USUNITED STATES
Factbook

DRAFT · October 2026
A Factbook library volume

UNITED STATES · STATES · DRAFT

South Carolina

SC

United States national overview in the World Factbook ↗

DRAFT · Dated statistical and subject baseline. Figures retain their individual reference years.

Introduction

Background ⓘ

South Carolina was one of the original thirteen states. It and North Carolina developed from the Carolina colony chartered in 1663.

Geography

Total area ⓘ

32,023.486 square miles (82,940.448 square kilometres) (2025)

Land area ⓘ

30,064.229 square miles (77,865.996 square kilometres) (2025)

Water area ⓘ

1,959.257 square miles (5,074.452 square kilometres) (2025)

Boundaries ⓘ

South Carolina shares boundaries with Georgia, North Carolina.

People

Resident population ⓘ

5,570,274 people (2025)

Resident population estimate, 2020 ⓘ

5,131,992 people (2020)

Population change, 2020–2025 ⓘ

8.54% (2025)

Government

Capital ⓘ

Columbia

Constitution ratification ⓘ

May 23, 1788

Economy

Median household income ⓘ

73,672 2025 USD ± 1,216 (90% confidence) (2025)

Per capita income ⓘ

42,152 2025 USD ± 567 (90% confidence) (2025)

People below poverty level ⓘ

720,328 people ± 26,240 (90% confidence) (2025)

Population with poverty status determined ⓘ

5,430,173 people ± 3,171 (90% confidence) (2025)

Poverty rate ⓘ

13.3% (2025)

Housing

Housing units ⓘ

2,579,738 housing units ± 394 (90% confidence) (2025)

National Park Service places

Places associated with this state or territory in the NPS directory.

Further reading

Source records
  1. Background

    U.S. Census Bureau, Guide to 2010 State and Local Census Geography: South Carolina ↗

    Reference period: Not supplied by source.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31.

  2. Total area

    U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 National States Gazetteer ↗

    Reference period: 2025. 2025 Gazetteer geography. Land and water area in square miles, published to three decimal places. Total is calculated as land plus water; territory boundaries are statistical geography.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:11:28.1089007Z.

    Original source value: 32,023.486 square miles.

  3. Land area

    U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 National States Gazetteer ↗

    Reference period: 2025. 2025 Gazetteer geography. Land and water area in square miles, published to three decimal places. Total is calculated as land plus water; territory boundaries are statistical geography.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:11:28.1089007Z.

    Original source value: 30,064.229 square miles.

  4. Water area

    U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 National States Gazetteer ↗

    Reference period: 2025. 2025 Gazetteer geography. Land and water area in square miles, published to three decimal places. Total is calculated as land plus water; territory boundaries are statistical geography.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:11:28.1089007Z.

    Original source value: 1,959.257 square miles.

  5. Boundaries

    U.S. Census Bureau, Guide to 2010 State and Local Census Geography: South Carolina ↗

    Reference period: Not supplied by source. Census Bureau bordering-state list; includes water boundaries and point contacts, where listed. The District of Columbia is a federal district.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31.

  6. Resident population

    U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025 ↗

    Reference period: 2025-07-01. July 1 resident population estimate; Vintage 2025. Includes all ages. Earlier vintages are revised by this release.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:09:32.917713Z.

    Original source value: 5,570,274 people.

  7. Resident population estimate, 2020

    U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025 ↗

    Reference period: 2020-07-01. July 1, 2020 resident population estimate from the same Vintage 2025 series; not the April 1 decennial census count.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:09:32.917713Z.

    Original source value: 5,131,992 people.

  8. Population change, 2020–2025

    U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025 ↗

    Reference period: 2020-07-01/2025-07-01. Calculated percentage change between July 1 population estimates in the same Vintage 2025 series.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:09:32.917713Z.

    Original source value: 8.54%.

  9. Capital

    U.S. Census Bureau, Guide to 2010 State and Local Census Geography: South Carolina ↗

    Reference period: Not supplied by source.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31.

  10. Constitution ratification

    U.S. Census Bureau, Guide to 2010 State and Local Census Geography: South Carolina ↗

    Reference period: Not supplied by source. Date the state ratified the United States Constitution.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31.

  11. Median household income

    U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 ACS 1-year, B19013 ↗

    Reference period: 2025 ACS 1-year. Median household income in the past 12 months, in 2025 inflation-adjusted dollars. Universe: households. Sampling estimate; margin of error uses a 90% confidence level.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:12:11.8995582Z.

    Original source value: 73,672 2025 USD ± 1,216 (90% confidence).

  12. Per capita income

    U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 ACS 1-year, B19301 ↗

    Reference period: 2025 ACS 1-year. Per capita income in the past 12 months, in 2025 inflation-adjusted dollars. Universe: total population. Sampling estimate; margin of error uses a 90% confidence level.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:12:16.6293232Z.

    Original source value: 42,152 2025 USD ± 567 (90% confidence).

  13. People below poverty level

    U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 ACS 1-year, B17001 ↗

    Reference period: 2025 ACS 1-year. People whose income in the past 12 months was below the poverty level. Universe: population for whom poverty status is determined. Sampling estimate; margin of error uses a 90% confidence level.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:12:16.8869346Z.

    Original source value: 720,328 people ± 26,240 (90% confidence).

  14. Population with poverty status determined

    U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 ACS 1-year, B17001 ↗

    Reference period: 2025 ACS 1-year. Denominator for the poverty count. Excludes people for whom poverty status is not determined. Sampling estimate; margin of error uses a 90% confidence level.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:12:16.8869346Z.

    Original source value: 5,430,173 people ± 3,171 (90% confidence).

  15. Poverty rate

    U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 ACS 1-year, B17001 ↗

    Reference period: 2025 ACS 1-year. Calculated as B17001_E002 / B17001_E001 × 100. Population for whom poverty status is determined. Rounded to one decimal. Source counts and their 90% margins of error are retained as separate facts; a margin of error for this derived rate has not been calculated.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:12:16.8869346Z.

    Original source value: 13.3%.

  16. Housing units

    U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 ACS 1-year, B25001 ↗

    Reference period: 2025 ACS 1-year. Total housing units, occupied and vacant. ACS estimate; not the annual Population Estimates Program housing-unit series. Sampling estimate; margin of error uses a 90% confidence level.

    Retrieved: 2026-10-31T17:12:17.0506096Z.

    Original source value: 2,579,738 housing units ± 394 (90% confidence).

Comparison
Source information
Draft edition