E.g., 06/04/2026
E.g., 06/04/2026
State Demographics Data - SC
 

South Carolina

Demographics & Social
2024
2000
1990
Demographics Foreign Born
Number 351,009
% Foreign Born 6.4%
Population Change over Time  
% change: 2000-2024 202.7%
% change: 1990-2000 132.1%
Race (%)  
One race 77.8%
White
27.7%
Black or African American
8.5%
American Indian and Alaska Native
2.3%
Asian
21.2%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander
0.1%
Other race
18.0%
Two or more races 22.2%
Latino Origin (of any race)  
Number 152,827
% Latino 43.5%
Age Groups (%)  
Under 5 0.9%
5-17 7.1%
18-64 78.0%
65 and older 13.9%
Median Age 42.9
Gender (% female) 49.7%
Marital Status (15 and older) (%)  
Never married 22.8%
Married 63.3%
Separated, divorced, or widowed 13.9%
U.S. Born
Number 5,127,822
% Foreign Born  
Population Change over Time  
% change: 2000-2011 31.6%
% change: 1990-2000 13.4%
Race (%)  
One race 92.9%
White 65.6%
Black or African American 24.7%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.3%
Asian 0.7%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander 0.1%
Other race 1.6%
Two or more races 7.1%
Latino Origin (of any race)  
Number 281,390
% Latino 5.5%
Age Groups (%)  
Under 5 5.7%
5-17 16.2%
18-64 58.0%
65 and older 20.2%
Median Age 40.4
Gender (% female) 51.4%
Marital Status (15 and older) (%)  
Never married 32.7%
Married 48.9%
Separated, divorced, or widowed 18.4%
Foreign Born
Number 115,978
% Foreign Born 2.9%
Population Change over Time  
% change: 2000-2011  
 
Race (%)  
Latino Origin (of any race)  
Age Groups (%)  
Marital Status (15 and older) (%)  
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U.S. Born
Number 3,896,034
Population Change over Time  
% change: 2000-2011  
1990-2000  
Race (%)  
Latino Origin (of any race)  
Age Groups (%)  
Marital Status (15 and older) (%)  
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Foreign Born
Number 49,964
% Foreign Born 1.4%
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
U.S. Born
Number 3,436,739
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
Foreign Born
Foreign Born
Foreign Born
Place of Birth Number
Region of Birth (excluding born at sea) 351,009
Born in Africa 16,981
Born in Asia 83,674
Born in Europe 57,183
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 178,838
Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon) 12,758
Born in Oceania 1,575
Top 3 Countries of Birth  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
Detailed Region/Country of Birth 351,009
Europe 57,183
Northern Europe 12,470
United Kingdom
10,252
Ireland
1,134
Other Northern Europe
1,084
Western Europe 14,266
France
2,128
Germany
9,974
Other Western Europe
2,164
Southern Europe 6,191
Italy
2,286
Portugal
673
Other Southern Europe
3,232
Eastern Europe 24,175
Poland
1,495
Russia
5,036
Other Eastern Europe
17,644
Other Europe (no country specified) 81
Asia 83,674
Eastern Asia 20,530
China
12,925

China, excluding Taiwan

11,421

Taiwan

1,504
Japan
2,947
Korea
4,587
Other Eastern Asia
71
South Central Asia 29,743
India
21,898
Iran
1,664
Other South Central Asia
6,181
Southeastern Asia 27,876
Philippines
12,523
Vietnam
8,567
Other Southeastern Asia
6,786
Western Asia 5,235
Israel
598
Lebanon
459
Other Western Asia
4,178
Other Asia (no country specified) 290
Africa 16,981
Eastern Africa 2,974
Northern Africa 4,009
Western Africa 6,655
Middle and Southern Africa 3,343
Other Africa (no country specified) N
Oceania 1,575
Australia and New Zealand subregion 1,048
Oceania (no country specified) 527
Americas 191,596
Latin America 178,838
Caribbean
24,572

Cuba

4,452

Jamaica

11,401

Other Caribbean

8,719
Central America
108,702

Mexico

73,694

El Salvador

5,707

Other Central America

29,301
South America
45,564

Brazil

9,787

Colombia

17,131

Other South America

18,646
Northern America 12,758
Canada
12,136
Other Northern America
622
Period of Entry into U.S.  
Before 1990 67,221
1990-1999 48,518
2000-2009 81,172
Since 2010 154,098
%
Region of Birth (excluding born at the sea)* 100%
Born in Africa 4.8%
Born in Asia 23.8%
Born in Europe 16.3%
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 50.9%
Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon) 3.6%
Born in Oceania 0.4%
Top 3 Countries of Birth*  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
Detailed Region/Country of Birth* 100%
Europe 16.3%
Northern Europe 3.6%
United Kingdom 2.9%
Ireland 0.3%
Other Northern Europe 0.3%
Western Europe 4.1%
France 0.6%
Germany 2.8%
Other Western Europe 0.6%
Southern Europe 1.8%
Italy 0.7%
Portugal 0.2%
Other Southern Europe 0.9%
Eastern Europe 6.9%
Poland 0.4%
Russia 1.4%
Other Eastern Europe 5.0%
Other Europe (no country specified) N
Asia 23.8%
Eastern Asia 5.8%
China 3.7%
China, excluding Taiwan 3.3%
Taiwan 0.4%
Japan 0.8%
Korea 1.3%
Other Eastern Asia N
South Central Asia 8.5%
India 6.2%
Iran 0.5%
Other South Central Asia 1.8%
Southeastern Asia 7.9%
Philippines 3.6%
Vietnam 2.4%
Other Southeastern Asia 1.9%
Western Asia 1.5%
Israel 0.2%
Lebanon 0.1%
Other Western Asia 1.2%
Other Asia (no country specified) 0.1%
Africa 4.8%
Eastern Africa 0.8%
Northern Africa 1.1%
Western Africa 1.9%
Middle and Southern Africa 1.0%
Other Africa (no country specified) N
Oceania 0.4%
Australia and New Zealand subregion 0.3%
Oceania (no country specified) 0.2%
Americas 54.6%
Latin America 50.9%
Caribbean 7.0%
Cuba 1.3%
Jamaica 3.2%
Other Caribbean 2.5%
Central America 31.0%
Mexico 21.0%
El Salvador 1.6%
Other Central America 8.3%
South America 13.0%
Brazil 2.8%
Colombia 4.9%
Other South America 5.3%
Northern America 3.6%
Canada 3.5%
Other Northern America 0.2%
Period of Entry into U.S.  
Before 1980 19.2%
1980-1989 13.8%
1990-1999 23.1%
Since 2000 43.9%
Number
Region of Birth (excluding born at the sea)* 115,978
Born in Africa 3,248
Born in Asia 29,402
Born in Europe 27,177
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 49,608
Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon) 5,718
Cat28 825
Top 3 Countries of Birth*  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
%
Region of birth 100%
Born in Africa 2.8%
Born in Asia 25.4%
Born in Europe 23.4%
Born in Latin America 42.8%
Born in Northern America 4.9%
Born in Oceania 0.7%
Top 3 Countries of Birth*  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Number
Region of Birth (excluding born at the sea)* 47,881
Born in Africa 1,869
Born in Asia 15,556
Born in Europe 18,957
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 7,833
Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon) 3,331
Cat21 335
Top 3 Countries of Birth*  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
%
Region of birth 100%
Born in Africa 3.9%
Born in Asia 32.5%
Born in Europe 39.6%
Born in Latin America 16.4%
Born in Northern America 7.0%
Born in Oceania 0.7%
Top 3 Countries of Birth*  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
Foreign Born
Foreign Born
Foreign Born
Naturalization Number
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 351,009
Naturalized citizens 157,392
Noncitizens 193,617
Naturalized Citizens by Period of Naturalization 157,392
Before 1990 29,699
1990-1999 20,758
2000-2009 35,789
2010-2014 22,250
Since 2015 48,896
%
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 100%
Naturalized citizens 44.8%
Noncitizens 55.2%
Naturalized Citizens by Period of Naturalization 100%
Before 1980 18.9%
1980-1989 13.2%
1990-1999 22.7%
2000-2009 14.1%
Since 2010 31.1%
Number
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 115,978
Naturalized citizens 42,983
Noncitizens 72,995
   
   
   
   
   
   
%
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 100%
Naturalized citizens 37.1%
Noncitizens 62.9%
   
   
   
   
   
   
Number
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 49,964
Naturalized citizens 25,411
Noncitizens 24,553
   
   
   
   
   
   
%
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 100%
Naturalized citizens 50.9%
Noncitizens 49.1%
   
   
   
   
   
   
Fertility Foreign Born
Female Population (ages 15-50) 101,540
Women (ages 15-50) who gave birth in the last 12 months 8,504
% married among women who gave birth
74.4%
% unmarried (never married, divorced, or widowed) among women who gave birth
25.6%
U.S. Born
Female Population (ages 15-50) 1,147,809
Women (ages 15-50) who gave birth in the last 12 months 58,677
% married among women who gave birth 62.4%
% unmarried (never married, divorced, or widowed) among women who gave birth 37.6%
Foreign Born
   
   
   
   
U.S. Born
   
   
   
   
Foreign Born
   
   
   
   
U.S. Born
   
   
   
   
Household and Family Size Foreign Born
Average household size 2.89
Average family size 3.26
U.S. Born
Average household size 2.37
Average family size 2.93
Foreign Born
   
   
U.S. Born
   
   
Foreign Born
   
   
U.S. Born
   
   
 
Population
Population
Population
Children under 18 Number
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents  
Children under age 18 with 1,080,123
Only native parent(s)
925,982
One or more foreign-born parents
154,141

Child is native

127,929

Child is foreign born

26,212
Children under age 6 with 338,006
Only native parent(s)
293,944
One or more foreign-born parents
44,062

Child is native

39,645

Child is foreign born

4,417
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 742,117
Only native parent(s)
632,038
One or more foreign-born parents
110,079

Child is native

88,284

Child is foreign born

21,795
Children in Low-Income Families 424,760
Only native parents 347,188
One or more foreign-born parents 77,572
%
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents*  
Children under age 18 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 85.7%
One or more foreign-born parents 14.3%
Child is native 11.8%
Child is foreign born 2.4%
Children under age 6 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 87.0%
One or more foreign-born parents 13.0%
Child is native 11.7%
Child is foreign born 1.3%
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 85.2%
One or more foreign-born parents 14.8%
Child is native 11.9%
Child is foreign born 2.9%
Children in Low-Income Families* 100%
Only native parents 81.7%
One or more foreign-born parents 18.3%
Number
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents  
Children under age 18 with 942,364
Only native parent(s) 897,567
One or more foreign-born parents 44,797
Child is native 34,503
Child is foreign born 10,294
Children under age 6 with 292,552
Only native parent(s) 276,582
One or more foreign-born parents 15,970
Child is native 13,944
Child is foreign born 2,026
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 649,812
Only native parent(s) 620,985
One or more foreign-born parents 28,827
Child is native 20,559
Child is foreign born 8,268
Children in Low-Income Families* 387,448
Only native parents 368,277
One or more foreign-born parents 19,171
%
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents  
Children under age 18 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 95.2%
One or more foreign-born parents 4.8%
Child is native 3.7%
Child is foreign born 1.1%
Children under age 6 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 94.5%
One or more foreign-born parents 5.5%
Child is native 4.8%
Child is foreign born 0.7%
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 95.6%
One or more foreign-born parents 4.4%
Child is native 3.2%
Child is foreign born 1.3%
Children in Low-Income Families* 100%
Only native parents 95.1%
One or more foreign-born parents 4.9%
Number
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents  
Children under age 18 with 869,094
Only native parent(s) 848,601
One or more foreign-born parents 20,493
Child is native 17,139
Child is foreign born 3,354
Children under age 6 with 293,292
Only native parent(s) 286,392
One or more foreign-born parents 6,900
Child is native 6,255
Child is foreign born 645
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 575,802
Only native parent(s) 562,209
One or more foreign-born parents 13,593
Child is native 10,884
Child is foreign born 2,709
Children in Low-Income Families* 392,535
Only native parents 384,897
One or more foreign-born parents 7,638
%
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents  
Children under age 18 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 97.6%
One or more foreign-born parents 2.4%
Child is native 2.0%
Child is foreign born 0.4%
Children under age 6 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 97.6%
One or more foreign-born parents 2.4%
Child is native 2.1%
Child is foreign born 0.2%
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 97.6%
One or more foreign-born parents 2.4%
Child is native 1.9%
Child is foreign born 0.5%
Children in Low-Income Families* 100%
Only native parents 98.1%
One or more foreign-born parents 1.9%

Sources: Migration Policy Institute tabulations of the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) and Decennial Census. Unless stated otherwise, 2024 data are from the one-year ACS file. For information about ACS definitions, click here. For ACS methodology, sampling error, and nonsampling error, click here. Estimates from 1990 and 2000 Decennial Census data as well as ACS microdata are from Steven Ruggles, Sarah Flood, Matthew Sobek, Daniel Backman, Grace Cooper, Julia A. Rivera Drew, Stephanie Richards, Renae Rodgers, Jonathan Schroeder, and Kari C.W. Williams. IPUMS USA: Version 16.0 [dataset]. Minneapolis, MN: IPUMS, 2025. https://doi.org/10.18128/D010.V16.0.

Definitions

  • The term "foreign born" refers to people residing in the United States at the time of the population survey who were not U.S. citizens at birth. The foreign-born population includes naturalized U.S. citizens, lawful permanent immigrants (or green-card holders), refugees and asylees, certain legal nonimmigrants (including those on student, work, or some other temporary visas), and persons residing in the country without authorization.
  • The term "U.S. born" refers to people residing in the United States who were U.S. citizens in one of three categories: people born in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia; people born in U.S. Insular Areas such as Puerto Rico or Guam; or people who were born abroad to at least one U.S. citizen parent.
  • The term "low-income families" refers to families with annual incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty threshold.

Data-related notes

  • The letter N indicates that an estimate could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.
  • Race and Hispanic origin: In preparation for the 2020 Decennial Census, the Census Bureau made some improvements and changes in how respondents were asked about their race and Hispanic origin on the 2020 decennial Census form. The goal was to achieve a more accurate portrait of how U.S. residents self-identify. The same changes in the questionnaire design were implemented in the subsequent ACS as well. Note that the racial composition of the U.S. population in the current ACS looks different from pre-2020 data. For instance, the proportion of people who reported “two or more races” has increased, while the proportion of “white alone” decreased, reflecting both the growth of a more racially diverse population and the changes in the questionnaire design. Race and Hispanic origin comparisons between the current ACS and pre-2020 data should be made with caution, taking into account the changes in the questionnaire design. For more details, visit the Census Bureau’s Resource Library.
  • “Median Age” and “Household Size”: Data for Alaska, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming are from the U.S. Census Bureau's pooled 2020-2024 American Community Survey (ACS). Data for the United States overall and for the remaining states are from the 2024 ACS.
  • Region of birth: For 1990, 2000, and current ACS year, the total for the region of birth of the foreign born is different from the total foreign born. This is because the 1990 total excludes those who did not report a country of birth and those born at sea, while the 2000 census and the current ACS year totals exclude those born at sea.
  • Countries of birth: These are the largest countries of birth reported by the Census Bureau. Some countries are only listed as part of a larger geographic region. For example, those born in Somalia are included only among those born in Eastern Africa. Therefore, a few states may have larger populations of foreign-born persons born in countries not listed individually in census data. For each of the three years, countries of birth reflect geographic boundaries as of that year.
  • Children: The data here include children between ages 0 and 17 (regardless of their nativity) who reside with at least one parent. This means that the number of children shown here is smaller than the overall number of U.S. children under 18. Since 2013, the U.S. Census Bureau has included children of same-sex married couples in its count of children in families and subfamilies.