South Carolina Population 2024

5,464,155

Situated on the southeastern tip of the United States, South Carolina is one of the smallest states in the country but has a high population density by comparison. South Carolina currently enjoys a growth rate of 1.06%, which ranks 18th in the country.

The last set of confirmed population figures in the United States came with the nationwide Census carried out in 2010. At the time, it was confirmed that there were 4,625,364 people living in the state -- a rise of just over 15% on the figures declared in 2000.

South Carolina Area and Population Density

Like many states on the eastern edge of the country, South Carolina is densely populated in comparison to its relatively small size. The state has an overall surface area of 32,020 square miles (82,931 square kilometers) which makes it just the 40th largest in the US.

For every square mile of South Carolina territory, however, there is an average of 153.9 people. That figure makes the state the 19th most densely populated in the country.

The two largest cities in South Carolina are Columbia (pop 133,803) and Charleston (pop 132,609), followed by North Charleston (pop 108,304). These are the only cities in the state with a population over 100,000.

Interestingly, South Carolina's metropolitan statistical areas are much larger than they appear based on the central city populations. Because of South Carolina law regarding unincorporated areas around city limits, most city proper populations seem smaller than the actual size of the area.

For example, Columbia, Greenville and Charleston each have urbanized area populations between 400,000 and 550,000, with the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) populations exceeding 60,000. The Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson area is by far the largest, accounting for 1.4 million of South Carolina's population.

The leading counties in terms of most populated are the two counties of Greenville and Richland, coming in with respective populations of 506,837 and 411,592. Both counties are enjoying steady growth rates as well.

South Carolina Gender and Religion Statistics

The median age across the population of South Carolina is approximately 38.8 years of age. When we look at the ratio of males to females in the population, 51.5% are female and 48.5% are male.

In terms of preferred religions in the population across the state, South Carolina currently sits at 78% Christian based faith affiliations, 3% non-Christian based faith affiliations, and 19% of the population without any affiliation to any religion.

South Carolina Boundary, Census, and Statehood History

South Carolina was one of the 13 original States. By the time of the 1790 census it had essentially its current boundaries, with some later adjustments following improved surveys. The census has covered all of the State ever since 1790, except for a narrow strip of Indian lands on the northwestern border, first enumerated in 1820. The 1790 census was not completed in South Carolina until early 1792.

South Carolina Demographics

According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of South Carolina was:

  • White: 65.66%
  • Black or African American: 26.16%
  • Two or more races: 3.97%
  • Other race: 2.16%
  • Asian: 1.64%
  • Native American: 0.31%
  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.09%

South Carolina Population History

In 1790, the population of South Carolina stood at an already healthy level of 249,073 and ten years later, at the start of the 19th century, those numbers had risen by just under 40% to 345,591. That was a significant rise, although it may not have been quite as substantial as other parts of the country were recording at the time.

The pattern of increases in the population of South Carolina continued to display healthy, if unspectacular, percentage growth and the numbers went beyond the one million mark for the first time in 1890.

South Carolina Population Growth

In the 1900s, percentage growth slowed down to an extent but the overall picture was one of sustained increases through the end of the century. That has also continued to the present day where the South Carolina population is edging closer to the 5 million landmark in 2016.

South Carolina Population Projections

Natural growth and net migration in South Carolina is extremely healthy and there is nothing to suggest that this pattern will change in the years leading up to the next census.

Projections currently estimate South Carolina's population will just barely exceed 5 million by the 2020 Census, with a population over 65 that exceeds the national average.

South Carolina has the 5th highest percentage of Black or African American residents in relation to its total population, with the majority taking up residence in the Midlands and Low Country regions. While the state doesn't have a high percentage of Hispanic or Latino residents, it has seen the most rapid growth of any state in the period between 2000 and 2010. During this ten-year period, the state saw a 147.9% growth in its Hispanic population.

The largest ancestry groups in the state are: African American (29.5%), American (13.9%), English (8.4%), German (8.4%) and Irish (7.9%). For much of the state's history, African slaves and their descendants made up a majority of the state's total population, with whites becoming a majority in the beginning of the early 20th century, when thousands of blacks moved to the north. Today, most of the African American population lives in the Midlands and Lowcountry areas.

South Carolina Population 2024

  • The Cherokee, Catawba, and Yamasee were the largest Native American groups that lived on the land that now comprises the state of South Carolina.
  • The first English settlement was established in 1670 at Albemarle Point. Because of poor conditions in this area, early settlers relocated to Charleston.
  • South Carolina seceded from the Union in 1861 and was the first state to do so.
  • South Carolina is now the Palmetto State, but it was once known as the Iodine State.
  • The Carolina colony was divided in 1729 into North Carolina and South Carolina.
  • Morgan Island in South Carolina has no human population. However, it is home to well over 3,500 free-range monkeys, thus earning the location the nickname of Monkey Island.
  • Nearly one-quarter of the soldiers fighting in the Civil War were killed in battle, with a total of nearly 2/3 of all casualties resulting in death overall (including citizens).
  • An average of 28.5 million people visit the state annually.
  • South Carolina has two palindromic places called Wassamassaw and Hannah. This means that their names can be reversed— spelled either from left to right or right to left— and it would be spelled or read identically.

South Carolina Facts

Population

50K

100K

150K

200K

250K

300K

350K

400K

450K

500K

550K

Data from the 2010 Census, when compared to estimates taken in 2015 by the US Census Bureau, shows that the counties of South Carolina have seen significant increases and decreases in population. Multiple counties in the state experienced population growth exceeding 10%, including the highest gain posted in Horry County at 14.3%. Other significant population increases include Berkeley County at 13.34%, Jasper County at 11.65%, and Charleston County at 10.88%, all located in the easternmost region of the state. Counties along the northern border that exhibited significant growth include Greenville, Lancaster, and Cherokee.

Some counties also saw declining populations during this 5-year period. Allendale County's 8.81% loss was the highest in the state, followed by Bamberg and Lee Counties at 6.82% loss per county. Other population declines were recorded in Williamsburg, McCormick, Chester, Hampton, and Spartanburg.

South Carolina Population by County

Population by Race

Download Table Data

Enter your email below, and you'll receive this table's data in your inbox momentarily.

Race
Population
Percentage (of total)
White3,334,96165.66%
Black or African American1,328,69126.16%
Two or more races201,7743.97%
Other race109,8962.16%
Asian83,4411.64%
Native American15,5950.31%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander4,5450.09%

White

Black or African American

Two or more races

Other race

Asian

Native American

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

South Carolina Population by Race

South Carolina Population Pyramid 2024

South Carolina Median Age

39.8

Total

38.5

Male

41

Female

South Carolina Adults

There are 3,969,100 adults, (901,497 of whom are seniors) in South Carolina.

South Carolina Age Dependency

65.6

Age Dependency Ratio

29.4

Old Age Dependency Ratio

36.2

Child Dependency Ratio

South Carolina Sex Ratio

Female2,604,84451.29%
Male2,474,05948.71%

South Carolina Population by Age

South Carolina Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

Household Type
Count
Average Size
Owner
Renter
All1,976,4472.5170.329.7
Married933,0163.0885.614.4
Non Family683,5901.2458.241.8
Female272,5733.4851.948.1
Male87,2683.2559.440.6

3.1

Average Family Size

2.51

Average Household Size

70.3%

Rate of Home Ownership

Married

Male

Female

NonFamily

owner

renter

South Carolina Households and Families

Male

Female

Download Table Data

Enter your email below, and you'll receive this table's data in your inbox momentarily.

Less Than 9th Grade

9th to 12th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Associates Degree

Bachelors Degree

Graduate Degree

South Carolina Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)

South Carolina Educational Attainment by Race

High School Graduation Rate

Bachelors Rate

Download Table Data

Enter your email below, and you'll receive this table's data in your inbox momentarily.

The highest rate of high school graduation is among white people with a rate of 91.85%.

The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 53.38%.

South Carolina Educational Attainment by Race

All

Male

Female

Download Table Data

Enter your email below, and you'll receive this table's data in your inbox momentarily.

$39,788

Average Earnings

$46,646

Average Male

$33,399

Average Female

South Carolina Earnings by Educational Attainment

South Carolina Language by Age

Only English

Spanish

Other Indo-European Languages

Asian and Pacific Island Languages

Other Languages

South Carolina Language

92.49% of South Carolina residents speak only English, while 7.51% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 4.72% of the population.

South Carolina Language

South Carolina Poverty by Race

rate

Download Table Data

Enter your email below, and you'll receive this table's data in your inbox momentarily.

Name
Total
In Poverty
Poverty Rate
White3,134,661310,2839.9%
Black1,285,282304,65623.7%
Hispanic296,38068,65423.16%
Multiple194,79533,94117.42%
Other107,48628,59226.6%
Asian81,3849,14211.23%
Native15,2804,07226.65%
Islander4,38989420.37%

14.52%

Overall Poverty Rate

13.14%

Male Poverty Rate

15.82%

Female Poverty Rate

Poverty in South Carolina

The race most likely to be in poverty in South Carolina is Native, with 26.65% below the poverty level.

The race least likely to be in poverty in South Carolina is White, with 9.9% below the poverty level.

The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 3.15%. Among those working part-time, it was 17.79%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 21.47%.

South Carolina Poverty

rate

Download Table Data

Enter your email below, and you'll receive this table's data in your inbox momentarily.

Rate
Poverty
Less Than 9th Grade27.76%
High School15.06%
Some College10.02%
Bachelors or Greater4.37%

South Carolina Poverty Rate by Education

rate

Download Table Data

Enter your email below, and you'll receive this table's data in your inbox momentarily.

Rate
Poverty
Female Unemployed35.5%
Male Unemployed28.88%
Female Employed8.34%
Male Employed5.26%

South Carolina Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

South Carolina Income by Household Type

Households

Families

MarriedFamilies

NonFamilies

Download Table Data

Enter your email below, and you'll receive this table's data in your inbox momentarily.

mean

median

Income by Household Type

South Carolina Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Marriage Rates

47.8%

Overall Marriage Rate

50.2%

Male Marriage Rate

45.6%

Female Marriage Rate

South Carolina Married by Age and Sex

male

female

South Carolina Marriage

The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 45-54.

South Carolina Marital Status by Race

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

South Carolina Marital Status

Second Gulf War

First Gulf War

Vietnam

Korea

World War II

350,822

Number of Veterans

314,659

Male Veterans

36,163

Female Veterans

Download Table Data

Enter your email below, and you'll receive this table's data in your inbox momentarily.

South Carolina Veterans by War

count

Download Table Data

Enter your email below, and you'll receive this table's data in your inbox momentarily.

South Carolina Veterans by Age

count

Download Table Data

Enter your email below, and you'll receive this table's data in your inbox momentarily.

South Carolina Veterans by Race

South Carolina Veterans by Education

Less Than 9th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Bachelors or Greater

7.6%

Veteran Poverty Rate

29.79%

Veteran Disability Rate

South Carolina Veterans by Education

LaborForceParticipation

60.5%

Labor Force Participation

56.5%

Employment Rate

5.3%

Unemployment Rate

South Carolina Employment by Age

LaborForceParticipation

South Carolina Employment by Race

LaborForceParticipation

South Carolina Employment by Education

Origin of Non-Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.

Origin of Naturalized Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

54.93%

Born in South Carolina

94.8%

Native Born

5.2%

Foreign Born

2.91%

Non Citizen

2.29%

Naturalized

Place of Birth

94.8% of South Carolina residents were born in the United States, with 54.93% having been born in South Carolina. 2.91% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.

South Carolina Place of Birth

  1. South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office
  2. US Census State Population Estimates - Most recent state estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program
  3. US Census County Population Estimates - Most recent county estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program
  4. American Community Survey (2009 - 2013)
  5. Census QuickFacts
  6. Historical Populations of States and Counties (1790 - 1990)

Sources