 1.6 times (62%) higher than New Zealand's.
Official Websites
South Dakota official website · New Zealand official website
More Size Comparisons
All South Dakota size comparisons · All New Zealand 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.