South Carolina in figures

A profile of South Carolina from official statistics: 39 figures in 8 sections, each with its period, its change from a year earlier, its rank among similar places where a ranking exists, and its source.

Figures last updated on 2026-10-12.

People
Work and income
Economy
Prices and housing
Consumers
Business and tourism
Health
Energy and environment
Sources and citations

People

Population in South Carolina was 5.57 million in 2025, up 1.5% from 2024, and the 23rd highest of 51 states.

Population5.57 million2025Up 1.5% from 2024The 23rd highest of 51 states

Median age40.2 years2024Up 0.1 years from 2023Tied for the 13th highest of 51 states

Population aged 65 and over21.1%2025Up 0.5 percentage points from 2024The 11th highest of 51 states

Foreign-born population share5.8%2024Up 0.1 percentage points from 2023

Population density71.5 inhabitants per km²2025Up 1.5% from 2024

Net domestic migration, July to June66,6222025, estimatedCompared with 66,367 in 2024

Population, 2020 to 2025. persons. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual estimates of the resident population for the United States, states and counties, 1 July (Population Estimates Program).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual estimates of the resident population for the United States, states and counties, 1 July (Population Estimates Program); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B01002: median age, total population; U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, county population by age and sex (cc-est agesex): residents aged 65 and over as a percentage of the total, 1 July; states and the nation summed from counties; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B05002: foreign-born population as a percentage of the total population, calculated with stored inputs; U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program resident population on 1 July divided by land area from the latest Census Gazetteer files, persons per km²; U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program: net domestic migration, states and counties, July 1 of the previous year to June 30 of the reported year; vintage 2020 files for 2011 to 2020 and the latest 2020s vintage from 2021. Population and demography statistics and rankings

Work and income

Unemployment rate in South Carolina was 4.1% (provisional) in August 2026, down 0.5 percentage points from August 2025, and tied for the 22nd highest of 51 states.

Unemployment rate4.1%August 2026, provisionalDown 0.5 percentage points from August 2025Tied for the 22nd highest of 51 states

Median household income$69,3242024Up 3.8% from 2023The 9th lowest of 51 states

Per capita personal income$63,4352025Up 4.5% from 2024The 7th lowest of 51 states

Employment-population ratio56.4%August 2026, provisionalUp 0.7 percentage points from August 2025

Poverty rate (US official measure)13.3%2024Down 0.6 percentage points from 2023

Labor force participation rate58.8%August 2026, provisionalUp 0.5 percentage points from August 2025

Unemployment rate, July 2021 to August 2026. %. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics: unemployment rate by state, seasonally adjusted.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics: unemployment rate by state, seasonally adjusted; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B19013: median household income in the past 12 months; U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, SAINC1: state annual personal income summary, per capita personal income, current dollars, United States and states; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment-population ratio, civilian noninstitutional population aged 16 and over, seasonally adjusted, state LAUS measure 07; U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people of all ages in poverty, states and counties; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Labor force participation rate, civilian noninstitutional population aged 16 and over, seasonally adjusted, state LAUS measure 08. Labor market statistics and rankings

Economy

GDP (US dollars) in South Carolina was $378.38 billion in 2025, up 6.1% from 2024, and the 24th highest of 51 states.

Gross domestic product (GDP), US dollars$378.38 billion2025Up 6.1% from 2024The 24th highest of 51 states

GDP per capita, US dollars$67,9292025Up 4.6% from 2024The 7th lowest of 51 states

Real GDP growth3.3%2025Down 1.6 percentage points from 2024The 4th highest of 51 states

Gross domestic product (GDP), US dollars, 2001 to 2025. USD million. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, SAGDP2: gross domestic product (GDP) by state, all industry total, millions of current dollars.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, SAGDP2: gross domestic product (GDP) by state, all industry total, millions of current dollars; Invokely, GDP in current dollars (BEA SAGDP2 and CAGDP1) divided by mid-year population (BEA SAINC1 and CAINC1); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, SAGDP11: annual percent change in real GDP, all industry total, United States and states. Economy statistics and rankings

Prices and housing

Cost of living in South Carolina was 93.7 in 2024, up 0.3 points from 2023, and the 19th lowest of 51 states.

Cost of living (regional price parity)93.72024Up 0.3 points from 2023The 19th lowest of 51 states

Median home value$259,0002024Up 9.4% from 2023The 19th lowest of 51 states

House prices, annual change2.3%Q2 2026Down 1.5 percentage points from Q2 2025Tied for the 22nd lowest of 51 states

Median gross rent (monthly)$1,1802024Up 4.8% from 2023

Homeownership rate (US, housing units)71.9%2024Up 0.4 percentage points from 2023

Housing units authorized by building permits45,8622025, estimatedDown 2.6% from 2024

Cost of living (regional price parity), 2008 to 2024. index. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, SARPP: regional price parities by state, all items (United States = 100).

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, SARPP: regional price parities by state, all items (United States = 100); U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25077: median value (dollars), owner-occupied housing units; Federal Housing Finance Agency, Annual change in the FHFA traditional purchase-only house price index, not seasonally adjusted, state, calculated with stored inputs; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25064: median gross rent (dollars), renter-occupied housing units paying cash rent; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25003: owner-occupied housing units as a percentage of occupied housing units, calculated with stored inputs; U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey: final annual state estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized, including imputation, United States and states. Housing statistics and rankings

Consumers

Consumer spending (personal consumption expenditures) in South Carolina was $298.93 billion in 2025, up 6.3% from 2024, and the 23rd highest of 51 states.

Consumer spending (personal consumption expenditures)$298.93 billion2025Up 6.3% from 2024The 23rd highest of 51 states

Consumer spending on health care services$45.77 billion2025Up 7.3% from 2024The 26th highest of 51 states

Consumer spending on housing$53.72 billion2025Up 8.9% from 2024The 20th highest of 51 states

Consumer spending on restaurants and other food services$19.05 billion2025Up 5.7% from 2024

Consumer spending on gasoline and other energy goods$8.94 billion2025Down 4% from 2024

Consumer spending (personal consumption expenditures), 2001 to 2025. USD million. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, SAPCE3: personal consumption expenditures by state by type of product, personal consumption expenditures (line 1), millions of current dollars, United States and states.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, SAPCE3: personal consumption expenditures by state by type of product, personal consumption expenditures (line 1), millions of current dollars, United States and states; U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, SAPCE3: personal consumption expenditures by state by type of product, health care (line 60), millions of current dollars, United States and states; U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, SAPCE3: personal consumption expenditures by state by type of product, housing (line 50), millions of current dollars, United States and states; U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, SAPCE3: personal consumption expenditures by state by type of product, food services (line 82), millions of current dollars, United States and states; U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, SAPCE3: personal consumption expenditures by state by type of product, gasoline and other energy goods (line 36), millions of current dollars, United States and states. Economy statistics and rankings

Business and tourism

Employer firms in South Carolina were 83,764 in 2023, up 2% from 2022, and the 24th highest of 51 states.

Employer firms83,7642023Up 2% from 2022The 24th highest of 51 states

Business applications8,406August 2026Down 7.4% from August 2025The 19th highest of 51 states

Establishment entry rate10.692%2023Down 0.57 percentage points from 2022The 15th highest of 51 states

Establishment exit rate8.58%2023Down 0.09 percentage points from 2022

Job creation rate13.441%2023Down 2.47 percentage points from 2022

Farms22,6332022No 2021 figure to compare

Employer firms, 1999 to 2023. count. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties; U.S. Census Bureau, Business Formation Statistics: business applications (BA_BA), all sectors, seasonally adjusted, United States and states; U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment entry rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010; U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010; U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: job creation rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010; U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Census of Agriculture: number of farms, nation, states and counties (1997 to 2022). Companies statistics and rankings

Health

Life expectancy in South Carolina was 75.13 years in 2022, up 1.63 years from 2021, and the 10th lowest of 51 states.

Life expectancy at birth75.13 years2022Up 1.63 years from 2021The 10th lowest of 51 states

Adult obesity rate36.5%2025Up 1.9 percentage points from 2024The 13th highest of 48 states

Adult cigarette smoking rate11.2%2025Down 1.4 percentage points from 2024The 20th highest of 48 states

Drug overdose deaths, 12 months ending1,198April 2026, provisionalDown 15.3% from April 2025

Traffic fatality rate18.9 per 100,000 people2024, estimatedDown 0.5 per 100,000 people from 2023

Life expectancy at birth, 2018 to 2022. years. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NCHS final period life expectancy at birth, total population: US 2021 to 2024 and states 2022.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NCHS final period life expectancy at birth, total population: US 2021 to 2024 and states 2022; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (hn4x-zwk7), percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have obesity, total; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Prevalence Data, 2011 to present (dttw-5yxu), adults who are current smokers, crude prevalence, overall; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, VSRR Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts (xkb8-kh2a), reported number of drug overdose deaths, 12 month-ending; Invokely, NHTSA FARS traffic fatalities divided by BEA mid-year population (SAINC1 and CAINC1), per 100,000 residents. Health statistics and rankings

Energy and environment

Average residential electricity price in South Carolina was 14.96 US cents per kWh (provisional) in 2025, up 5.1% from 2024, and the 21st lowest of 51 states.

Average residential electricity price14.96 US cents per kWh2025, provisionalUp 5.1% from 2024The 21st lowest of 51 states

Average annual temperature63.7 °F2025Down 1.2 °F from 2024The 8th highest of 50 states

Average residential electricity price, 2001 to 2025. US cents per kWh. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electricity data browser: average retail price of electricity, residential sector, annual (EIA-861 and EIA-861M).

Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electricity data browser: average retail price of electricity, residential sector, annual (EIA-861 and EIA-861M); NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, NOAA Climate at a Glance, January to December average temperature, contiguous US and statewide. Environment and emissions statistics and rankings

Sources and citations

Each figure comes from the table cited here. Cite the publisher; these citations include any notice the publisher requires.

U.S. Census Bureau. Annual estimates of the resident population for the United States, states and counties, 1 July (Population Estimates Program). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/datasets/2020-2025/. Retrieved 2026-10-08.
U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B01002: median age, total population. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b01002.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-08.
U.S. Census Bureau. Population Estimates Program, county population by age and sex (cc-est agesex): residents aged 65 and over as a percentage of the total, 1 July; states and the nation summed from counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/datasets/2020-2025/counties/asrh/cc-est2025-agesex-all.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B05002: foreign-born population as a percentage of the total population, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b05002.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
U.S. Census Bureau. Population Estimates Program resident population on 1 July divided by land area from the latest Census Gazetteer files, persons per km². https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/datasets/2020-2025/. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
U.S. Census Bureau. Population Estimates Program: net domestic migration, states and counties, July 1 of the previous year to June 30 of the reported year; vintage 2020 files for 2011 to 2020 and the latest 2020s vintage from 2021. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/data-sets.html. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Local Area Unemployment Statistics: unemployment rate by state, seasonally adjusted. https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.3.AllStatesS. Retrieved 2026-10-08.
U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B19013: median household income in the past 12 months. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b19013.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-08.
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. SAINC1: state annual personal income summary, per capita personal income, current dollars, United States and states. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/SAINC.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment-population ratio, civilian noninstitutional population aged 16 and over, seasonally adjusted, state LAUS measure 07. https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.3.AllStatesS. Retrieved 2026-10-08.
U.S. Census Bureau. Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people of all ages in poverty, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2024/2024-state-and-county/est24all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-08.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Labor force participation rate, civilian noninstitutional population aged 16 and over, seasonally adjusted, state LAUS measure 08. https://download.bls.gov/pub/time.series/la/la.data.3.AllStatesS. Retrieved 2026-10-08.
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. SAGDP2: gross domestic product (GDP) by state, all industry total, millions of current dollars. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/SAGDP.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-08.
Invokely calculation from GDP in current dollars (BEA SAGDP2 and CAGDP1) divided by mid-year population (BEA SAINC1 and CAINC1). https://invokely.ai/docs/methodology#gdp_per_capita_usd. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. SAGDP11: annual percent change in real GDP, all industry total, United States and states. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/SAGDP.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-08.
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. SARPP: regional price parities by state, all items (United States = 100). https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/SARPP.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25077: median value (dollars), owner-occupied housing units. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b25077.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). Annual change in the FHFA traditional purchase-only house price index, not seasonally adjusted, state, calculated with stored inputs. https://www.fhfa.gov/hpi/download/monthly/hpi_master.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-08.
U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25064: median gross rent (dollars), renter-occupied housing units paying cash rent. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b25064.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B25003: owner-occupied housing units as a percentage of occupied housing units, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b25003.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
U.S. Census Bureau. Building Permits Survey: final annual state estimates of new privately owned housing units authorized, including imputation, United States and states. https://www2.census.gov/econ/bps/State/st2025a.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. SAPCE3: personal consumption expenditures by state by type of product, personal consumption expenditures (line 1), millions of current dollars, United States and states. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/SAPCE.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. SAPCE3: personal consumption expenditures by state by type of product, health care (line 60), millions of current dollars, United States and states. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/SAPCE.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. SAPCE3: personal consumption expenditures by state by type of product, housing (line 50), millions of current dollars, United States and states. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/SAPCE.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. SAPCE3: personal consumption expenditures by state by type of product, food services (line 82), millions of current dollars, United States and states. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/SAPCE.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. SAPCE3: personal consumption expenditures by state by type of product, gasoline and other energy goods (line 36), millions of current dollars, United States and states. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/SAPCE.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: employer firms, all covered industries, nation, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-10.
U.S. Census Bureau. Business Formation Statistics: business applications (BA_BA), all sectors, seasonally adjusted, United States and states. https://www.census.gov/econ/bfs/csv/bfs_monthly.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment entry rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: job creation rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Census of Agriculture. Census of Agriculture: number of farms, nation, states and counties (1997 to 2022). Retrieved through Data Commons (datacommons.org). https://www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus/. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Retrieved through Data Commons (https://datacommons.org).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). NCHS final period life expectancy at birth, total population: US 2021 to 2024 and states 2022. https://ftp.cdc.gov/pub/Health_Statistics/NCHS/Publications/NVSR/74-12/SC1.xlsx. Retrieved 2026-10-10. These data are available free from CDC. Use does not imply endorsement by CDC, ATSDR, HHS or the United States Government.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (hn4x-zwk7), percent of adults aged 18 years and older who have obesity, total. https://data.cdc.gov/resource/hn4x-zwk7.json?%24order=%3Aid&%24limit=50000&%24where=questionid%3D%27Q036%27+AND+stratificationid1%3D%27OVERALL%27+AND+datavaluetypeid%3D%27VALUE%27. Retrieved 2026-10-09. These data are available free from CDC. Use does not imply endorsement by CDC, ATSDR, HHS or the United States Government.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Prevalence Data, 2011 to present (dttw-5yxu), adults who are current smokers, crude prevalence, overall. https://data.cdc.gov/resource/dttw-5yxu.json?%24order=%3Aid&%24limit=50000&%24where=questionid%3D%27_RFSMOK3%27+AND+responseid%3D%27RESP046%27+AND+breakoutid%3D%27BO1%27+AND+data_value_type%3D%27Crude+Prevalence%27. Retrieved 2026-10-09. These data are available free from CDC. Use does not imply endorsement by CDC, ATSDR, HHS or the United States Government.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). VSRR Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts (xkb8-kh2a), reported number of drug overdose deaths, 12 month-ending. https://data.cdc.gov/resource/xkb8-kh2a.json?%24order=%3Aid&%24limit=50000&%24where=indicator%3D%27Number+of+Drug+Overdose+Deaths%27+AND+period%3D%2712+month-ending%27. Retrieved 2026-10-09. These data are available free from CDC. Use does not imply endorsement by CDC, ATSDR, HHS or the United States Government.
Invokely calculation from NHTSA FARS traffic fatalities divided by BEA mid-year population (SAINC1 and CAINC1), per 100,000 residents. https://invokely.ai/docs/methodology#traffic_fatality_rate_per_100k. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration. Electricity data browser: average retail price of electricity, residential sector, annual (EIA-861 and EIA-861M). Retrieved through Data Commons (datacommons.org). https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/browser/. Retrieved 2026-10-11. Retrieved through Data Commons (https://datacommons.org).
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Climate at a Glance. NOAA Climate at a Glance, January to December average temperature, contiguous US and statewide. From the NOAA Monthly U.S. Climate Divisional Database (nClimDiv), doi:10.7289/V5M32STR. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/monitoring/climate-at-a-glance/statewide/time-series/38/tavg/12/12/1895-2025/data.json. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

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