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   2021  +1 +5

5,194,346 people lived in South Carolina on July 1, 2021: the 23rd-largest population among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The median age was 40.7 years (United States: 38.9); more residents are 65 or older (19.4%) than under 15 (17.7%): an ageing, top-heavy pyramid. There were 93.4 men for every 100 women. Since 2010 the population has grown by 12.0%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025 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, 2021
Population
5,194,346
Rank by population
23rd of 51
Median age
40.7
Men per 100 women
93.4
Under 15
17.7%
15–64
62.8%
65 and over
19.4%
Child dependency
28.2
Old-age dependency
30.9
Change since 2010
+12.0%
Dependency ratios count children under 15 or adults 65 and over per 100 residents aged 15 to 64.
Show the population by age group, 2021
AgeMenWomenTotalShare
0-4146,784140,220287,0045.5%
5-9155,910149,951305,8615.9%
10-14167,052160,676327,7286.3%
15-19174,287165,145339,4326.5%
20-24169,457169,677339,1346.5%
25-29152,843157,912310,7556.0%
30-34157,877168,892326,7696.3%
35-39153,395164,789318,1846.1%
40-44149,235159,179308,4145.9%
45-49144,385154,042298,4275.7%
50-54156,343167,901324,2446.2%
55-59164,565181,997346,5626.7%
60-64164,751187,231351,9826.8%
65-69149,894176,770326,6646.3%
70-74133,761157,008290,7695.6%
75-7985,595103,269188,8643.6%
80-8447,97562,841110,8162.1%
85+33,82158,91692,7371.8%
How South Carolina compares with similar-sized states, 2021
RankStateResidentsRelative
20 Wisconsin 5,882,128
21 Colorado 5,814,368
22 Minnesota 5,714,055
23 South Carolina 5,194,346
24 Alabama 5,050,058
25 Louisiana 4,628,595
26 Kentucky 4,508,348
Frequently asked questions about South Carolina's population
What is the population of South Carolina?
South Carolina had an estimated 5,194,346 residents on July 1, 2021, 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 40.7 years in 2021, the 10th oldest of the 51 states and DC. That is 1.8 years older than the national median of 38.9.
How many people in South Carolina are 65 or older?
About 1,009,850 residents of South Carolina (19.4%) were 65 or older in 2021, against 17.7% under 15 and 62.8% aged 15 to 64.
What does the population pyramid of South Carolina show?
In 2021, South Carolina: more residents are 65 or older (19.4%) than under 15 (17.7%): an ageing, top-heavy pyramid. There were 93.4 men for every 100 women.
How fast is the population of South Carolina changing?
The population of South Carolina grew by 12.0% between 2010 and 2021, and by 1.2% 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