Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Ecuador instead of South Dakota, you would:

Health

live 0.8 years longer

In South Dakota, the average life expectancy is 77 years (76 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2020. In Ecuador, that number is 78 years (75 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2020.

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Economy

make 76.8% less money

South Dakota has a GDP per capita of $61,724 as of 2024, while in Ecuador, the GDP per capita is $14,300 as of 2023.

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be 40.4% more likely to be unemployed

In South Dakota, 2.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Ecuador, that number is 3.4% as of 2023.

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be 2.2 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In South Dakota, 11.2% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Ecuador, however, that number is 25.2% as of 2022.

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Basic Needs

be 14.3% less likely to have internet access

In South Dakota, approximately 88.7% of the population has internet access as of 2023. In Ecuador, about 76.0% do as of 2021.

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The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, OECD Regional Demography, Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Compare further: South Dakota vs. Ecuador
Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Ecuador is 41.9% cheaper than South Dakota
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Size Comparison · See true size
South Dakota is about 1.4 times smaller than Ecuador.
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Ecuador: At a glance

Ecuador is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 276,841 sq km. What is now Ecuador formed part of the northern Inca Empire until the Spanish conquest in 1533. Quito became a seat of Spanish colonial government in 1563 and part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada in 1717. The territories of the Viceroyalty - New Granada (Colombia), Venezuela, and Quito - gained their independence between 1819 and 1822 and formed a federation known as Gran Colombia. When Quito withdrew in 1830, the traditional name was changed in favor of the "Republic of the Equator." Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border war with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999. Although Ecuador marked 30 years of civilian governance in 2004, the period was marred by political instability. Protests in Quito contributed to the mid-term ouster of three of Ecuador's last four democratically elected presidents. In late 2008, voters approved a new constitution, Ecuador's 20th since gaining independence. General elections were held in February 2013, and voters re-elected President Rafael CORREA.
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How big is Ecuador compared to South Dakota? See an in-depth size comparison.

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