South Dakota Counties by Population (2025)

Top 5 Most Populous Counties

South Dakota flag Minnehaha County

213,100

South Dakota flag Pennington County

119,097

South Dakota flag Lincoln County

77,666

South Dakota flag Brown County

37,397

South Dakota flag Brookings County

36,958

66 Counties

County
2025 Pop. ↓
Area (mi²)
Density
Change (2020)
Minnehaha County213,1008072647.79%
Pennington County119,0972,777438.7%
Lincoln County77,66657713518.31%
Brown County37,3971,71322-2.17%
Brookings County36,958792477.61%
Meade County31,4583,47195.21%
Lawrence County29,6798003714.84%
Codington County29,441688433.84%
Yankton County23,727521461.89%
Davison County19,95243646-0.02%
Beadle County19,7971,259163.3%
Hughes County17,51074224-1.3%
Union County17,423461383.34%
Clay County15,691412384.61%
Oglala Lakota County13,2862,0946-2.65%
Lake County11,213563201.78%
Butte County11,0092,25056.96%
Roberts County10,3401,10190.88%
Custer County9,3091,557611.69%
Turner County9,305617157.26%
Charles Mix County9,2561,0978-1.2%
Todd County9,1311,3897-2.06%
Grant County7,687681111.98%
Hutchinson County7,48081390.73%
Fall River County7,3851,74045.95%
Bon Homme County7,067564131.39%
Moody County6,586519133.96%
Hamlin County6,565507136.47%
Spink County6,0421,5034-4.7%
McCook County5,891574103.9%
Tripp County5,7051,61241.68%
Day County5,4031,0285-0.75%
Dewey County5,3402,30222.2%
Brule County5,33181771.72%
Kingsbury County5,27083261.37%
Walworth County5,2357077-1.11%
Marshall County4,44483853.16%
Deuel County4,34062371.05%
Gregory County4,0561,01541.32%
Edmunds County4,0291,12641.03%
Clark County3,99895843.76%
Corson County3,7122,4702-4.7%
Lyman County3,7051,64220.03%
Hanson County3,4554358-0.23%
Bennett County3,2491,1853-4.1%
Hand County3,0971,4372-1.37%
Stanley County3,0951,44424.17%
Douglas County2,94043273.74%
Perkins County2,8842,87011.48%
Aurora County2,82270843.18%
Jackson County2,6641,8641-4.82%
Sanborn County2,39156942.79%
Potter County2,3478613-5.1%
Miner County2,2705704-1.48%
McPherson County2,2101,1372-7.99%
Faulk County2,20998223.61%
Ziebach County2,1781,9611-9.06%
Buffalo County1,94447140.26%
Haakon County1,8851,81111.02%
Mellette County1,8071,3071-5.89%
Jerauld County1,65652630.49%
Sully County1,5181,00724.62%
Campbell County1,3107342-4.93%
Harding County1,2942,6720.48-1.07%
Hyde County1,1608611-7.2%
Jones County8159701-11.99%

Overview of South Dakota Counties

There are 66 counties in South Dakota.

Minnehaha County is the largest county in the state, with a population of 213,100. The most recent census shows that its population has increased by 0.08% since the previous census.

A number of other South Dakota counties also boast relatively large populations for their state, though not able to match the density of Minnehaha County:

South Dakota Counties with the Fewest Residents

The smallest county in South Dakota is Jones County, with a population of just 815. This total represents a decrease of 0.1% since the last census count was performed.

Other small counties include:

South Dakota Counties with Rapid Growth

Lincoln County, with its current population of 77,666, has shown the largest population growth, with an increase of 0.2% since the last census.

On the other hand, Jones County has had the largest decrease in population, with its 815 current residents totalling 0.1% less than the previous census.

Sources

  1. US Census State Population Estimates - Most recent state estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program
  2. US Census County Population Estimates - Most recent county estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program
  3. American Community Survey (2009 - 2013)
  4. Census QuickFacts
  5. Historical Populations of States and Counties (1790 - 1990)