South Dakota Crime Statistics
46 years of data (1979–2024)
Key Insights
- →South Dakota ranks #21 out of 51 states for violent crime rate (362.3 per 100K).
- →Violent crime increased 2.9% from 2023 to 2024.
- →58 cities report crime data. Safest: Brandon (73.2/100K). Most dangerous: Rapid City (718.9/100K).
- →43 murders in 2024 — a rate of 4.7 per 100K residents.
- →Since 1979, South Dakota's violent crime rate has changed by +128%.
Violent Crime Rate
362.3
+2.9% YoY
Murder Rate
4.7
43 total
Property Crime Rate
1586.0
14,665 total
Population
924,669
2024
2024 Crime Breakdown
Violent Crime: 3,350
Murder43
Rape476
Robbery209
Aggravated Assault2,622
Property Crime: 14,665
Burglary1,800
Larceny-Theft11,054
Motor Vehicle Theft1,811
Violent Crime Rate Trend
Homicide Rate Trend
Violent Crime Breakdown (2024)
Most Dangerous Cities
| City | Violent Rate | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | 718.9 | 80,957 |
| Sioux Falls | 526.7 | 210,926 |
| Pierre | 506.4 | 13,822 |
| Box Elder | 349.6 | 14,589 |
| Watertown | 303.2 | 23,417 |
| Huron | 291.7 | 14,740 |
| Yankton | 273.9 | 15,698 |
| Aberdeen | 267.8 | 28,004 |
| Spearfish | 263.6 | 13,657 |
| Mitchell | 262.7 | 15,607 |
Crime Velocity — Which Cities Are Changing Fastest
Fastest Improving
Fastest Worsening
Velocity scores measure the direction and speed of crime changes. Negative = improving, positive = worsening. Full methodology →
Hate Crimes in South Dakota
29 incidents reported
Top bias motivations: Sexual Orientation (3)
Explore full hate crime data →All StatesSafest Cities in South DakotaMost Dangerous in South DakotaCompare CitiesArrest DataHate Crimes
Arrest Demographics (National)
The FBI publishes state-level total arrest counts but does not break down arrest demographics by race at the state level in the same detail as national data. For national arrest demographic patterns, see our dedicated pages:
Related Analysis
More for South Dakota
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer. Rates per 100,000 residents. City data from Table 8.