Poverty and living standards in South Dakota, United States: official figures
The Census Bureau estimates that 10.5% of people in South Dakota lived below the federal poverty line in 2024, about 94,450 people; 19th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 12.1%).
Has poverty in South Dakota gone up or down?
In 2019 the estimate for South Dakota was 11.9% (101,371 people), so the rate is down 1.4 percentage points over five years; the national rate moved from 12.3% to 12.1%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children live in poverty in South Dakota?
11.9% of children under 18 in South Dakota were in poverty in 2024, about 25,758 children; 17th lowest among the 50 states and DC. For children under 5 the rate was 12.7% (U.S.: 15.5% for under-18s, 16.5% for under-5s).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in South Dakota?
The Gini index of household income inequality in South Dakota was 0.4433 in 2024 (0 means every household has the same income, 1 means one household has it all); 6th least unequal among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 0.4809).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in South Dakota are cost-burdened?
41.9% of renting households in South Dakota spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2024, and 16.8% spent half or more; the 30% share is 3rd lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 51.8%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in South Dakota get food stamps?
7.1% of households in South Dakota (27,163) said they received SNAP food benefits at some point in the previous 12 months in the 2024 American Community Survey; 7th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 11.8%). 54% of those households had incomes below the poverty line, and 64% of households below the poverty line did not receive SNAP.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people get SNAP in South Dakota?
An average of 75,176 people in South Dakota received SNAP benefits each month in fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025), up 0.1% on fiscal 2024 (75,082), according to USDA administrative data; nationally the average was 42.14 million.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow much are SNAP benefits in South Dakota?
SNAP benefits paid in South Dakota totaled $179.02 million in fiscal 2025, an average of $198.44 per person per month (U.S.: $189.36); 8th largest average benefit among the 50 states and DC.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow many homeless people are there in South Dakota?
Local counts on a single night in January 2025 found 1,450 people experiencing homelessness in South Dakota, up 8.4% on 2024 (1,338) and up 45.7% on 2019 (995); 4th smallest count among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 745,652).
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many homeless people in South Dakota sleep outside?
Of those counted in South Dakota in January 2025, 1,087 were in emergency shelters or transitional housing and 363 (25.0%) were unsheltered, sleeping outside or in places not meant for housing; 24th lowest unsheltered share among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 35.7%).
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyWho is homeless in South Dakota?
The January 2025 count in South Dakota included 412 people in families with children, 280 children under 18, 181 chronically homeless individuals and 43 veterans.
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many households in South Dakota are food insecure?
On average over 2021 to 2023, 9.0% of households in South Dakota were food insecure, meaning they had difficulty at some time in the year providing enough food because of a lack of resources; 4th lowest among the 50 states and DC and statistically lower than the national average of 12.2%, according to USDA.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyIs food insecurity in South Dakota getting worse?
3.8% of households in South Dakota had very low food security in 2021-23, with some members eating less or skipping meals. Overall food insecurity was 9.1% in 2018-20 and 12.6% in 2011-13; the move from 2018-20 to 2021-23 is -0.1 percentage points, a change USDA does not rate as statistically significant.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyHow South Dakota compares with other states
People in poverty (all ages) (2024)
South Dakota ranks 33 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | People in poverty (all ages) |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | North Dakota | 10.8% |
| 31 | Nebraska | 10.6% |
| 32 | Maine | 10.6% |
| 33 | South Dakota | 10.5% |
| 34 | Idaho | 10.4% |
| 35 | Montana | 10.4% |
| 36 | Wisconsin | 10.3% |
Children under 18 in poverty (2024)
South Dakota ranks 35 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | Children under 18 in poverty |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Kansas | 12.8% |
| 33 | Maine | 12.3% |
| 34 | Wisconsin | 12.2% |
| 35 | South Dakota | 11.9% |
| 36 | New Jersey | 11.8% |
| 37 | Virginia | 11.8% |
| 38 | Montana | 11.7% |
Gini index of household income inequality (2024)
South Dakota ranks 46 of 51, highest first. 0 = perfect equality, 1 = one household has all income
| Rank | Region | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 43 | New Hampshire | 0.4478 |
| 44 | Delaware | 0.4478 |
| 45 | Nebraska | 0.4458 |
| 46 | South Dakota | 0.4433 |
| 47 | Wisconsin | 0.4419 |
| 48 | Alaska | 0.4395 |
| 49 | Iowa | 0.4357 |
Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent (2024)
South Dakota ranks 49 of 51, highest first. Share of renter households for which the ratio can be computed
| Rank | Region | Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | Kansas | 43.4% |
| 46 | Iowa | 43.2% |
| 47 | Wyoming | 42.9% |
| 48 | Montana | 42.7% |
| 49 | South Dakota | 41.9% |
| 50 | Alaska | 41.5% |
| 51 | North Dakota | 36.1% |
Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months (2024)
South Dakota ranks 45 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey
| Rank | Region | Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | Minnesota | 8.3% |
| 43 | Iowa | 8.2% |
| 44 | Idaho | 7.2% |
| 45 | South Dakota | 7.1% |
| 46 | Montana | 7.0% |
| 47 | New Hampshire | 6.5% |
| 48 | North Dakota | 6.4% |
Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) (2021-2023)
South Dakota ranks 48 of 51, highest first. Low or very low food security
| Rank | Region | Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | Massachusetts | 9.3% |
| 46 | Vermont | 9.2% |
| 47 | Minnesota | 9.1% |
| 48 | South Dakota | 9.0% |
| 49 | District of Columbia | 8.8% |
| 50 | North Dakota | 8.6% |
| 51 | New Hampshire | 7.4% |
People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) (2025)
South Dakota ranks 48 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | Montana | 2,263 |
| 46 | West Virginia | 1,925 |
| 47 | Delaware | 1,573 |
| 48 | South Dakota | 1,450 |
| 49 | Mississippi | 1,245 |
| 50 | North Dakota | 861 |
| 51 | Wyoming | 535 |
Share of homeless people who were unsheltered (2025)
South Dakota ranks 28 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | Share of homeless people who were unsheltered |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Colorado | 30.4% |
| 26 | New Hampshire | 27.1% |
| 27 | Rhode Island | 26.0% |
| 28 | South Dakota | 25.0% |
| 29 | Indiana | 23.0% |
| 30 | Utah | 22.8% |
| 31 | Connecticut | 22.3% |
People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) (FY2025)
South Dakota ranks 47 of 51, highest first. USDA FNS National Data Bank
| Rank | Region | People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | Delaware | 118,828 |
| 45 | Montana | 79,828 |
| 46 | New Hampshire | 75,857 |
| 47 | South Dakota | 75,176 |
| 48 | Vermont | 64,802 |
| 49 | Alaska | 64,610 |
| 50 | North Dakota | 55,260 |
More on South Dakota: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Gini index of income inequality (B19083), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 dc8a2b21190b…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Receipt of food stamps/SNAP by poverty status for households (B22003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 53dc663e0426…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Gross rent as a percentage of household income (B25070), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 edf1abe1970b…)
- USDA Economic Research Service: Household Food Security in the United States in 2023 (ERR-337), tables 4 and 5: food insecurity by State, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c0eebe273d83…)
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: 2007-2025 Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness by State (2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, Part 1), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c04ebcbe51c8…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2024 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cb52c47d75c1…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2019 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 229d90cb3e05…)
- USDA Food and Nutrition Service: SNAP Monthly State Participation and Benefit Summary, fiscal years 1969 to current (FY24.xlsx and FY25.xlsx), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 d31418fd3b4b…)
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