How many people live in the Rapid City, SD area?
Updated Mar. 4, 2026Refreshed annually
In 2024 there were 156,200 people in the Rapid City, SD area. That makes the Rapid City, SD metropolitan statistical area the 280th-most populous metro area in the US. It is home to 0.05% of the nation's population.
156K
population of Rapid City, SD area (2024)
0.05%
Rapid City, SD area share of US population (2024)
Between 2010 and 2024, the population of the Rapid City, SD area increased from 126,600 to 156,200—a 23.4% increase. During that same period, the US population grew 9.9%.
About 156,200 people lived in the Rapid City, SD area in 2024.
Population estimates of the Rapid City, SD Metro Area, 2010–2024
What are the age demographics of the Rapid City, SD area?
About 21.3% of the Rapid City, SD area's population in 2024 was aged 65 years or older, higher than the 18% share in the nation overall. Children (under 18) account for 20.9% of the Rapid City, SD area population, below the 21.6% population share of children nationwide.
A higher share of the Rapid City, SD area population is 65 and older than the US overall.
Population share by age group in Rapid City, SD Metro Area and the US overall (2024)
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of the Rapid City, SD area?
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native residents make up 7.1% of the Rapid City, SD area population, higher than the national share of 0.72%. Non-Hispanic white residents make up 80.9% of the population, higher than the national share of 57.5%.
Racial and ethnic make up differ based on location. These figures reflect how people identified their race alone (not in combination with other races), and separate out Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, following Census reporting standards.
A higher share of the Rapid City, SD area population is non-Hispanic white than the US overall.
Population share by race and ethnicity in Rapid City, SD Metro Area and the US overall (2024)
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
