How many people live in south carolina is a question with a clear answer from the latest completed population estimates: South Carolina had 5,570,274 residents on July 1, 2025, the most recent official statewide estimate available as of August 19, 2026. The figure puts South Carolina among the nation’s larger states and shows that its population continues to grow at a notably fast pace.
South Carolina’s Latest Population Estimate
The latest U.S. Census Bureau population estimate places South Carolina’s population at 5,570,274 people. This is the state’s Vintage 2025 estimate, which is the latest completed and consistent population-estimate series currently available.
There is an important distinction between a population estimate and a new decennial census count. The 2025 figure is an estimate of the state’s resident population as of July 1, 2025. It is not a count conducted on that date.
As of August 19, 2026, there is no newer completed annual state population estimate that replaces the July 1, 2025 figure. Therefore, 5,570,274 is the best current official number to use when discussing South Carolina’s population.
The Census Bureau also revised earlier population estimates when it released the Vintage 2025 series. That means older articles may show a different 2024 number. For current comparisons, the revised Vintage 2025 figures should be used rather than mixing estimates from different releases.
South Carolina Population at a Glance
| Population measure | Number |
|---|---|
| July 1, 2025 population estimate | 5,570,274 |
| April 1, 2020 estimate base | 5,118,250 |
| 2020 Census count | 5,118,425 |
| 2010 Census count | 4,625,364 |
| Growth from 2020 estimate base to 2025 | 8.8% |
| Population increase, 2024–2025 | 79,958 |
| Growth rate, 2024–2025 | 1.5% |
These figures show a substantial increase over the population recorded during the 2020 Census and an even larger increase compared with the 2010 Census.
South Carolina Added Nearly 80,000 Residents in One Year
South Carolina’s population increased by 79,958 people between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025. That represented a 1.5% increase, making South Carolina the fastest-growing state in the United States by percentage during that period.
The growth was not simply a small statistical change. A gain of nearly 80,000 residents in one year represents a significant increase for a state with a population of about 5.57 million.
The 2025 increase also continued a broader population trend that has been visible in South Carolina for years. The state’s population has risen substantially since the 2020 Census and has continued to attract new residents.
The latest Census estimates ranked South Carolina first among all states for population growth by percentage from 2024 to 2025. Idaho followed with a 1.4% increase, while North Carolina recorded 1.3%.
Migration Is a Major Part of the Growth
Migration has played an especially important role in South Carolina’s population increase.
Between July 2024 and July 2025, South Carolina recorded a net domestic migration increase of 66,622 people. Domestic migration measures the balance of people moving into the state from other parts of the United States and people leaving South Carolina for other states.
That number accounts for a large portion of the state’s total population increase during the year.
South Carolina’s overall population rose by 79,958 people, while net domestic migration alone contributed 66,622 residents. Other demographic factors, including births, deaths and international migration, made up the remainder of the change.
The pattern shows why South Carolina has continued to stand out among states experiencing population growth. People moving from other states have become a particularly important source of new residents.
How Much Has South Carolina Grown Since 2020?
South Carolina’s population has grown significantly since the 2020 Census.
The latest Vintage 2025 estimate uses an April 1, 2020 population-estimate base of 5,118,250. By July 1, 2025, that figure had reached 5,570,274.
The difference is 452,024 residents.
That represents an 8.8% increase from the 2020 estimate base through July 2025.
The official 2020 Census count itself was slightly different. The Census counted 5,118,425 residents in South Carolina on April 1, 2020.
The difference between the 2020 Census count and the current estimate base reflects the Census Bureau’s population-estimation methodology. When a new annual estimate vintage is released, the bureau updates the historical series to maintain consistency with the latest methodology and demographic information.
For that reason, comparisons should use figures from the same estimate vintage whenever possible.
South Carolina Compared With Its 2010 Population
The longer-term increase is even more noticeable when the latest estimate is compared with the 2010 Census.
South Carolina recorded 4,625,364 residents in the 2010 Census. The July 2025 estimate of 5,570,274 is more than 944,000 residents higher.
That represents growth of roughly 20.4% over the period from the 2010 Census to the 2025 estimate.
The change means South Carolina has added nearly one million residents over roughly 15 years.
The trend also helps explain why questions about the state’s population have become increasingly relevant. South Carolina is no longer a state with a population near the middle of the four-million range. Its current population is well above 5.5 million.
South Carolina Is the 23rd Most Populous State
With 5,570,274 residents, South Carolina ranks 23rd among the 50 states by population in the latest Vintage 2025 estimates.
It sits below Minnesota, which had an estimated population of 5,830,405, and above Alabama, which had an estimated population of 5,193,088.
That position places South Carolina within a group of states with populations between roughly five million and six million residents.
The state remains considerably smaller than neighboring North Carolina and Georgia. North Carolina had an estimated population of 11,197,968 in 2025, while Georgia had 11,302,748.
South Carolina’s population is therefore roughly half the size of either of those neighboring states.
Why the 2025 Number Is the Most Important Figure Right Now
People searching for the current population of South Carolina may encounter several different numbers online. That happens because population statistics are updated periodically.
Older pages can still display estimates from previous releases. A 2024 estimate, for example, may not match the revised 2024 figure included in the Vintage 2025 series.
The Census Bureau states that each new annual estimate vintage revises the historical series back to the most recent census. Earlier estimates are superseded by the newer vintage.
For current population reporting, the 5,570,274 figure for July 1, 2025 should therefore be treated as the latest official statewide estimate available today.
This distinction is especially important for articles, search results and population comparisons. Using an older estimate can make a current population report appear outdated even when the underlying information was once accurate.
What the Population Growth Rate Shows
South Carolina’s 1.5% population increase from 2024 to 2025 was the highest percentage growth recorded by any state during that period.
The state’s growth rate was higher than the national population growth rate. The United States grew by about 0.5% between July 2024 and July 2025, reaching an estimated 341,784,857 residents.
South Carolina therefore grew at roughly three times the national percentage rate during that year.
The difference is significant because national population growth slowed during the same period.
South Carolina’s strong performance shows that state-level population trends can differ considerably from the national pattern. Domestic migration was a particularly important factor in South Carolina’s growth.
South Carolina’s Population in the 2020s
The 2020s have been a period of notable population growth for South Carolina.
The state entered the decade with just over 5.1 million residents based on the 2020 Census-era figures. By July 2025, the estimated population had climbed above 5.57 million.
That represents an increase of more than 450,000 residents from the latest 2020 estimate base.
The growth has also occurred despite changes in broader national demographic trends. U.S. population growth slowed between 2024 and 2025, largely because net international migration declined substantially.
South Carolina still posted the nation’s highest percentage population growth during that period.
How the Latest Estimate Should Be Read
A population estimate does not mean that exactly 5,570,274 people were physically counted in South Carolina on July 1, 2025.
Instead, the Census Bureau produces annual estimates using demographic information and population-change components. These include births, deaths and migration.
The annual estimate provides the most consistent official measure available between decennial censuses.
That makes the July 1, 2025 figure the appropriate number for current population questions in 2026 until a newer official estimate becomes available.
How Many People Live in South Carolina Compared With 2020?
The difference is straightforward:
- 2020 estimate base: 5,118,250
- 2025 estimate: 5,570,274
- Increase: 452,024 residents
- Percentage increase: 8.8%
The comparison shows that South Carolina gained hundreds of thousands of residents in only five years.
The state’s 2020 Census count was 5,118,425, only 175 people above the Vintage 2025 estimate base. That small difference should not obscure the much larger increase seen by 2025.
By the latest estimate, South Carolina had moved well beyond the 5.1-million level associated with the beginning of the decade.
Why Different Websites May Show Different Numbers
Search results can produce several South Carolina population figures because different sources use different years and estimate vintages.
One page might display the 2024 population estimate from an earlier release. Another may show a 2025 estimate. A third may use a Census count from 2020.
All three figures can be legitimate for their respective reference dates.
The key issue is the year being measured.
For a current answer in August 2026, the latest completed estimate is the July 1, 2025 population of 5,570,274. The Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 series is the most recent completed and consistent set of state population estimates.
South Carolina’s Population Growth Remains a Major National Trend
South Carolina’s position as the fastest-growing state by percentage in the latest annual estimates gives the 5.57-million figure additional context.
The state did not merely cross a population milestone. It also recorded one of the strongest growth rates in the country.
Its 79,958-person increase from 2024 to 2025 placed South Carolina fifth nationally in total population growth during that year. Texas led with an increase of 391,243 people, followed by Florida, North Carolina and Georgia.
South Carolina’s fifth-place position by numeric growth is notable because its total population is much smaller than those four states.
The combination of high percentage growth and strong domestic migration makes the latest estimate especially significant.
The Bottom Line on South Carolina’s Population
So, how many people live in South Carolina? The latest official answer is 5,570,274 residents, based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s July 1, 2025 Vintage 2025 population estimate.
South Carolina added 79,958 residents between July 2024 and July 2025, producing a 1.5% annual growth rate. That was the highest percentage population growth among all states during the period.
The state has also grown by 8.8% from the April 1, 2020 Vintage 2025 estimate base. Compared with the 2010 Census population of 4,625,364, the latest estimate represents an increase of more than 944,000 residents.
Migration has been a central part of that growth. Net domestic migration alone added 66,622 residents between July 2024 and July 2025.
As of August 19, 2026, the July 1, 2025 figure remains the latest completed official state population estimate. Until a newer Census estimate is released, 5,570,274 is the most current confirmed population figure for South Carolina.
What do you think about South Carolina’s continued population growth? Share your thoughts or stay updated as new population figures are released.