Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

be 18.7% less likely to be obese

In South Dakota, 35.6% of adults are obese as of 2022. In Ecuador, that number is 28.9% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

be 37.9% more likely to be unemployed

In South Dakota, 2.4% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Ecuador, that number is 3.3% as of 2025.

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be 91.1% 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 21.4% as of 2025.

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make 88.5% less money

South Dakota has a GDP per capita of $61,724 as of 2024, while in Ecuador, the GDP per capita is $7,125 as of 2025.

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Basic Needs

be 13.0% less likely to have internet access

In South Dakota, approximately 88.7% of the population has internet access as of 2023. In Ecuador, about 77.2% do as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2024–2025), US Census Bureau (American Community Survey) (2023), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES) (2022), World Health Organization (2024), Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024). How we calculate this

Compare further: South Dakota vs. Ecuador

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Ecuador is 56.6% 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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