The map above shows South Dakota and Wales side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
South Dakota vs Wales Geography
Land area: South Dakota has a land area of 75,808 square miles (196,342 km²), while Wales has 8,023 square miles (20,779 km²). South Dakota's land area is 9.4 times (845%) larger than Wales'.
Total area: South Dakota: 77,116 square miles (199,729 km²) vs Wales: 8,023 square miles (20,779 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Dakota's total area is 9.6 times (861%) larger than Wales'.
Length: South Dakota is 443 miles (712 km) long from north to south; Wales is 149 miles (239 km). South Dakota's north-south length is 3.0 times (197%) longer than Wales'.
Width: South Dakota spans 371 miles (597 km) east to west; Wales spans 111 miles (179 km). South Dakota's east-west width is 3.3 times (234%) wider than Wales'.
Highest point: South Dakota's highest point is Black Elk Peak at 7,198 feet (2,194 m); Wales's is Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) at 3,560 feet (1,085 m). Black Elk Peak is 3,638 feet higher than Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa).
Lowest point: South Dakota's lowest point is Big Stone Lake at 966 feet; Wales's is Irish Sea at 0 feet. Wales's lowest point is 966 feet lower.
South Dakota vs Wales Population and History
Population: South Dakota has a population of 924,669 (2024), while Wales has 3,105,000 (2022). Wales' population is 3.4 times (236%) larger than South Dakota's.
Population density: South Dakota: 12.2 people per square mile vs Wales: 387.0. Wales' population density is 31.7 times higher than South Dakota's.
Biggest city: South Dakota's biggest city is Sioux Falls with 209,289 people; Wales's is Cardiff with 372,089. Cardiff's population is 1.8 times (78%) larger than Sioux Falls'.
History: South Dakota: Admitted to the Union on November 2, 1889, as the 40th state. Wales: A country within the United Kingdom; formally joined with England by the Laws in Wales Acts of 1536. In its current form, Wales is the older of the two by 353 years.
South Dakota vs Wales Economy
GDP: South Dakota's GDP is $76.8 billion (2024) vs Wales's $89.5 billion. Wales' economic output is 1.2 times (17%) larger than South Dakota's.
GDP per capita: South Dakota: $83,052 per person vs Wales: $28,606. South Dakota's GDP per capita is 2.9 times (190%) higher than Wales'.
Official Websites
South Dakota official website · Wales official website
More Size Comparisons
All South Dakota size comparisons · All 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.