Bordering states
Minnesota vs South Dakota
Short answer
- MN
- 5,793,151
- SD
- 924,669
The two states, county by county
Both maps share one density scale, so the same shade means the same number of people per square mile on either side of the border. Darker counties are denser. Select a county to open its page.
Minnesota
South Dakota
- < 4
- < 9
- < 22
- < 46
- ≥ 46
Residents, 2024
- 01Minnesota5,793,151
- 02South Dakota924,669
Land, square miles
- 01Minnesota79,632
- 02South Dakota75,808
People per square mile
- 01Minnesota72.7
- 02South Dakota12.2
Median county household income
- 01Minnesota$71,573
- 02South Dakota$67,180
Side by side
| Measure | Minnesota | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Residents, 2024 | 5,793,151 | 924,669 |
| Rank by population | 22nd | 46th |
| Land, sq mi | 79,632 | 75,808 |
| People per sq mi | 72.7 | 12.2 |
| County-equivalents | 87 | 66 |
| Median county residents | 22,050 | 5,296 |
| Median county income | $71,573 | $67,180 |
| Most populous county | Hennepin County | Minnehaha County |
| Largest county by land | St. Louis County | Meade County |
| Capital | Saint Paul | Pierre |
| Daylight at capital, June 21 | 15 h 37 min | 15 h 32 min |
| Census division | West North Central | West North Central |
Population and density
Minnesota has 5,793,151 residents, 6.3 times South Dakota's 924,669. Minnesota ranks 22nd and South Dakota 46th of the 50 states and DC. Minnesota is the more crowded, with 72.7 people per square mile against 12.2, 6.0 times.
Land area
Minnesota has 79,632 square miles of land, 5% more than South Dakota's 75,808. The largest county-equivalent in Minnesota is St. Louis County at 6,248 square miles; in South Dakota it is Meade County at 3,471.
Counties
Minnesota is divided into 87 county-equivalents and South Dakota into 66, so an average Minnesota county covers 915 square miles against 1,149. The typical county in Minnesota has 22,050 residents, against 5,296 in South Dakota. The most populous are Hennepin County (1,273,334) and Minnehaha County (208,639).
10 county names appear on both sides of the border: Brown, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Jackson, Lake, Lincoln, Marshall, Pennington, Todd. Use the FIPS code, not the name, when joining data across the two states.
Household income
The median county in Minnesota has a household income of $71,573, 7% above South Dakota's $67,180. The highest county incomes are Carver County ($129,437) in Minnesota and Lincoln County ($102,130) in South Dakota, from SAIPE 2023.
Capitals and daylight
Saint Paul and Pierre are 358 miles apart in a straight line; from Saint Paul the initial bearing is 266°, W. On June 21, 2026, Saint Paul gets 15 h 37 min of daylight and Pierre 15 h 32 min; on December 21 the figures are 8 h 46 min and 8 h 51 min. Month by month tables are on the Saint Paul and Pierre daylight pages.
Where they sit
Both are in the Census West North Central division of the Midwest region. By county internal points, Minnesota spans 2 UTM zones and South Dakota 2.
Questions people ask
Which is bigger, Minnesota or South Dakota?
Minnesota, with 79,632 square miles of land against 75,808, 1.05 times as large.
Which has more people, Minnesota or South Dakota?
Minnesota has 5,793,151 residents, 6.3 times South Dakota's 924,669.
How far is Saint Paul from Pierre?
358 miles in a straight line, heading W (266°) from Saint Paul.
Do Minnesota and South Dakota have counties with the same name?
Yes, 10: Brown, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Jackson, Lake, Lincoln, Marshall, Pennington, Todd.
Sources and data as of
Data as of: Census Vintage 2024 population estimates, 2024 Gazetteer land area and internal points, SAIPE 2023 median household income.
- 01Census Vintage 2024 county population estimates
- 02Census 2024 Gazetteer, counties
- 03Census SAIPE 2023 state and county estimates
- 04Census Bureau regions and divisions of the United States (last verified 2026-09-30)
How every number is computed: methodology. Spotted a wrong figure? Report an error.