2022 South Carolina Population Estimates from the United States Census Bureau
By Ashlyn Chastain-Brown & Taylor Hendrix, Workforce Insights Analysts
Last month, the U.S. Census Bureau released its latest detailed population estimates for 2022. These data provide valuable information for economic and workforce development professionals looking to understand demographics and potential labor supply in their communities.
Overall, South Carolina had an estimated population of 5,282,634, an increase of 89,368 (1.7 percent) from one year prior. This represents the third-highest growth rate in the country, and the Census data show it is driven primarily by in-migration from other US states. Among South Carolina’s counties, the three largest were Greenville (547,950), Richland (421,566), and Charleston (419,279); jointly, these three counties account for 26.3 percent of the entire state’s population. Bamberg (12,908), McCormick (9,764), and Allendale (7,579) were the three smallest, consisting of less than 1 percent of the total. A comparison of the two groups of counties can be found below:
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Urban – Richland, Charleston, and Greenville Counties |
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Population |
The combined population of these three counties accounts for 26.3% of the state’s total population |
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Most Populous Age Group |
Richland: 20-24 years old Charleston: 30-34 years old Greenville: 30-34 years old |
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Sex |
Females: 51.6% Males: 48.4% |
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Racial Demographic |
Richland: 187,341 White; 208,254 Black; 23,854 Hispanic Charleston: 299,020 White; 101,750 Black; 23,448 Hispanic Greenville: 416,985 White; 99,610 Black; 56,534 Hispanic |
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Prominent Industries |
The top 5 industries are Government, Health Care and Social Assistance, Accommodation and Food Services, Retail Trade, and Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services |
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Median Wage |
Richland: $39.6K Charleston: $40.9K Greenville: $38.4K |
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Rural – Bamberg, McCormick, and Allendale Counties |
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Population |
The combined population of these three counties accounts for only 0.6% of the state’s total population |
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Most Populous Age Group |
Bamberg: 20-24 years old McCormick: 65-69 years old Allendale: 25-29 years old |
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Sex |
Females: 52.3% Males: 47.7% |
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Racial Demographic |
Bamberg: 4,936 White; 3,805 Black; 181 Hispanic McCormick: 5,659 White; 3,805 Black; 215 Hispanic Allendale: 1,891 White; 5,464 Black; 273 Hispanic |
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Prominent Industries |
The top 5 industries are Government, Manufacturing, Retail Trade, Health Care and Social Assistance, and Accommodation and Food Services |
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Median Wage |
Bamberg: $34.3K McCormick: $32.8K Allendale: $36.7K |