Government budget and revenue in South Dakota, United States: official figures
South Dakota's state government took in $6.8 billion in fiscal year 2024, $7,353 per resident, 6th lowest of 50 states per person (all states: $9,318 per person). The total includes taxes, federal funds, charges and pension-fund investment income.
How much does the South Dakota state government spend?
The South Dakota state government spent $7.3 billion in fiscal year 2024, or $7,895 per resident, 9th lowest of 50 states (all states: $9,444). Spending was 36.3% higher than in fiscal year 2019 ($5.4 billion), before adjusting for inflation.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does the South Dakota state government have?
South Dakota state government debt outstanding was $4.7 billion at the end of fiscal year 2024, $5,032 per resident, 11th highest of 50 states (all states: $3,248). That equals 68% of one year's general revenue; in fiscal year 2019 the debt was $3.9 billion.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much federal funding does South Dakota get?
The federal government provided $2.8 billion to the South Dakota state government in fiscal year 2024, $3,058 per resident and 41.6% of its general revenue, 8th highest share of 50 states (all states: 34.2%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat are federal funds to South Dakota spent on?
Public welfare programmes, mainly Medicaid, accounted for $1.1 billion or 40% of South Dakota's federal funds in fiscal year 2024, and education for $341.0 million (12%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat does the South Dakota state government spend its money on?
Direct state spending on public welfare was $2,110 per resident in fiscal year 2024, 11th lowest of 50 states (all states: $3,000); higher education took $930 per resident and highways $1,040.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does South Dakota give to local governments and schools?
19.6% of South Dakota's state general spending in fiscal year 2024 ($1.4 billion) was paid to other governments, mostly local governments and school districts, 14th lowest share of 50 states (all states: 27.7%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does South Dakota collect?
South Dakota collected $2.7 billion in state taxes in fiscal year 2025, $2,874 per resident, 6th lowest of 50 states (all states: $4,503). That was 0.3% more than in fiscal year 2024 ($2.7 billion); across all states collections rose 4.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does South Dakota rely on?
South Dakota recorded no individual income tax collections in fiscal year 2025. The general sales tax raised $1.7 billion (61.6%, 3rd highest share of 50 states). The largest single tax was the general sales and gross receipts tax (61.6%), followed by the motor fuels tax (7.5%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyDoes South Dakota have corporate, property or severance taxes?
In fiscal year 2025, in South Dakota, corporate net income tax raised $59.9 million (2.2% of state taxes); no state property tax was collected; severance tax on oil, gas, coal and minerals raised $14.7 million (0.5% of state taxes).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much money does the South Dakota state government hold in reserves?
The South Dakota state government held $15.3 billion in cash and securities at the end of fiscal year 2024, $16,476 per resident, of which $14.9 billion was in insurance trust funds such as public employee pension systems.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow South Dakota compares with other states
State government revenue per person (2024)
South Dakota ranks 45 of 50, highest first. All revenue of the state government, including insurance trust income, divided by 1 July population
| Rank | Region | State government revenue per person |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | North Carolina | $7,883 |
| 43 | Colorado | $7,595 |
| 44 | Missouri | $7,376 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $7,353 |
| 46 | New Hampshire | $7,194 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $6,833 |
| 48 | Texas | $6,646 |
State government spending per person (2024)
South Dakota ranks 42 of 50, highest first. Total expenditure of the state government divided by 1 July population
| Rank | Region | State government spending per person |
|---|---|---|
| 39 | Nebraska | $8,090 |
| 40 | Colorado | $8,007 |
| 41 | Montana | $7,942 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $7,895 |
| 43 | New Hampshire | $7,601 |
| 44 | Missouri | $7,584 |
| 45 | Nevada | $7,536 |
State government debt per person (2024)
South Dakota ranks 11 of 50, highest first. Debt outstanding at the end of the fiscal year divided by 1 July population
| Rank | Region | State government debt per person |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | New York | $6,029 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $6,020 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $5,379 |
| 11 | South Dakota | $5,032 |
| 12 | California | $4,227 |
| 13 | Maryland | $4,147 |
| 14 | Vermont | $4,125 |
Federal funds received by the state government per person (2024)
South Dakota ranks 33 of 50, highest first. Intergovernmental revenue from the federal government
| Rank | Region | Federal funds received by the state government per person |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Missouri | $3,188 |
| 31 | Connecticut | $3,157 |
| 32 | New Jersey | $3,125 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $3,058 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $2,944 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $2,843 |
| 36 | Illinois | $2,830 |
Federal funds as a share of state general revenue (2024)
South Dakota ranks 8 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Federal funds as a share of state general revenue |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Montana | 43.8% |
| 6 | Missouri | 43.2% |
| 7 | Mississippi | 42.0% |
| 8 | South Dakota | 41.6% |
| 9 | Indiana | 41.0% |
| 10 | Oklahoma | 40.9% |
| 11 | West Virginia | 40.6% |
State tax collections per person (2025)
South Dakota ranks 45 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | State tax collections per person |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | Ohio | $3,264 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $3,164 |
| 44 | Georgia | $3,040 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $2,874 |
| 46 | Missouri | $2,871 |
| 47 | Texas | $2,836 |
| 48 | Florida | $2,709 |
Individual income tax as a share of state taxes (2025)
South Dakota ranks 48 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Individual income tax as a share of state taxes |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | Tennessee | 0.0% |
| 45 | Texas | 0.0% |
| 46 | Florida | 0.0% |
| 47 | Nevada | 0.0% |
| 48 | South Dakota | 0.0% |
| 49 | Alaska | 0.0% |
| 50 | Wyoming | 0.0% |
General sales tax as a share of state taxes (2025)
South Dakota ranks 3 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | General sales tax as a share of state taxes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | 62.9% |
| 2 | Texas | 62.8% |
| 3 | South Dakota | 61.6% |
| 4 | Washington | 59.4% |
| 5 | Tennessee | 57.5% |
| 6 | Nevada | 52.4% |
| 7 | Arizona | 50.7% |
State spending on public welfare per person (2024)
South Dakota ranks 40 of 50, highest first. Direct general expenditure on public welfare, mainly Medicaid
| Rank | Region | State spending on public welfare per person |
|---|---|---|
| 37 | Kansas | $2,309 |
| 38 | Colorado | $2,275 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $2,266 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $2,110 |
| 41 | Nevada | $2,036 |
| 42 | Utah | $1,975 |
| 43 | New Hampshire | $1,939 |
More on South Dakota: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: Annual Survey of State Government Finances: State Government Finances, U.S. and States, 2012-2024 (table GS00STATEFIN01, amounts in thousands of dollars), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 72ff59b48414…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Annual Survey of State Government Tax Collections: historical database, fiscal years to 2025 (thousands of dollars), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bdf560cd3d8f…)
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