Population
South Carolina has a population of 5,300,000 as of 2026, making it the #23 most populous state in the United States.
South Carolina Rankings
Where South Carolina places in every state-level dataset StatsPanda tracks. Each row opens the full ranking.
South Carolina Population Clock
These statistics show the estimated changes to South Carolina's population based on birth rates, death rates, and migration patterns from US Census Bureau data.
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One death every — seconds
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| South Carolina Population (as of 7/14/2026) | 5,300,000 |
| Births per day | 150 |
| Deaths per day | 120 |
| Net migrations per day | 80 |
| Net population change per day | +110 |
| Population change since Jan 1st | — |
Demographics
The racial composition of South Carolina includes 65.00% White, 25.79% Black or African American, 1.67% Asian, 2.40% other race, and smaller percentages for Native American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and multiracial populations.
Population by Race
Why is Hispanic separate? Following U.S. Census methodology, Hispanic or Latino origin is an ethnicity, not a race — people of Hispanic origin may be of any race. “All” shows the racial breakdown; the Hispanic and Non-Hispanic views show ethnicity, so the two groupings overlap rather than adding up to 100%.
| Race | Population ↓ | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White | 3,445,076 | 65.00% |
| Black or African American | 1,366,761 | 25.79% |
| Two or more races | 253,767 | 4.79% |
| Other race | 127,038 | 2.40% |
| Asian | 88,459 | 1.67% |
| Native American | 16,095 | 0.30% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 2,805 | 0.05% |
South Carolina Marital Status
Population by Age and Gender
Median Age
Geography
South Carolina's current population growth rate stands at a steady 0.9% as of the last census in 2010, ranking it 27th nationwide. The official 2010 census results counted 4,625,364 residents in the state, an increase of 15.3% compared to the 2000 census tally. Digging further into the numbers, South Carolina's largest city, Charleston, makes up nearly 13% of the total state population. Other major cities include the capital Columbia with over 130,000 residents and Greenville, which crossed the 60,000 resident mark in recent years. It will be telling to see how these state and city population figures shift when the 2020 census results are finalized and published in the coming months.
Economics and Income Statistics
South Carolina's average per capita income is $36,072. Household income levels show a median of $63,623. The poverty rate stands at 14.35%.
Families: A family includes the owner or renter of the home along with everyone related to them - whether through birth, marriage, or adoption. This includes relatives like spouses, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and any other family members.
Households: A household includes all the people who occupy a housing unit (such as a house or apartment) as their usual place of residence.
Non Families: A nonfamily household is either someone living alone or when the owner/renter lives with people they aren't related to, like roommates.
| Name | Median ↓ | Mean |
|---|---|---|
| Married Families | $79,830 | $102,182 |
| Families | $79,830 | $105,376 |
| Households | $63,623 | — |
| Non Families | $37,714 | $53,554 |
Income & Poverty
Largest Cities in South Carolina
The largest city in South Carolina is Charleston with a population of 137,566.
| Rank | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charleston | 137,566 |
| 2 | Columbia | 131,674 |
| 3 | North Charleston | 114,852 |
| 4 | Mount Pleasant | 91,784 |
| 5 | Rock Hill | 75,354 |
| 6 | Greenville | 70,000 |
| 7 | Summerville | 52,840 |
| 8 | Sumter | 40,524 |
| 9 | Goose Creek | 44,489 |
| 10 | Hilton Head Island | 40,500 |
Population by County
South Carolina's population shows distinct regional patterns, with the most populous counties concentrated in metropolitan areas. The most dramatic growth is occurring in suburban areas, while rural and some urban areas show more mixed trends.
Counties in South Carolina →Population by County
Population Growth by County
Population Density by County
Research Papers Related to South Carolina
Sources
Most recent state estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program.
Detailed demographic and economic data for South Carolina.
Quick access to state-level statistics and comparisons.
Data Methodology
Population totals are sourced from the latest available US Census Bureau data. Totals for the current year are projected using each state's USCB data and previous year population growth rate. Growth rates are calculated based on births, deaths, and net migration estimates.