This group of people growing faster in SC than in the US overall, new Census data says
South Carolina gained White people faster than most other states last year, new Census data shows.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, South Carolina’s White population increased the most numerically among all populations in the state for 2024, year-over-year. The state’s White population also grew considerably faster than the U.S. overall during that period.
The White population in the U.S. was 195,433,222 in 2024, a 0.1% drop from the previous year, Census data shows. The White population was the only one in the U.S. to drop year-over-year.
Unlike South Carolina, the Asian population grew the fastest for the U.S. overall at 4.2%, followed by the Hispanic or Latino population at 2.9%, Census data shows. Also, the Hispanic or Latino population in the U.S. increased by 1.9 million from 2023 to 2024 — a gain larger than the change for all other race and ethnicity groups combined.
SC population changes
Below is a breakdown of changes in demographics in South Carolina between 2023 and 2024. Note that while the White population accounted for the biggest numerical increase, Hispanics had the largest percent jump at 6.45% year-over-year.
White
- 2023 Population: 3,716,785
- 2024 Population: 3,780,966
- Increase: 64,181
- Percent Increase: 1.73%
Black or African American
- 2023 Population: 1,471,690
- 2024 Population: 1,486,409
- Increase: 14,719
- Percent Increase: 1.00%
Hispanic
- 2023 Population: 409,570
- 2024 Population: 435,995
- Increase: 26,425
- Percent Increase: 6.45%
Asian
- 2023 Population: 143,211
- 2024 Population: 152,138
- Increase: 8,927
- Percent Increase: 6.23%
Two or More Races
- 2023 Population: 122,576
- 2024 Population: 128,423
- Increase: 5,847
- Percent Increase: 4.77%
American Indian and Alaska Native
- 2023 Population: 67,724
- 2024 Population: 71,277
- Increase: 3,553
- Percent Increase: 5.25%
Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander
- 2023 Population: 11,785
- 2024 Population: 12,474
- Increase: 689
- Percent Increase: 5.85%
SC county population breakdown
Below is a demographics breakdown of the 10 South Carolina counties with the largest populations in the state in 2024.
Greenville County
- White: 401,022 (76.33% of pop.)
- Black or African American: 95,914
- American Indian & Alaska Native: 2,868
- Asian: 14,486
- Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander: 438
- Two or More Races: 10,815
- Hispanic: 57,891
Richland County
- White: 187,882 (45.15% of pop.)
- Black or African American: 203,590
- American Indian & Alaska Native: 1,617
- Asian: 12,214
- Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander: 616
- Two or More Races: 10,227
- Hispanic: 25,988
Charleston County
- White: 286,821 (70.21% of pop)
- Black or African American: 104,279
- American Indian & Alaska Native: 1,922
- Asian: 7,791
- Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander: 414
- Two or More Races: 7,303
- Hispanic: 29,188
Horry County
- White: 290,593 (82.78% of pop.)
- Black or African American: 45,105
- American Indian & Alaska Native: 2,103
- Asian: 5,181
- Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander: 518
- Two or More Races: 7,538
- Hispanic: 24,183
Spartanburg County
- White: 242,505 (73.94% of pop.)
- Black or African American: 68,104
- American Indian & Alaska Native: 1,578
- Asian: 8,581
- Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander: 262
- Two or More Races: 6,967
- Hispanic: 27,672
Lexington County
- White: 232,673 (79.16% of pop.)
- Black or African American: 46,405
- American Indian & Alaska Native: 1,684
- Asian: 6,769
- Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander: 313
- Two or More Races: 6,068
- Hispanic: 21,676
York County
- White: 209,513 (74.32% of pop.)
- Black or African American: 54,858
- American Indian & Alaska Native: 2,360
- Asian: 8,477
- Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander: 231
- Two or More Races: 6,473
- Hispanic: 18,837
Berkeley County
- White: 158,391 (68.93% of pop.)
- Black or African American: 56,375
- American Indian & Alaska Native: 1,701
- Asian: 6,164
- Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander: 347
- Two or More Races: 6,803
- Hispanic: 20,198
Anderson County
- White: 163,653 (80.33% of pop.)
- Black or African American: 33,067
- American Indian & Alaska Native: 751
- Asian: 2,273
- Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander: 114
- Two or More Races: 3,863
- Hispanic: 9,506
Beaufort County
- White: 146,555 (78.33% of pop.)
- Black or African American: 32,846
- American Indian & Alaska Native: 833
- Asian: 2,755
- Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander: 270
- Two or More Races: 3,839
- Hispanic: 23,294
SC overall population growth
South Carolina’s growth in its White population isn’t too surprising when you consider its relatively rapid total population gains in recent years. South Carolina has ranked among the fastest growing states for several years in a row.
The Palmetto State ranked as the fifth fastest growing state in 2024, recent Census data shows. The state’s population grew by 1.89% or 99,895 people in 2024.
South Carolina ranked as the fastest-growing state in 2023, previous U.S. Census data shows. The state’s population grew by 1.7% to a total of 5,373,555.
This story was originally published July 9, 2025 at 6:00 AM with the headline "This group of people growing faster in SC than in the US overall, new Census data says."
