South Carolina Population 2023

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 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.

• 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.