| Survey year | Conservative | Moderate | Liberal | Don't know | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 47% | 32% | 15% | 5% | 305 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Learn More: Conservative, Moderate
Demographic✭Information
Age distribution among adults in South Dakota by political ideology
% of adults in South Dakota who are ages…
| Political ideology | 18-29 | 30-49 | 50-64 | 65+ | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 11% | 34% | 34% | 21% | 136 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Switch Display To: political ideology among adults in South Dakota by age group
Generational cohort among adults in South Dakota by political ideology
% of adults in South Dakota who are…
| Political ideology | Younger Millennial | Older Millennial | Generation X | Baby Boomer | Silent | Greatest | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 9% | 11% | 25% | 38% | 15% | 2% | 136 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Switch Display To: political ideology among adults in South Dakota by generational group
Gender composition among adults in South Dakota by political ideology
% of adults in South Dakota who are…
| Political ideology | Men | Women | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 47% | 53% | 139 |
| Moderate | 54% | 46% | 103 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Switch Display To: political ideology among adults in South Dakota by gender
Racial and ethnic composition among adults in South Dakota by political ideology
% of adults in South Dakota who identify as…
| Political ideology | White | Black | Asian | Latino | Other/Mixed | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 91% | < 1% | 1% | 4% | 4% | 139 |
| Moderate | 93% | < 1% | < 1% | < 1% | 7% | 101 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Switch Display To: political ideology among adults in South Dakota by race/ethnicity
Immigrant status among adults in South Dakota by political ideology
% of adults in South Dakota who are…
| Political ideology | Immigrants | Second generation | Third generation or higher | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 5% | 4% | 91% | 139 |
| Moderate | < 1% | 2% | 98% | 102 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Switch Display To: political ideology among adults in South Dakota by immigrant status
Income distribution among adults in South Dakota by political ideology
% of adults in South Dakota who have a household income of…
| Political ideology | Less than $30,000 | $30,000-$49,999 | $50,000-$99,999 | $100,000 or more | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 27% | 21% | 38% | 14% | 123 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Switch Display To: political ideology among adults in South Dakota by household income
Educational distribution among adults in South Dakota by political ideology
% of adults in South Dakota who have completed…
| Political ideology | High school or less | Some college | College | Post-graduate degree | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 48% | 32% | 14% | 7% | 139 |
| Moderate | 32% | 34% | 21% | 14% | 103 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Switch Display To: political ideology among adults in South Dakota by educational group
Marital status among adults in South Dakota by political ideology
% of adults in South Dakota who are…
| Political ideology | Married | Living with a partner | Divorced/separated | Widowed | Never married | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 53% | 7% | 9% | 12% | 20% | 139 |
| Moderate | 47% | 11% | 13% | 3% | 25% | 103 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Switch Display To: political ideology among adults in South Dakota by marital status
Parent of children under 18 among adults in South Dakota by political ideology
% of adults in South Dakota who are…
| Political ideology | Parents | Non-parents | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 26% | 74% | 139 |
| Moderate | 24% | 76% | 103 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Switch Display To: political ideology among adults in South Dakota by parental status
Beliefs✭and✭Practices
Belief in God among adults in South Dakota by political ideology
% of adults in South Dakota who say they…
| Political ideology | Believe in God; absolutely certain | Believe in God; fairly certain | Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | Believe in God; don't know | Do not believe in God | Other/don't know if they believe in God | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 76% | 22% | < 1% | < 1% | 2% | < 1% | 139 |
| Moderate | 68% | 19% | 5% | < 1% | 7% | < 1% | 103 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Switch Display To: political ideology among adults in South Dakota by belief in God
Importance of religion in one's life among adults in South Dakota by political ideology
% of adults in South Dakota who say religion is…
| Political ideology | Very important | Somewhat important | Not too important | Not at all important | Don't know | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 73% | 21% | 5% | 1% | 1% | 139 |
| Moderate | 49% | 32% | 5% | 14% | < 1% | 103 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Switch Display To: political ideology among adults in South Dakota by importance of religion
Attendance at religious services among adults in South Dakota by political ideology
% of adults in South Dakota who attend religious services…
| Political ideology | At least once a week | Once or twice a month/a few times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 44% | 40% | 16% | < 1% | 139 |
| Moderate | 39% | 34% | 27% | < 1% | 103 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Switch Display To: political ideology among adults in South Dakota by religious attendance
Frequency of prayer among adults in South Dakota by political ideology
% of adults in South Dakota who pray…
| Political ideology | At least daily | Weekly | Monthly | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 62% | 20% | 8% | 9% | < 1% | 139 |
| Moderate | 61% | 16% | 9% | 14% | 1% | 103 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Switch Display To: political ideology among adults in South Dakota by frequency of prayer
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups among adults in South Dakota by political ideology
% of adults in South Dakota who attend prayer group…
| Political ideology | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 26% | 8% | 10% | 55% | 1% | 139 |
| Moderate | 17% | 9% | 13% | 61% | < 1% | 103 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Frequency of meditation among adults in South Dakota by political ideology
% of adults in South Dakota who meditate…
| Political ideology | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 32% | 11% | 7% | 50% | 1% | 139 |
| Moderate | 38% | 13% | 2% | 46% | < 1% | 103 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Switch Display To: political ideology among adults in South Dakota by frequency of meditation
Frequency of feeling spiritual peace and wellbeing among adults in South Dakota by political ideology
% of adults in South Dakota who feel a sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing…
| Political ideology | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 65% | 15% | 9% | 12% | < 1% | 139 |
| Moderate | 70% | 14% | 10% | 5% | < 1% | 103 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Frequency of feeling wonder about the universe among adults in South Dakota by political ideology
% of adults in South Dakota who feel a sense of wonder about the universe…
| Political ideology | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 40% | 18% | 8% | 34% | < 1% | 139 |
| Moderate | 58% | 11% | 12% | 19% | < 1% | 103 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Sources of guidance on right and wrong among adults in South Dakota by political ideology
% of adults in South Dakota who say they look to…most for guidance on right and wrong
| Political ideology | Religion | Philosophy/reason | Common sense | Science | Don't know | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 48% | 8% | 38% | 6% | < 1% | 139 |
| Moderate | 24% | 11% | 56% | 9% | 1% | 103 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong among adults in South Dakota by political ideology
% of adults in South Dakota who say…
| Political ideology | There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | Right or wrong depends on the situation | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 50% | 49% | < 1% | 1% | 139 |
| Moderate | 30% | 67% | 3% | < 1% | 103 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Frequency of reading scripture among adults in South Dakota by political ideology
% of adults in South Dakota who read scripture…
| Political ideology | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 34% | 8% | 11% | 46% | 1% | 139 |
| Moderate | 34% | 12% | 9% | 45% | < 1% | 103 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Interpreting scripture among adults in South Dakota by political ideology
% of adults in South Dakota who say the holy scripture is…
| Political ideology | Word of God; should be taken literally | Word of God; not everything taken literally | Word of God; other/don't know | Not the word of God | Other/don't know | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 43% | 39% | 1% | 11% | 6% | 139 |
| Moderate | 22% | 36% | 2% | 22% | 17% | 103 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Belief in Heaven among adults in South Dakota by political ideology
% of adults in South Dakota who …in heaven
| Political ideology | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 84% | 6% | 10% | 139 |
| Moderate | 82% | 14% | 4% | 103 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Switch Display To: political ideology among adults in South Dakota by belief in heaven
Belief in Hell among adults in South Dakota by political ideology
% of adults in South Dakota who …in hell
| Political ideology | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 71% | 18% | 10% | 139 |
| Moderate | 62% | 31% | 6% | 103 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Switch Display To: political ideology among adults in South Dakota by belief in hell
Social✭and✭Political✭Views
Party affiliation among adults in South Dakota by political ideology
% of adults in South Dakota who identify as…
| Political ideology | Republican/lean Rep. | No lean | Democrat/lean Dem. | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 77% | 6% | 17% | 139 |
| Moderate | 39% | 11% | 50% | 103 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Switch Display To: political ideology among adults in South Dakota by political party
Views about size of government among adults in South Dakota by political ideology
% of adults in South Dakota who would rather have…
| Political ideology | Smaller government; fewer services | Bigger government; more services | Depends | Don't know | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 83% | 14% | 1% | 2% | 139 |
| Moderate | 67% | 25% | 5% | 2% | 103 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Views about government aid to the poor among adults in South Dakota by political ideology
% of adults in South Dakota who say government aid to the poor…
| Political ideology | Does more harm than good | Does more good than harm | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 68% | 30% | 1% | 1% | 139 |
| Moderate | 42% | 54% | 2% | 1% | 103 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Views about abortion among adults in South Dakota by political ideology
% of adults in South Dakota who say abortion should be…
| Political ideology | Legal in all/most cases | Illegal in all/most cases | Don't know | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 36% | 61% | 4% | 139 |
| Moderate | 54% | 45% | 1% | 103 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Switch Display To: political ideology among adults in South Dakota by views about abortion
Views about homosexuality among adults in South Dakota by political ideology
% of adults in South Dakota who say homosexuality…
| Political ideology | Should be accepted | Should be discouraged | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 41% | 50% | 6% | 3% | 139 |
| Moderate | 62% | 32% | 2% | 4% | 103 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Switch Display To: political ideology among adults in South Dakota by views about homosexuality
Views about same-sex marriage among adults in South Dakota by political ideology
% of adults in South Dakota who …same-sex marriage
| Political ideology | Strongly favor/favor | Oppose/strongly oppose | Don't know | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 25% | 67% | 8% | 139 |
| Moderate | 62% | 35% | 3% | 103 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Views about environmental regulation among adults in South Dakota by political ideology
% of adults in South Dakota who say…
| Political ideology | Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy | Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 65% | 34% | 1% | 1% | 139 |
| Moderate | 35% | 64% | 1% | < 1% | 103 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
Views about human evolution among adults in South Dakota by political ideology
% of adults in South Dakota who say humans…
| Political ideology | Evolved; due to natural processes | Evolved; due to God's design | Evolved; don't know how | Always existed in present form | Don't know | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 17% | 21% | < 1% | 56% | 5% | 139 |
| Moderate | 31% | 33% | 1% | 29% | 6% | 103 |
Sample sizes and margins of error vary from subgroup to subgroup, from year to year and from state to state. You can see the sample size for the estimates in this chart on rollover or in the last column of the table. And visit this table to see approximate margins of error for a group of a given size. Readers should always bear in mind the approximate margin of error for the group they are examining when making comparisons with other groups or assessing the significance of trends over time. For full question wording, see the survey questionnaire.
