Charleston, South Carolina Population 2023

159,269

Charleston is a city located in Berkeley County and Charleston County South Carolina. It is also the county seat of Charleston County. With a 2023 population of 159,269, it is the largest city in South Carolina and the 176th largest city in the United States.Charleston is currently growing at a rate of 1.93% annually and its population has increased by 6.02% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 150,227 in 2020. Spanning over 131 miles, Charleston has a population density of 1,441 people per square mile.

The average household income in Charleston is $98,288 with a poverty rate of 14.07%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Charleston is 35.3 years, 34.3 years for males, and 36.4 years for females.

Charleston is the second-largest and oldest city in South Carolina. Located in Charleston County on Charleston Harbor, Charleston has a population of 120,000, although an official 2017 estimate places the population at {pop}.

Charleston Crime Statistics

Charleston was once one of the most dangerous cities in America based on the number of crimes committed per 100,000 people. The crime rate has been declining, however. In 1999, there were 597 crimes per 100,000 people, although the rate dropped to 236/100,000 people by 2011. This compares with the national average of 320/100,000 people.

Charleston Population Growth

Charleston is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. The greater Charleston area has one of the highest growth rates in America as more people move from surrounding counties to enjoy the city's rapidly improving economy. According to new census estimates, the Charleston MSA (or the Tri-County Area) was the 12th fastest-growing metro area in the U.S.

When Charles II of England retook the throne in 1660, he granted a charter to the Province of Carolina and sent the eight Lord Proprietors in 1663. It took several years for them to arrange for expeditions, although the first -- Charles Town -- was founded in 1670. Charles Town (which was later changed to Charleston) was settled by people from Bermuda under governor William Sayle. The settlement quickly became a major port town.

In 1718, the town was attacked by infamous pirate Edward Teach, better known as 'Blackbeard'. As the capital of the colony, Charles Town was the southernmost English settlement in America until the Georgia colony was established decades later. It was subjected to many attacks from France, Spain, and pirates for the 40 years.

Most early settlers were from England, the Barbados colony, and Bermuda. Among the first settlers were free people of color who were born in the West Indies to Englanders and Africans. Even in the beginning, Charleston attracted people from many religious and ethnic groups. It was once home to the richest and largest Jewish community in all of North America until 1830.

Charles Town was the most extensive and wealthiest city south of Philadelphia by the mid-1700s, becoming the 4th largest port in the colonies behind Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. Charleston was a significant point in the Revolutionary War. While it lost its status as the state capital in 1786, it became very prosperous with an economy dominated by cotton plantations until the mid-19th century. By 1860, almost 18% of the city's black population were free people of color or nearly 8% of the total population.

Charleston's 300-year history is evident in most neighborhoods, especially the city center, which has a large and well-preserved residential historic area that's popular with tourists. The city's downtown is free of skyscrapers. Instead, Charleston boasts historic plantation homes alongside new retail development.

Charleston Demographics

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

  • White: 73.88%
  • Black or African American: 20.77%
  • Asian: 2.08%
  • Two or more races: 1.99%
  • Other race: 1.04%
  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.18%
  • Native American: 0.06%
The current population of Charleston, South Carolina is 159,269 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates.The last official US Census in 2020 recorded the population at 150,227.

Charleston, South Carolina Population 2023

Population by Race

White

Black or African American

Asian

Two or more races

Other race

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Native American

Charleston Population by Race

Charleston Population Pyramid 2023

Charleston Median Age

35.3

Total

34.3

Male

36.4

Female

Charleston Adults

There are 114,412 adults, (21,037 of whom are seniors) in Charleston.

Charleston Age Dependency

46.8

Age Dependency Ratio

22.5

Old Age Dependency Ratio

24.2

Child Dependency Ratio

Charleston Sex Ratio

Female72,74853.08%
Male64,29346.92%

Charleston Population by Age

Charleston Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

3

Average Family Size

2.29

Average Household Size

55.4%

Rate of Home Ownership

Married

Male

Female

NonFamily

owner

renter

Charleston Households and Families

Male

Female

Less Than 9th Grade

9th to 12th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Associates Degree

Bachelors Degree

Graduate Degree

Charleston Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)

Charleston Educational Attainment by Race

High School Graduation Rate

Bachelors Rate

The highest rate of high school graduation is among asian people with a rate of 85.25%.

The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 56.28%.

Charleston Educational Attainment by Race

All

Male

Female

$48,553

Average Earnings

$53,655

Average Male

$41,596

Average Female

Charleston Earnings by Educational Attainment

Charleston Language by Age

Only English

Spanish

Other Indo-European Languages

Asian and Pacific Island Languages

Other Languages

Charleston Language

93.83% of Charleston residents speak only English, while 6.17% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 2.6% of the population.

Charleston Language

Charleston Poverty by Race

rate

14.07%

Overall Poverty Rate

11.26%

Male Poverty Rate

13.77%

Female Poverty Rate

Poverty in Charleston

The race most likely to be in poverty in Charleston is Black, with 28.53% below the poverty level.

The race least likely to be in poverty in Charleston is White, with 9.95% below the poverty level.

The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 1.86%. Among those working part-time, it was 21.51%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 24.27%.

Charleston Poverty

Charleston Poverty Rate by Education

Charleston Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

Charleston Income by Household Type

Households

Families

MarriedFamilies

NonFamilies

mean

median

Income by Household Type

Charleston Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Marriage Rates

42.3%

Overall Marriage Rate

45.2%

Male Marriage Rate

39.7%

Female Marriage Rate

Charleston Married by Age and Sex

male

female

Charleston 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 35-44.

Charleston Marital Status by Race

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Charleston Marital Status

Second Gulf War

First Gulf War

Vietnam

Korea

World War II

9,105

Number of Veterans

8,210

Male Veterans

895

Female Veterans

Charleston Veterans by War

Charleston Veterans by Age

count

Charleston Veterans by Race

Charleston Veterans by Education

Less Than 9th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Bachelors or Greater

8.53%

Veteran Poverty Rate

22.78%

Veteran Disability Rate

Charleston Veterans by Education

LaborForceParticipation

66.9%

Labor Force Participation

63.7%

Employment Rate

3.4%

Unemployment Rate

Charleston Employment by Age

LaborForceParticipation

Charleston Employment by Race

LaborForceParticipation

Charleston 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

41.37%

Born in Charleston

86.59%

Native Born

4.64%

Foreign Born

2.15%

Non Citizen

2.48%

Naturalized

Place of Birth

86.59% of Charleston residents were born in the United States, with 41.37% having been born in South Carolina. 2.15% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.

Charleston Place of Birth

Note: data after 2020 is projected based on recent growth

Charleston Population by Year