Bordering states
South Dakota vs Wyoming
Short answer
- SD
- 924,669
- WY
- 587,618
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.
South Dakota
Wyoming
- < 2
- < 4
- < 6
- < 13
- ≥ 13
Residents, 2024
- 01South Dakota924,669
- 02Wyoming587,618
Land, square miles
- 01South Dakota75,808
- 02Wyoming97,089
People per square mile
- 01South Dakota12.2
- 02Wyoming6.1
Median county household income
- 01South Dakota$67,180
- 02Wyoming$70,330
Side by side
| Measure | South Dakota | Wyoming |
|---|---|---|
| Residents, 2024 | 924,669 | 587,618 |
| Rank by population | 46th | 51st |
| Land, sq mi | 75,808 | 97,089 |
| People per sq mi | 12.2 | 6.1 |
| County-equivalents | 66 | 23 |
| Median county residents | 5,296 | 14,250 |
| Median county income | $67,180 | $70,330 |
| Most populous county | Minnehaha County | Laramie County |
| Largest county by land | Meade County | Sweetwater County |
| Capital | Pierre | Cheyenne |
| Daylight at capital, June 21 | 15 h 32 min | 15 h 09 min |
| Census division | West North Central | Mountain |
Population and density
South Dakota has 924,669 residents, 57% more than Wyoming's 587,618. South Dakota ranks 46th and Wyoming 51st of the 50 states and DC. South Dakota is the more crowded, with 12.2 people per square mile against 6.1, 2.0 times.
Land area
Wyoming has 97,089 square miles of land, 28% more than South Dakota's 75,808. The largest county-equivalent in South Dakota is Meade County at 3,471 square miles; in Wyoming it is Sweetwater County at 10,427.
Counties
South Dakota is divided into 66 county-equivalents and Wyoming into 23, so an average South Dakota county covers 1,149 square miles against 4,221. The typical county in South Dakota has 5,296 residents, against 14,250 in Wyoming. The most populous are Minnehaha County (208,639) and Laramie County (101,783).
2 county names appear on both sides of the border: Campbell, Lincoln. Use the FIPS code, not the name, when joining data across the two states.
Household income
The median county in Wyoming has a household income of $70,330, 5% above South Dakota's $67,180. The highest county incomes are Lincoln County ($102,130) in South Dakota and Teton County ($130,156) in Wyoming, from SAIPE 2023.
Capitals and daylight
Pierre and Cheyenne are 318 miles apart in a straight line; from Pierre the initial bearing is 227°, SW. On June 21, 2026, Pierre gets 15 h 32 min of daylight and Cheyenne 15 h 09 min; on December 21 the figures are 8 h 51 min and 9 h 13 min. Month by month tables are on the Pierre and Cheyenne daylight pages.
Where they sit
The border between them is also a Census region boundary: South Dakota is in the Midwest and Wyoming in the West. By county internal points, South Dakota spans 2 UTM zones and Wyoming 2.
Questions people ask
Which is bigger, South Dakota or Wyoming?
Wyoming, with 97,089 square miles of land against 75,808, 1.28 times as large.
Which has more people, South Dakota or Wyoming?
South Dakota has 924,669 residents, 57% more than Wyoming's 587,618.
How far is Pierre from Cheyenne?
318 miles in a straight line, heading SW (227°) from Pierre.
Do South Dakota and Wyoming have counties with the same name?
Yes, 2: Campbell, Lincoln.
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.