South Dakota

State Office of Rural Health

South Dakota Office of Rural Health

Phone: 605.773.3361

Works to improve access and delivery of healthcare services to rural and medically underserved communities in South Dakota. Activities include recruiting health professionals, assisting hospitals and rural health clinics, and helping organizations develop and use technology.
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South Dakota Nonmetro Population

890,342

Estimated population

446,827 (50.2%)

People living in nonmetro areas

Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-year estimate

South Dakota Rural Healthcare Facilities

40

Critical Access Hospitals

0

Rural Emergency Hospitals

58

Rural Health Clinics

39

Federally Qualified Health Centers*

10

Short Term/PPS Hospitals*

*Sites according to data.HRSA.gov (July 2024), showing only locations outside of U.S. Census Bureau Urban Areas with a population of 50,000 or more

Selected Social Determinants of Health for Rural South Dakota

8.0% of South Dakota residents lack health insurance (Kaiser, 2022). According to the USDA Economic Research Service, the average per capita income for South Dakotans in 2021 was $64,462, with the rural per capita income at $58,417. The ERS reports, based on 2021 ACS data, that the poverty rate in rural South Dakota is 14.9%, compared with 9.0% in urban areas of the state. 9.0% of the rural population has not completed high school, while 6.0% of the urban population lacks a high school diploma according to 2017-2021 ACS data reported by ERS. The unemployment rate in rural South Dakota is 2.2%, while the urban rate is 1.9% (USDA-ERS, 2022).