14 Core Economic Indicators National Ranking
Economic Scale & Vitality National Ranking
Innovation & Enterprise National Ranking
Human & Capital Living National Ranking
Structural & Policy National Ranking
STATE PERFORMANCE GAUGE CHARTS
US STATES ECONOMIC & INNOVATION COMPETITIVENESS
An executive-grade benchmarking index developed by theboardiQ LLC to evaluate and rank the macroeconomic strength, innovation capacity, and structural competitiveness of 50 States in the United States.
Designed for corporate board directors, institutional investors, and policymakers, the index synthesizes raw macroeconomic and institutional data into a standardized 0–100 Composite Score across 4 Strategic Macro Pillars and 14 Underlying Sub-Metrics.
The Executive Dashboard incorporates a boardroom governance matrix mapping strategic mandates, benchmark metrics, director compensation, and critical oversight inquiries across 9 Board Roles/Industry Lens
COMPETITIVENESS SWOT
South Dakota
Strengths
• Exceptionally low unemployment rate (2.4%) and top-tier fiscal stability• Robust agricultural economy (livestock, grain production) and financial services sector• Iconic national tourism destinations (Mount Rushmore, Black Hills) driving revenue
Weaknesses
• Small population density and economic scale ($82.0B GDP; #46)• Extreme weather risks affecting crop yields and seasonal commerce• Acute labor shortages across rural agricultural and industrial sectors
Opportunities
• Renewable wind energy development, bio-fuels, and grid export capacity• Ag-tech innovation, autonomous farming, and value-added food processing• Tourism sector expansion and financial tech ecosystem growth
Threats
• Severe drought, extreme weather events, and shifting agricultural climate patterns• International trade trade friction and commodity price drops impacting farm revenue• Federal agricultural policy shifts and persistent rural out-migration
METRICS DEEPDIVE
Economic Scale & Vitality
GDP
Trade
Trade Overall Rank | Trade Surplus / Deficit | Exports in Millions USD | Total US Overall Exports 2026 YTD | Export % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
13 | $155 | $1,260 | $1,639,475 | 0.08% |
Imports in Millions USD | Total US Overall Imports 2026 YTD | Import % |
|---|---|---|
$1,105 | $2,415,187 | 0.05% |