Wakpala, SD Demographics

A map of Wakpala's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
Native American/Other	143	251	99.3%	94.0%
White	1	4	0.7%	1.5%
Black	0	1	0.0%	0.4%
Asian	0	0	0.0%	0.0%
Hispanic	0	1	0.0%	0.4%
Multiracial	0	10	0.0%	3.7%

Wakpala, South Dakota has an estimated population of 144, a dramatic decrease from the 267 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 99.3% Native American/Other, 0.7% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% Hispanic, and 0.0% Multiracial. This demographic dot map shows the population of Wakpala, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Wakpala has become considerably less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than South Dakota overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Wakpala, that probability was 11.5% in 2020 and 1.4% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Wakpala is ranked the 266th most populous place in South Dakota, out of 485 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Wakpala was ranked the 206th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Wakpala's White Population

1 residents of Wakpala, or 0.7% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Wakpala is significantly lower than in South Dakota overall, where 79.8% of the population is White. Wakpala ranks 457th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 485 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Wakpala's White population has declined by an estimated 75.0%. White residents' share of Wakpala's population has decreased from 1.5% to 0.7%.

Wakpala is less White than neighboring Mobridge (67.1% White), Kenel (2.5% White), Little Eagle (1.8% White), Glenham (100% White), and McLaughlin (34.7% White).

Wakpala's Black Population

0 residents of Wakpala, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Wakpala is slightly lower than in South Dakota overall, where 2.1% of the population is Black. Wakpala ranks 111th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 485 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Wakpala's Black population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Black residents' share of Wakpala's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Wakpala's Asian Population

0 residents of Wakpala, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Wakpala is comparable to the share in South Dakota overall, where 1.4% of the population is Asian. Wakpala ranks 176th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 485 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Wakpala's Asian population has grown from 0 to an estimated 0. Asian residents' share of Wakpala's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Wakpala is less Asian than neighboring Mobridge (1% Asian).

Wakpala's Hispanic Population

0 residents of Wakpala, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Wakpala is slightly lower than in South Dakota overall, where 4.8% of the population is Hispanic. Wakpala ranks 380th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 485 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Wakpala's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Hispanic residents' share of Wakpala's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Wakpala is less Hispanic than neighboring Little Eagle (1.8% Hispanic), and McLaughlin (1.3% Hispanic).

Wakpala's Native American/Other Population

143 residents of Wakpala, or 99.3% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Wakpala is significantly higher than in South Dakota overall, where 7.5% of the population is Native American/Other. Wakpala ranks 19th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 485 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Wakpala's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 43.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Wakpala's population has increased from 94.0% to 99.3%.

Wakpala is more Native American/Other than neighboring Mobridge (17.5% Native American/Other), Kenel (93.3% Native American/Other), Little Eagle (96.4% Native American/Other), Glenham (0% Native American/Other), and McLaughlin (61.5% Native American/Other).

Wakpala's Multiracial Population

0 residents of Wakpala, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Wakpala is slightly lower than in South Dakota overall, where 4.4% of the population is Multiracial. Wakpala ranks 168th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 485 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Wakpala's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Multiracial residents' share of Wakpala's population has decreased from 3.7% to 0.0%.

Wakpala is less Multiracial than neighboring Mobridge (14.5% Multiracial), Kenel (4.3% Multiracial), and McLaughlin (2.5% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.