Fact Sheet

Tobacco use: South Dakota 2026

Topic

Smoking by Region

Subtopic

State Facts

Cigarette use: South Dakota*

In 2024, 15.2% of adults smoked. Nationally, the adult cigarette smoking prevalence was 11.6%.
In 2018-2019, 20.5% of adults who smoked in South Dakota smoked menthol cigarettes. Nationally, 32.3% of adult smokers used menthol cigarettes during this period.
In 2023, 4.6% of high school students in South Dakota smoked cigarettes on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, smoking prevalence among high school students was 3.5%.

Other tobacco product use: South Dakota*

In 2024, 8.0% of adults in South Dakota used e-cigarettes. Nationally, adult e-cigarette use prevalence was 8.0%.
In 2023, 5.8% of adults in South Dakota used smokeless tobacco every day or some days. Nationally, adult smokeless tobacco use prevalence was 2.0%.
In 2023, 14.7% of high school students in South Dakota used electronic vapor products on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, the e-cigarette use prevalence among high school students was 16.8%.
In 2023, 2.3% of high school students in South Dakota used chewing tobacco, snuff, or dip on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, the smokeless tobacco use prevalence among high school students was 2.3%.
In 2023, 3.6% of high school students in South Dakota smoked cigars, cigarillos, or little cigars on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, the cigar use prevalence among high school students was 4.5%.

Economics of tobacco use and tobacco control

South Dakota received $115.9 million (estimated) in revenue from tobacco settlement payments and taxes in fiscal year 2026.
Of this, the state allocated $2.4 million in state funds to tobacco prevention in fiscal year 2026, 17.1% of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's annual spending target.
Smoking-caused health care costs: $630 million per year.
Smoking-caused losses in productivity: $838.6 million per year.

South Dakota tobacco laws

Tobacco taxes

South Dakota is ranked 31st in the U.S. for its cigarette tax of $1.53 per pack (enacted January 2007), compared to the national average of $2.05. (New York has the highest tax at $5.35 and Missouri has the lowest at 17 cents.)
All other tobacco products are taxed at 35% of the wholesale price.

Clean indoor air ordinances

Smoking is prohibited in government workplaces, private workplaces, schools, childcare facilities, restaurants, bars (smoking of certain tobacco products allowed in certain bars), casinos/gaming establishments (tribal establishments exempt), retail stores, and public places.
The use of electronic smoking devices is prohibited similar to smoking, including public places and workplaces.
The Department of Corrections policy prohibits the use of e-cigarettes by staff and offenders on all property owned by the executive branch of state government, including all real property leased by the state where the state is the sole occupant, including all state vehicles, parking lots, and walkways.
E-cigarettes are included in the state's indoor air laws and the state's definition of tobacco products.

Licensing laws

Wholesalers are required to obtain a license to sell tobacco products. Retailers are not required to obtain a license to sell tobacco products.
A license is not required to sell e-cigarette products.

Youth access laws

In December 2019, the United States adopted a law raising the federal minimum age of sale of all tobacco products to 21, effective immediately.
Establishments are required to post signs stating that sales to people under 21 are prohibited.
People under 21 are prohibited from buying e-cigarettes.
It is prohibited to distribute free vapor products within 500 feet of a school, playground, or other facility primarily used by people under age 21.
Self-service displays of vapor products are restricted to specialty stores or vending machines inaccessible to people under 21 years old.

Quitting statistics and benefits

The CDC estimates 39.8% of daily adult smokers in South Dakota quit smoking for one or more days in 2019.
In 2014, the Affordable Care Act required that Medicaid programs cover all tobacco cessation medications. However, there is not enough evidence that the South Dakota Medicaid program has complied with this requirement regarding NRT gum, NRT patch, NRT nasal spray, NRT lozenge, and NRT inhaler.**
South Dakota's state quit line invests $9.87 per smoker, compared to the national median of $2.62.
South Dakota does not have a private insurance mandate provision for cessation.

Notes and references (March 2026)

*The datasets for both adults and youth prevalence were used to make direct comparisons at the state and national levels. National prevalence reported here may differ from what is reported in our national-level fact sheets. The numbers here also reflect the most recent data available. Dates of available data may differ across state fact sheets.

The seven recommended cessation medications are NRT gum, NRT patch, NRT nasal spray, NRT inhaler, NRT lozenge, Varenicline (Chantix) and Bupropion (Zyban).

Fiore MC, et al. Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update. Clinical Practice Guideline. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service; May 2008.

CDC. (2023). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
CDC. (2024). State Menthol Fact Sheets.
CDC. (2023). Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System.
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. (2026). Broken Promises to Our Children: A State-by-State Look at the 1998 State Tobacco Settlement 24 Years Later (FY2026).
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. (2024). The Toll of Tobacco in the United States.
American Lung Association. (2026). State Legislated Actions on Tobacco Issues (SLATI).
American Lung Association. (2026). State of Tobacco Control.
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. (June 14, 2024). State Cigarette Excise Tax Rates & Rankings. https://assets.tobaccofreekids.org/factsheets/0097.pdf
Public Health Law Center. (June 15, 2024). U.S. E-Cigarette Regulations: 50-State Review. https://www.publichealthlawcenter.org/resources/us-e-cigarette-regulations-50-state-review
FDA. (2024). Tobacco 21. https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/retail-sales-tobacco-products/tobacco-21
CDC. (2024). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, State Tobacco Activities Tracking and Evaluation System.