South Carolina Demographics 2026: Population, Income, Race & Trends Explained, Population Review

Population & Growth

South Carolina's 5,212,774 residents make it the 23rd-most populous US state. Over the long term, the state has been gaining population — +261.5% from 1910 to 2024.

Population density: 173 people per square mile. By comparison, the US national average is roughly 94/sq mi, while New Jersey leads with ~1,260/sq mi and Alaska is the lowest at ~1.3/sq mi.

Race & Ethnicity

By Census ACS classification, South Carolina is:

64.1% White (alone)
25.3% Black or African American
0.0% Asian
1.3% Hispanic or Latino (any race)
0.0% two or more races

Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals can exceed 100% in some breakdowns. The full racial composition (including Native Hawaiian, American Indian, etc.) is available on the South Carolina state page.

Income & Economy

Median household income in South Carolina is $66,818, with per-capita income at $37,993. 10.1% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Unemployment rate: 3.0%.

Income is concentrated in metro counties — see the county-level rankings on the cities ranking page and counties ranking page for sub-state variation.

Age & Households

Median age in South Carolina: 40.1 years (US median ~39). The population is 48.7% male and 51.3% female.

Largest Cities in South Carolina

Charleston city — population 152,014
Columbia city — population 138,019
North Charleston city — population 117,460
Mount Pleasant town — population 92,662
Rock Hill city — population 74,769

Largest Counties in South Carolina

Greenville County — population 537,575
Richland County — population 418,725
Charleston County — population 414,711
Horry County — population 368,937
Spartanburg County — population 338,096

How South Carolina Compares Nationally

By population: ranked 23rd of 50 states. By median household income: see the richest states ranking. By population growth: see fastest growing states. By cost of living: see cheapest states to live.

See the complete South Carolina state page with full demographic breakdown, age pyramid, languages, education, housing, and commute data →

Frequently Asked Questions

South Carolina has a population of 5,212,774 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, ranking 23rd among the 50 states. Population density is 173 people per square mile.

South Carolina is gaining population, with a +261.5% change since 1910 (1,515,400 → 5,212,774). This is reported via Census ACS rolling 5-year estimates; for monthly/annual estimates between Census years, see the Census Population Estimates Program.

64.1% of South Carolina's population identifies as White, 25.3% as Black or African American, 0.0% as Asian, and 1.3% as Hispanic or Latino (any race). Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals may exceed 100%.

Median household income in South Carolina is $66,818 per the 2023 ACS. Per-capita income: $37,993. 10.1% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

The median age in South Carolina is 40.1 years. The population is 48.7% male and 51.3% female. Age distribution and population pyramids by 5-year age bands are visible on the South Carolina state page.

The largest cities in South Carolina by population: Charleston city (152,014), Columbia city (138,019), North Charleston city (117,460), Mount Pleasant town (92,662), Rock Hill city (74,769).

California is the most populous US state at roughly 39 million, followed by Texas (~30M), Florida (~22M), New York (~20M), and Pennsylvania (~13M). South Carolina ranks 23rd. Detailed rankings update each ACS release cycle.

Across recent Census Population Estimates, West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Illinois have shown the largest sustained population declines. South Carolina's own trend is gaining. National state-by-state rankings are published annually by the Census Population Estimates Program.

All demographic data on this page comes from the US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, currently the 2023 release. Historical population figures use Census Population Estimates Program annual estimates. Data is public domain and freely available at census.gov.