Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 6.9 years longer

In South Dakota, the average life expectancy is 77 years (76 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2020. In Iceland, that number is 84 years (81 years for men, 86 years for women) as of 2022.

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Economy

be 48.3% more likely to be unemployed

In South Dakota, 2.4% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In Iceland, that number is 3.6% as of 2023.

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Basic Needs

be 12.7% more likely to have internet access

In South Dakota, approximately 88.7% of the population has internet access as of 2023. In Iceland, about 100.0% do as of 2021.

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

Compare further: South Dakota vs. Iceland
Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Iceland is 81.8% more expensive than South Dakota
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Size Comparison · See true size
South Dakota is about 1.9 times bigger than Iceland.
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Iceland: At a glance

Iceland is a sovereign country in Europe, with a total land area of approximately 100,250 sq km. Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts the world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althing, established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Fallout from the Askja volcano of 1875 devastated the Icelandic economy and caused widespread famine. Over the next quarter century, 20% of the island's population emigrated, mostly to Canada and the US. Denmark granted limited home rule in 1874 and complete independence in 1944. The second half of the 20th century saw substantial economic growth driven primarily by the fishing industry. The economy diversified greatly after the country joined the European Economic Area in 1994, but Iceland was especially hard hit by the global financial crisis in the years following 2008. Literacy, longevity, and social cohesion are first rate by world standards.
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How big is Iceland compared to South Dakota? See an in-depth size comparison.

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