South Carolina

South Carolina by the Numbers:
Key Statistical Data and Facts

Key Details

• South Carolina is the 25th most populous state in the US, with a population of 5,282,634 residents (2022). 
• As of 2022, 74.9% of South Carolinians are aged 18-64, 18.6% are over 65 years old, and 21.5 percent are under 18 years old. 
• The highest level of educational attainment is between residents 25-34 y/o (91.2% obtaining a bachelor's degree). 
• Republicans have held 6 out of 7 US House seats in SC since 2021 and hold a trifecta at the state level. 
• As of 2022, the mean household income is $52,348, and the average per capita income is $32,823 

South Carolina Population Demographics

Situated in the southeastern region of the US, South Carolina is the 25th most populated state in the country. As of 2022, the state had a total population of 5,282,634 residents. In comparison, the state documented 4,625,364 residents in 2010. This means the population grew by more than 16% between 2010 and 2022. 

In terms of age demographics, about two out of every four residents (74.9 percent) in South Carolina are in the age group 18–64. On the other hand, 18.6 percent of the state's residents are older than 65 years old. Those under 18 constitute 21.5 percent of the population in South Carolina.  

Per the Census Bureau's report for 2022, the percentage of male and female residents was 51.4 percent and 48.6 percent, respectively. In other words, there were 2,715,274 female residents in South Carolina.  

In South Carolina, some regions recorded more residents than others. Per the South Carolina Census State Center, Greenville County was the most populated region in 2020, with a total population of 525,534 residents. Richland County and Charleston County were the second and third-most populated, at 416,147 and 408,235, respectively.

South Carolina Housing

2,446,724 housing

As of 2022, there were 2,446,724 housing units in South Carolina.

70.3%

About 70.3 percent of these units were owner-occupied, with a median value of $181,800. The rest of these units were either rented out or on the real estate market.

$1,329.

Homeowners of mortgaged housing units in South Carolina paid an average of $1,329.

$390

However, those without mortgage payments only paid a median of $390 in maintenance or home repair costs.

$970

Within the same period, the average rent was $970.

1,976,447 households

South Carolina was home to 1,976,447 households between 2017 and 2022. Within the same timeframe, the median household size was 2.7 people per household.

South Carolina Racial Demographics

Elections in South Carolina

South Carolina is a strong Republican state, as most of the top elected state officials are members of the party. As of 2023, South Carolina has a Republican Triplex. This means the party's candidates hold the governor, attorney general, and secretary of state posts.  

In addition, they have a Republican trifecta since the party members control most of the positions in the state senate and the governor's office. As of 2023, there were 16 Democrats and 30 Republicans in the State Senate and House of Representatives. At the federal level, Republicans occupy six out of seven United States House of Representatives seats.  

Republicans Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham have occupied the state senate seats since 2013 and 2003, respectively.  

As of 2023, Governor Henry McMaster is the last Republican candidate to win the governorship election in South Carolina. Prior to the 2022 state elections, Gov. McMaster had already served for two years as governor. He took up the position after the incumbent, Nikki Haley, resigned in 2017. 

Gubernatorial elections in South Carolina are held in even years and do not coincide with presidential elections.  

Note: South Carolina was not always a Republican state. Democrats consistently won all gubernatorial elections between 1877 and 1975. Since 1975, Republicans have won more gubernatorial elections than Democrats.  

2020 Presidential Election 

A total of 2,476,644 voters turned out to vote in the 2020 presidential elections. Donald Trump won the most votes (55.1 percent) in South Carolina during the 2020 presidential elections.  

In contrast, President Biden had only 43.43 percent of the votes in the state. He won the majority in 13 out of 46 counties in South Carolina.  

South Carolina recorded a 72 percent voter turnout, slightly higher than the preceding presidential elections (67.86%).  

Donald Trump

Joe Biden

South Carolina Voting Statistics

According to the South Carolina Elections Commission report, the state recorded a total of 3,417,868 voters in May 2023. The male-to-female ratio of registered voters was 54 to 46. Furthermore, about 64 percent of registered voters were in the age group (25 to 64). On the other hand, 7.8 percent of voters were under 25 years old as of May 2023.

General Election

How Educated is South Carolina

In South Carolina, 88.3 percent of residents over 25 have attained a high school diploma between 2016 and 2020. Furthermore, 29 percent have at least a bachelor's degree. 

Per the US Census Bureau's 2021 report, 11.3 percent of residents (age 25 and older) do not have a high school diploma. The report further revealed the following: 

• 28.5% of South Carolina’s residents had attained a high school diploma. 
• 18.6 percent of residents have obtained a college degree. 
• 9.2 percent of residents have an associate's degree. 
• 30.7 percent of residents have attained a bachelor's degree or higher qualification. 

The highest level of education attained 

In terms of age demographics, the most educated residents are in the age group of 25 to 34. About 91.2% of those in this age group have attained a bachelor's degree or higher. In addition, age groups 45 to 64 have the second-highest educational attainment rate (90.5%).  

The rate of educational attainment also differs based on ethnic or racial groups. According to the report, 67.9 percent of Asians have attained at least an associate or higher degree. Non-Hispanic whites have the second-highest rate (65.9%) of residents with an associate degree or more. 

Educational levels may also determine the average income level in South Carolina. In most situations, the higher the level of educational attainment, the higher the income rate. For example, South Carolina residents with bachelor's degrees can earn upwards of $51,257.

South Carolina Employment Rate

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) database, South Carolina recorded a 3.5 percent unemployment rate in April 2023. The current rate is much lower when compared to the 8.0 unemployment rate in 2013.  

Overall, South Carolina has a 2.4 million-person civilian workforce, of which 75,700 residents are unemployed as of March 2023. The unemployment rate is spread across different industries in the state.  

Factors such as age group, gender, location, and race can determine the unemployment rate. According to the Census Bureau's 2021 data, those aged 45–54 have the lowest unemployment rate at 3.8 percent. In contrast, the age groups that are most likely to be unemployed are 16 to 19 (12.9%), 20 to 24 (9.8%), and 25 to 29 (6.5%). Coincidentally, age groups with low unemployment rates have a correspondingly high level of educational attainment. 

Note: In terms of gender demographics, male and female residents have an almost equal unemployment rate of 5.2 and 5.5 percent, respectively.  

The unemployment rate also differs for each racial group. According to the 2021 report, black and African Americans had the highest unemployment rate at 8.6 percent. American Indians and Native Americans were the least unemployed racial group at 4.1 percent.  

Average Income in South Carolina

The mean household income in South Carolina was $52,348 in 2022. In addition to this, the average per capita income was $32,823 between 2017 and 2022. The national median per capita income was $37,638 within the same timeframe.  

The average income varies along the lines of gender, age, and the number of income earners in a household. As of 2023, South Carolina's average income is $55,101 for a home with one income earner. In contrast, families with two income earners can earn an average of $98,813 annually. The average income figure increased to $120,858 for families with three income earners.  

Families in South Carolina

South Carolina Marriage Rates

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, South Carolina documented marriage events at a rate of 6.5 per 1,000 residents in 2021. The marriage rate has consistently declined over the years. For context, the state recorded a 15.9 per 1,000 marriage rate in 1990. 

The Census Bureau's 2021 report also provides additional data on the marriage rate in South Carolina. Per the report, 49.7 percent of the state's residents are married under state law.  

The report also revealed the following data: 

• About 50.4 percent of male residents over 15 years old are married. Furthermore, 64.5 percent of males over 35 are married.  
• Only 45.6 percent of the female residents were married as of the time of the report. Females in the age group of 45 to 54 are the most likely to be married. About 60.6 percent of females in the age group were married.  
• South Carolina's Asian residents were the most likely to be married. 58.3 percent of Asians were married in 2021. Non-Hispanic whites had the second-highest number of marriages at 55 percent. In contrast, American Indians were the least likely racial group to be married.  

South Carolina Divorce Rates

As of 2021, South Carolina had a rate of 2.5 divorce events per 1,000 residents. The divorce rate has steadily declined by 45 percent between 1990 and 2021. 

According to the Census Bureau report for 2021, 10.5 percent of residents over 15 years old were divorced in 2021. Furthermore, males over 45 were most likely to be divorced. 16.9 percent of those in the age group 55–64 had the highest divorce rate.  

Similarly, females over 45 were more likely to get a divorce. Furthermore, the divorce rate was highest at 19.3 percent for women aged 55–64. 

In terms of racial and ethnic demographics, American Indians and Native Alaskans had the highest divorce rate (11.7%) in South Carolina. In contrast, Asians were the least likely to divorce in South Carolina.  

Life Expectancy in South Carolina

According to the NCHS report for 2020, South Carolina residents had a life expectancy of 74.8. Furthermore, male residents have a much shorter lifespan than females in the state. Per the report, the life expectancy for male and female residents was 71.7 and 78, respectively.

South Carolina's life expectancy rate is below the national average of 77 years. Hawaii, Washington, Minnesota, and California have some of the highest life expectancy rates in the country.

Besides gender, other factors can also influence the life expectancy rate. For example, diseases, homicides, accidents, and genetics can also affect the life expectancy rate. Heart diseases are the leading cause of mortality in South Carolina.

In 2021, the state documented 189.1 deaths per 100,000 due to heart diseases. Cancer was the second-leading cause of death since the state recorded 155.2 per 100,000 death events due to different cancer diseases.

South Carolina Crime Rates

According to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the state recorded 365,716 Type A offenses in 2021. The reported crimes are categorized into the following: 

• 99,500 crimes against persons 
• 200,805 crimes against property  
• 61,474 crimes against society  

Crime categories include homicide, rape, larcenies-theft, burglary, motor vehicle theft, and aggravated assaults. According to the report, crimes against people declined by 5.1 percent between 2020 and 2021.  

South Carolina Incarceration Rate

304 inmates

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, South Carolina had an incarceration rate of 304 inmates per 100,000 residents in 2020.

6,157 inmates

The state had a total of 16,157 inmates incarcerated in state prisons, local jails, and private jails.

15,159 male and 998 female

As of the time of the report, there were 15,159 male prisoners and 998 female prisoners.

353 per

In comparison, South Carolina documented an incarceration rate of 353 per 100,000 residents in 2019.

South Carolina Bankruptcy Rate

2022

3,619 bankruptcy filings

According to the American Bankruptcy Institute, South Carolina residents filed a total of 3,619 bankruptcy cases in 2022. This total report consists of Chapter 7 (1,194), Chapter 11 (18), and Chapter 13 (2,406).  

Bankruptcy in South Carolina has consistently decreased, according to the report. For instance, the state recorded 8,000 bankruptcy cases in 2012. South Carolina is home to the United States Bankruptcy Court, District of South Carolina. The court has three locations in the state.

Charleston

King and Queen Building
145 King Street, Room 225
Charleston, SC 29401

Columbia

J. Bratton Davis U.S. Bankruptcy Courthouse
1100 Laurel Street
Columbia, South Carolina 29201-2423

Greenville

C.F. Haynsworth Federal Building
& U.S. Courthouse
300 East Washington Street
Greenville, SC 29601

Weird Laws in South Carolina