South Dakota’s Air Quality Ranks Among The Nation’s Cleanest

South Dakota is among the states breathing easiest in America.

According to the latest data released from the Environmental Protection Agency's annual America’s Health Rankings report, the Mount Rushmore State has some of the cleanest air in the country.

South Dakota's 5.7 average particle pollution level is the fourth-lowest in the nation, trailing only Wyoming, Hawaii, and New Hampshire.

STATES WITH THE LOWEST AVERAGE PARTICLE POLLUTION

• Wyoming: 4.1
• Hawaii: 4.7
• New Hampshire: 5.0
• South Dakota: 5.7
• Alaska: 5.9
• Maine: 5.9
• New Mexico: 5.9
• Colorado: 6.0
• Vermont: 6.0
• Montana: 6.5

For the analysis, states were ranked based on the 2022 to 2024 average fine particle pollution (µg/m³). The U.S. average stood at 8.8 µg/m³, exceeding the World Health Organization’s (WHO) air quality guideline of 5 µg/m³. That means the average American is breathing air that falls short of global health standards.

READ MORE: South Dakota Traffic Deaths Hit A Five-year Low In 2025

Nearly half of Americans live in areas with unhealthy air pollution levels.

STATES WITH THE HIGHEST AVERAGE PARTICLE POLLUTION

• California: 11.7
• Pennsylvania: 11.0
• Michigan: 10.4
• Illinois: 10.3
• Ohio: 9.8
• Delaware: 9.7
• Indiana: 9.5
• Texas: 9.4
• Georgia 9.2
• Kansas: 8.7

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