Share of the population by age and sex, five-year groups

Population of South Carolina, 2010–2025 · click to pick a year
Estimates up to 2019 are built on the 2010 Census, those from 2020 on the 2020 Census. A line that steps up or down between 2019 and 2020 reflects this re-basing, not a sudden change in population.

Year

-5 -1   2016  +1 +5

4,963,031 people lived in South Carolina on July 1, 2016: the 23rd-largest population among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The median age was 39.2 years (United States: 37.9); children (18.3%) and older adults (16.7%) make up similar shares of the population. There were 94.3 men for every 100 women. Since 2010 the population has grown by 7.1%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2020 estimates (resident population on July 1; public domain). Median age, shares, dependency ratios and rankings are calculated by PopulationPyramid.net from these estimates; the Census Bureau does not endorse this site.

Key indicators, 2016
Population
4,963,031
Rank by population
23rd of 51
Median age
39.2
Men per 100 women
94.3
Under 15
18.3%
15–64
64.9%
65 and over
16.7%
Child dependency
28.3
Old-age dependency
25.8
Change since 2010
+7.1%
Dependency ratios count children under 15 or adults 65 and over per 100 residents aged 15 to 64.
Show the population by age group, 2016
AgeMenWomenTotalShare
0-4148,854143,200292,0545.9%
5-9157,541153,028310,5696.3%
10-14156,310151,396307,7066.2%
15-19164,029156,010320,0396.4%
20-24175,770164,560340,3306.9%
25-29169,868173,832343,7006.9%
30-34153,078158,393311,4716.3%
35-39148,941155,371304,3126.1%
40-44143,542151,322294,8645.9%
45-49153,635162,348315,9836.4%
50-54160,942174,199335,1416.8%
55-59160,412178,082338,4946.8%
60-64147,106170,927318,0336.4%
65-69139,707160,188299,8956.0%
70-7498,726113,906212,6324.3%
75-7963,89378,178142,0712.9%
80-8438,34453,11691,4601.8%
85+28,50855,76984,2771.7%
How South Carolina compares with similar-sized states, 2016
RankStateResidentsRelative
20 Wisconsin 5,775,170
21 Colorado 5,543,844
22 Minnesota 5,525,360
23 South Carolina 4,963,031
24 Alabama 4,866,824
25 Louisiana 4,681,346
26 Kentucky 4,440,306
Frequently asked questions about South Carolina's population
What is the population of South Carolina?
South Carolina had an estimated 4,963,031 residents on July 1, 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program. That ranks 23rd among the 51 states and the District of Columbia.
What is the median age in South Carolina?
The median age in South Carolina was 39.2 years in 2016, the 16th oldest of the 51 states and DC. That is 1.3 years older than the national median of 37.9.
How many people in South Carolina are 65 or older?
About 830,335 residents of South Carolina (16.7%) were 65 or older in 2016, against 18.3% under 15 and 64.9% aged 15 to 64.
What does the population pyramid of South Carolina show?
In 2016, South Carolina: children (18.3%) and older adults (16.7%) make up similar shares of the population. There were 94.3 men for every 100 women.
How fast is the population of South Carolina changing?
The population of South Carolina grew by 7.1% between 2010 and 2016, and by 1.4% in the last year.
More pyramids
All US states Population pyramid of the United States AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming