THE PALMETTO STATE

South Carolina

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State snapshot

South Carolina facts

Explore dated, statewide figures across taxes and the economy, housing, public safety, health, education, and other civic topics.

Explore South Carolina individual facts and compare every state →

14 topic facts + fiscal overview + 9 state trends + 134 reviewed government links

Public money

How South Carolina funds state services

The current FY2026–27 appropriations after the Governor's line-item veto, FY2025 audited State tax revenue, current tax rates, and appropriations by service area. Each section preserves its own period and accounting scope; budget authority, audited results, State taxes, and locally administered property taxes are kept distinct.

Enacted budget plan

$42.7BFY2026–27

Vetoes issued August 17, 2026

FY2026–27 current appropriations

July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027

Exact reported total: $42,693,037,462

The General Assembly's ratified Part IA total across General, Federal, and Other Funds, reduced by the Governor's $800,000 General Fund line-item veto for the Youth Challenge Program. The other 13 vetoes concern proviso language rather than additional dollar line items. Legislative action on the vetoes remained pending when this overview was prepared.

South Carolina General Assembly: FY 2026–2027 General Appropriations Bill — Ratified Budget and Governor's Veto Message

FY2026–27

How the enacted budget is financed

$42.7B$42,693,037,462

Other funds$14.7B · 34.4%

Dedicated fees, institutional revenue, trust and enterprise resources, and other agency funds in the Part IA appropriations table.

Federal funds$14.0B · 32.9%

Federal grants and reimbursements appropriated for State-administered programs.

General funds after line-item veto$14.0B · 32.8%

The ratified General Fund amount less the Governor's $800,000 Youth Challenge Program line-item veto.

FY2025 ACFR actual

Where State tax revenue comes from

$21.3B$21,308,092,000

Shares of the $21.308 billion in taxes reported as general revenue for South Carolina's primary government. The denominator includes State retail sales, income, motor-fuel, insurance, hospital, and other taxes; property taxes levied and retained by local governments are outside it.

Retail sales and use taxes$9.4B · 44.2%

State retail sales-and-use taxes recognized in the government-wide financial statements.

Individual income tax$6.7B · 31.4%

Individual-income-tax revenue reported as general revenue.

Gas and motor-vehicle taxes$1.6B · 7.4%

State taxes on motor fuels and motor vehicles reported in the ACFR's combined line.

Corporate income tax$1.4B · 6.3%

Corporate-income-tax revenue recognized by the primary government.

Other taxes$996.2M · 4.7%

The ACFR's combined Other taxes line for tax types not displayed separately.

Hospital tax$984.0M · 4.6%

Hospital tax revenue reported separately in the government-wide statement.

Insurance tax$295.1M · 1.4%

State insurance tax revenue reported separately in the ACFR.

Current plan after the August 17 line-item veto

FY2026–27 appropriations by service area

$42.7B$42,693,037,462

FactVote grouped every Part IA agency total once and used an exact residual for statewide and other government functions. The Adjutant General total and the overall plan are reduced by the vetoed $800,000 Youth Challenge Program line item.

Health and human services$16.6B · 38.8%

Public Health, Vocational Rehabilitation, Health and Human Services, Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, Social Services, Blind, Aging, and Children's Advocacy.

Education and culture$16.4B · 38.3%

K–12 education, higher education, universities, technical education, libraries, museums, archives, arts, and related education agencies.

Transportation$3.7B · 8.6%

Motor Vehicles, Transportation, Infrastructure Bank, County Transportation Funds, and Aeronautics.

Other government and statewide obligations$2.6B · 6.1%

The exact residual for legislative and executive administration, regulation, veterans, employee benefits, reserves, debt service, aid to subdivisions, and other statewide functions.

Public safety and justice$1.9B · 4.4%

Courts, prosecution and defense, State law enforcement, Public Safety, Corrections, probation and parole, and Juvenile Justice.

Economy, housing, and natural resources$1.6B · 3.7%

Housing, agriculture, forestry, natural resources, parks and tourism, commerce, conservation, rural infrastructure, environmental services, and workforce programs.

Tax structure

Common statewide rates

Property and district rates can be local. Each card states the applicable scope.

Individual income tax

1.99% / 5.21%Beginning with tax year 2026, taxable income below $30,000 is subject to a 1.99% rate; income of $30,000 or more uses 5.21% less a $966 statutory adjustment.South Carolina Department of Revenue: Information about H. 4216 — 2026 Individual Income Tax Changes

Sales and use tax

6% State + localThe statewide general sales-and-use-tax rate is 6%. Voter-approved local taxes can add 0% to 3% depending on the county or municipality.South Carolina Department of Revenue: Sales & Use Tax Index — Current State and Local Rates

Corporate income tax

5%The corporate income tax rate for C corporations is 5% of South Carolina taxable income.South Carolina Department of Revenue: C Corporation — Tax Rate

Property tax

4% home assessment + local millageA qualifying primary residence is assessed at 4% of fair market value; other real estate is generally assessed at 6%. Local governments administer the tax and apply jurisdiction-specific millage, so the final effective rate varies by parcel and location.South Carolina Department of Revenue: Local Government Services — Property Assessment Ratios

Latest audited results

Fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

Government-wide activity for South Carolina's primary government on the accrual basis. Revenue combines charges for services, operating and capital grants, taxes, investment income, settlements, and other general revenue; internal transfers cancel at the primary-government level.

South Carolina Comptroller General: FY2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report

Government-wide revenue: $45.8B
Government-wide expenses: $44.2B

Method, scope, and limitations

FactVote used the General Assembly's ratified Part IA recapitulation and then reduced the General Fund, Adjutant General, and statewide totals by the Governor's sole dollar line-item veto. Agency totals were assigned once to broad service areas, with an exact residual. FY2025 tax-source shares and audited activity come from the government-wide ACFR; current rates come from the Department of Revenue.

The $42.693 billion figure is appropriation authority across General, Federal, and Other Funds, not audited spending or an estimate of State tax revenue alone.
The General Assembly's official bill page still listed legislative veto actions as pending when this overview was prepared. An override of the $800,000 dollar veto would restore the ratified total of $42,693,837,462.
Service-area totals are FactVote groupings of agency appropriations, not categories published by the State; multi-purpose agencies are assigned to one category and the residual preserves exact reconciliation.
South Carolina property taxes are locally administered. Assessment ratios are not effective tax rates, and millage varies by jurisdiction.

Last verified August 28, 2026 · Review by August 31, 2027 · South Carolina figures refresh annually.

Taxes and the economy

Taxes, government spending, jobs, wages, and small business.

Taxes and economy

$69,324

Median household income

2020–2024 estimate

Median money income received by South Carolina households, expressed in 2024 inflation-adjusted dollars.

View breakdowns and source

How it was measured

U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, sourced from the American Community Survey 2020–2024 five-year estimate.

Keep in mind

Income is not take-home pay and does not directly measure taxes, wealth, prices, or purchasing power.
A statewide median obscures regional and household differences.

Related state trends

Taxes and economy over time

Employment and unemployment place the latest economic facts in a longer statewide context.

Work

Employment and unemployment

4.1%unemployed

The unemployment rate is paired with employed South Carolina residents indexed to 2015, so job recovery and labor-market slack remain readable on separate scales.

Unemployment rate
Employed people

Unemployment rate: 4.1%
Employed people: 2.5M
Employment since 2015: +16.5%

U.S. comparison & state rank2024

Unemployment rate

South Carolina: 4.1%
U.S. benchmark: 4.0%
State rank #1 has the highest unemployment rate — worse: #14 of 50

Ranks sort the measured value from highest to lowest. Each State rank explains what #1 means for that fact.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED: National unemployment rate

View chart data

Year	Unemployment rate	Employed people	Employment index
2015	5.9%	2,108,786	100.0
2016	4.9%	2,145,584	101.7
2017	4.2%	2,168,104	102.8
2018	3.4%	2,206,821	104.6
2019	2.8%	2,263,682	107.3
2020	6.0%	2,201,090	104.4
2021	3.9%	2,279,261	108.1
2022	3.2%	2,344,834	111.2
2023	3.0%	2,420,636	114.8
2024	4.1%	2,457,287	116.5

Method and limitations

FactVote uses BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics annual averages for the statewide unemployment rate and civilian employment. The chart converts employment to an index with 2015 equal to 100; the data table retains the published employment level.

LAUS estimates are revised each year through the program's annual processing cycle.
Employment is residence-based civilian employment, not a count of jobs located in the state.
Annual averages smooth within-year changes.

Housing and property costs

Housing supply, affordability, renters, zoning, and property costs.

Housing

$1,180/month

Median gross rent

2020–2024 estimate

Median monthly gross rent for renter-occupied housing units paying cash rent, including contract rent plus estimated average utility and fuel costs paid by the renter.

View breakdowns and source

How it was measured

U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, sourced from the American Community Survey 2020–2024 five-year estimate and expressed in 2024 dollars.

Keep in mind

This is a multi-year statewide estimate, not a current asking-rent measure.
The median obscures differences by location, unit size, housing quality, and renter circumstances.

Related state trends

Housing over time

Home values and household income show how South Carolina housing costs and purchasing power have changed together.

Housing pressure

Home prices versus income growth

+102.9%home prices

FHFA house prices and BEA personal income per person are indexed to the same starting year. A widening gap signals that home prices are rising faster than this broad income measure.

FHFA home prices
Income per person

Home-price growth: +102.9%
Income growth: +55.0%
Income per person: $63,179

U.S. comparison & state rank2025

Home-price growth

South Carolina: +102.9%
U.S. benchmark: +86.6%
State rank #1 has the fastest home-price growth — depends on perspective: #13 of 50

Income growth

South Carolina: +55.0%
U.S. benchmark: +55.9%
State rank #1 has the fastest income growth — better: #23 of 50

Ranks sort the measured value from highest to lowest. Each State rank explains what #1 means for that fact.Federal Housing Finance Agency: U.S. House Price Index U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis via FRED: U.S. personal income per capita

View chart data

Year	FHFA HPI	Home-price index	Income per person	Income index
2016	260.08	100.0	$40,752	100.0
2017	270.65	104.1	$42,385	104.0
2018	285.71	109.9	$43,817	107.5
2019	300.93	115.7	$46,150	113.2
2020	316.92	121.9	$48,763	119.7
2021	360.31	138.5	$53,389	131.0
2022	431.85	166.0	$54,550	133.9
2023	466.32	179.3	$57,735	141.7
2024	500.70	192.5	$60,649	148.8
2025	527.81	202.9	$63,179	155.0

Method and limitations

FactVote averages the four quarterly, not-seasonally-adjusted FHFA all-transactions HPI observations for each year. It compares that series with BEA annual per-capita personal income distributed by FRED, then rebases both to 100 in 2016.

This is a pressure indicator, not a home-price-to-income ratio and not a measure of monthly mortgage affordability.
Both series are nominal; neither is adjusted for inflation.
Per-capita personal income includes earnings, property income, and transfers and is not median household income.

Public safety and criminal justice

Policing, crime prevention, sentencing, incarceration, and rehabilitation.

Public safety and justice

440.8 per 100,000

Reported violent-crime rate

2024

Violent offenses reported to law enforcement per 100,000 residents in participating jurisdictions.

View breakdowns and source

How it was measured

FactVote sums the 12 monthly state offense rates returned by the FBI Crime Data Explorer for each calendar year. The accompanying coverage value is the mean of the 12 monthly population-coverage percentages returned with the same query.

Keep in mind

These are crimes reported to law enforcement, not all crimes that occurred.
South Carolina's average monthly population coverage remained at or above 98.8% throughout this series, but coverage still varies and does not equal complete statewide reporting.
Reporting systems, agency participation, and later revisions can change the published series.
Average monthly population coverage in 2024 was 99.7%; this is not complete statewide reporting.

Public safety and justice

1,993.6 per 100,000

Reported property-crime rate

2024

Property offenses reported to law enforcement per 100,000 residents in participating jurisdictions.

View breakdowns and source

How it was measured

Keep in mind

These are crimes reported to law enforcement, not all crimes that occurred.
South Carolina's average monthly population coverage remained at or above 98.8% throughout this series, but coverage still varies and does not equal complete statewide reporting.
Reporting systems, agency participation, and later revisions can change the published series.
Average monthly population coverage in 2024 was 99.7%; this is not complete statewide reporting.

Public safety and justice

505

Homicide deaths

2024 final data

Deaths for which homicide was the underlying cause, with the rate age-adjusted per 100,000 residents.

View breakdowns and source

Population-adjusted measure

Age-adjusted homicide death rate: 9.9 per 100,000

How it was measured

CDC National Vital Statistics System death-certificate data.

Keep in mind

Homicide mortality is not the same as offenses reported to police and does not include nonfatal violence.
Counts and rates do not establish causes or the effect of a particular policy.

Related state trends

Public safety and justice over time

Reported violent- and property-crime rates are shown with the coverage cautions needed to compare years responsibly.

Public safety

Reported violent and property crime rates

99.7% coverage

Reported offenses per 100,000 residents in participating jurisdictions. Amber points flag years when average monthly population coverage was below 90%.

Violent crime
Property crime
Partial reporting

Violent crime: 440.8 per 100k
Property crime: 1993.6 per 100k
Population coverage: 99.7%

U.S. comparison & state rank2024

Violent-crime rate

South Carolina: 440.8 per 100k
U.S. benchmark: 359.1 per 100k
State rank #1 has the highest violent-crime rate — worse: #11 of 50

Property-crime rate

South Carolina: 1993.6 per 100k
U.S. benchmark: 1760.1 per 100k
State rank #1 has the highest property-crime rate — worse: #15 of 50

Ranks sort the measured value from highest to lowest. Each State rank explains what #1 means for that fact.An asterisk marks a state-year with less than 90% average population coverage. The U.S. figures are FBI national estimates; state figures are reported rates.Federal Bureau of Investigation: UCR Summary of Reported Crimes in the Nation, 2024

View chart data

Year	Violent rate	Property rate	Population coverage
2015	492.3 per 100k	3300.2 per 100k	99.7%
2016	506.1 per 100k	3266.1 per 100k	99.5%
2017	504.8 per 100k	3191.7 per 100k	99.2%
2018	498.4 per 100k	3063.0 per 100k	99.0%
2019	508.0 per 100k	2924.2 per 100k	98.8%
2020	528.3 per 100k	2720.8 per 100k	99.3%
2021	516.1 per 100k	2523.7 per 100k	99.4%
2022	499.8 per 100k	2355.6 per 100k	99.8%
2023	478.1 per 100k	2249.2 per 100k	99.7%
2024	440.8 per 100k	1993.6 per 100k	99.7%

Method and limitations

These are crimes reported to law enforcement, not all crimes that occurred.
South Carolina's average monthly population coverage remained at or above 98.8% throughout this series, but coverage still varies and does not equal complete statewide reporting.
Reporting systems, agency participation, and later revisions can change the published series.

Healthcare

Coverage, prescription costs, Medicaid, and access to care.

Healthcare

11.0%

People under 65 without health insurance

2024 ACS annual estimate

Share of South Carolina’s civilian noninstitutionalized residents under age 65 who lacked comprehensive health-insurance coverage at the time of the ACS survey.

View breakdowns and source

How it was measured

U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, sourced from the 2024 American Community Survey 1-year estimate.

Keep in mind

This is a survey estimate for people under 65 and does not describe coverage type or continuity of coverage.
Insurance status alone does not measure affordability, access, quality, or health outcomes.

Related state trends

Healthcare over time

Health-insurance coverage and life expectancy provide separate views of access and population health over time.

Health coverage

Residents without health insurance

9.0%uninsured

The share of the civilian noninstitutionalized population without health insurance at the time of the American Community Survey interview.

Uninsured rate
90% confidence margin

Uninsured rate: 9.0%
Margin of error: ±0.3 points

U.S. comparison & state rank2024

Uninsured rate

South Carolina: 9.0%
U.S. benchmark: 8.2%
State rank #1 has the highest uninsured rate — worse: #14 of 50

Ranks sort the measured value from highest to lowest. Each State rank explains what #1 means for that fact.U.S. Census Bureau: HIC-4_ACS health insurance coverage

View chart data

Year	Uninsured rate	90% margin of error
2014	13.6%	±0.4 points
2015	10.9%	±0.3 points
2016	10.0%	±0.3 points
2017	11.0%	±0.3 points
2018	10.5%	±0.4 points
2019	10.8%	±0.3 points
2020	Not released	—
2021	10.0%	±0.4 points
2022	9.1%	±0.3 points
2023	9.1%	±0.3 points
2024	9.0%	±0.3 points

Method and limitations

FactVote uses the Census Bureau's HIC-4_ACS historical table. Rates and 90% confidence margins of error are the published ACS 1-year estimates for the civilian noninstitutionalized population.

The Census Bureau did not release the standard 2020 ACS 1-year estimates because pandemic-era data collection did not meet its quality standards; the chart preserves that gap.
The rate is a survey estimate and the accompanying margin of error should be considered when comparing nearby values.
Coverage is measured at the interview and does not show how long someone was uninsured during the year.

Health outcomes

Life expectancy at birth

75.1 yearsat birth

Period life expectancy at birth based on South Carolina's annual complete life tables and final state-specific death data.

Life expectancy at birth

U.S. comparison & state rank2022

Life expectancy

South Carolina: 75.1 years
U.S. benchmark: 77.5 years
State rank #1 has the highest life expectancy — better: #41 of 50

Ranks sort the measured value from highest to lowest. Each State rank explains what #1 means for that fact.CDC National Center for Health Statistics: U.S. state life tables, 2018–2022

View chart data

Year	Life expectancy at birth
2018	76.5 years
2019	76.8 years
2020	74.8 years
2021	73.5 years
2022	75.1 years

Method and limitations

FactVote uses CDC National Center for Health Statistics annual complete life-table estimates for the total South Carolina population. Values are rounded to the published tenth of a year.

The latest published comparable state series ends in 2022, even though newer national life-expectancy estimates may be available.
Period life expectancy summarizes current mortality rates; it is not a forecast of how long a particular person will live.
The 2020 and 2021 estimates reflect the mortality shock during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Education

Public schools, school choice, teachers, and higher education.

Education

90.1%

Adults with at least a high school diploma

2020–2024 estimate

Share of South Carolina residents age 25 and older whose reported attainment is a regular high school diploma or equivalent (including GED or an alternative credential), some college, or an associate’s or higher degree.

View breakdowns and source

How it was measured

U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, sourced from the American Community Survey 2020–2024 five-year estimate.

Keep in mind

This is an adult educational-attainment measure, not a current high-school graduation rate or a measure of school quality.
A statewide estimate can obscure differences across communities and demographic groups.

Related state trends

Education over time

Comparable NAEP assessment years show changes in statewide reading and mathematics performance.

Education

NAEP reading and math scores

214.9Grade 4 reading

Grade 4 and Grade 8 public-school mean scale scores from the Nation's Report Card. Reading and math are shown within each grade on their own panel.

Reading · circle
Math · square

Grade 4 reading: 214.9
Grade 4 math: 237.6
Grade 8 reading: 253.7
Grade 8 math: 268.0

U.S. comparison & state rank2024

Grade 4 reading

South Carolina: 214.9
U.S. benchmark: 215.0
State rank #1 has the highest score — better: #24 of 50

Grade 4 math

South Carolina: 237.6
U.S. benchmark: 237.5
State rank #1 has the highest score — better: #26 of 50

Grade 8 reading

South Carolina: 253.7
U.S. benchmark: 258.0
State rank #1 has the highest score — better: #40 of 50

Grade 8 math

South Carolina: 268.0
U.S. benchmark: 273.8
State rank #1 has the highest score — better: #39 of 50

Ranks sort the measured value from highest to lowest. Each State rank explains what #1 means for that fact.State ranks use public-school results. The U.S. benchmark includes the national public- and nonpublic-school sample.U.S. Department of Education, NCES: NAEP national results

View chart data

Assessment year	Grade 4 reading	Grade 4 math	Grade 8 reading	Grade 8 math
2003	214.8	235.8	258.1	277.3
2005	213.2	238.3	257.2	281.2
2007	213.8	237.1	257.4	281.5
2009	215.9	235.7	257.3	280.4
2011	214.9	237.3	260.3	281.0
2013	213.6	236.6	261.4	279.8
2015	218.0	237.1	260.3	275.8
2017	213.1	234.0	259.8	274.7
2019	216.0	236.8	259.0	276.4
2022	216.4	234.2	253.9	269.0
2024	214.9	237.6	253.7	268.0

Method and limitations

FactVote uses NAEP Data Service mean scale scores for all public-school students in South Carolina. The series uses the total student group and the main reading and mathematics composite scales for Grade 4 and Grade 8.

NAEP is generally administered every two years; the 2021 administration was postponed, so the timeline moves from 2019 to 2022.
NAEP results are estimates from a sample. Statistical significance, not a visual gap alone, determines whether scores differ.
Each grade and subject has its own scale. Follow one line over time rather than comparing the numeric distance between grades or subjects.

Environment and energy

Clean water, conservation, climate, and energy production.

Environment

$3.78/gal

Lower Atlantic regular gasoline price

Week of August 31, 2026

Estimated average retail price of regular-grade gasoline across all formulations in EIA's Lower Atlantic region, including taxes. The region contains Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

South Carolina$3.783/gal

United States$4.071/gal

The Lower Atlantic average was $0.288 per gallon lower, or about 7.1% below the U.S. average.

View breakdowns and source

South Carolina and U.S. context

Regular gasoline price

South Carolina: $3.783/gal
United States: $4.071/gal

The Lower Atlantic average was $0.288 per gallon lower, or about 7.1% below the U.S. average.

Both figures are EIA weekly retail estimates for regular gasoline, including taxes, for the week of August 31, 2026. The South Carolina-side figure is the Lower Atlantic regional average, not a South Carolina statewide estimate.U.S. Energy Information Administration: U.S. Regular All Formulations Retail Gasoline Prices

Recent EIA observations

Prior week: $3.785/gal
Weekly change: -0.2¢
One year earlier: $2.912/gal
Change from one year earlier: +87.1¢

How it was measured

FactVote uses EIA’s Lower Atlantic series, the smallest current EIA retail region that includes South Carolina. Changes are calculated from the published August 24, 2026 (prior week), and September 1, 2025 (52 weeks earlier), observations.

Keep in mind

EIA does not publish a current South Carolina statewide weekly gasoline-price series. This Lower Atlantic regional estimate should not be read as South Carolina’s statewide average.
The regional average combines Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia, and does not represent the price at every station or in every South Carolina community.
Prices are nominal and not adjusted for inflation or seasonal patterns. Weekly estimates can be revised and can differ from monthly averages.
Price changes alone do not establish the effect of any bill, official, or government action.

Related state trends

Environment over time

South Carolina electricity generation, residential power prices, and gasoline prices show how the state's energy costs and supply have changed.

Energy

Electricity mix and residential price

14.23¢/kWhresidential average

In-state utility-scale electricity generation by energy source is paired with the annual average residential electricity price on a separate scale.

Natural gas22.7%
Coal16.8%
Nuclear53.5%
Solar2.9%
Hydroelectric2.2%
Wind0.0%
Other2.0%

Residential price: 14.23¢/kWh
Total generation: 100.5 TWh
Largest source: Nuclear · 53.5%

U.S. comparison & state rank2024

Residential electricity price

South Carolina: 14.23¢/kWh
U.S. benchmark: 16.48¢/kWh
State rank #1 has the highest electricity price — worse: #29 of 50

Ranks sort the measured value from highest to lowest. Each State rank explains what #1 means for that fact.U.S. Energy Information Administration: National residential electricity price

View chart data

Year	Total generation	Natural gas	Coal	Nuclear	Solar	Hydroelectric	Other	Residential price
2015	96.532 TWh	16.549 TWh	22.631 TWh	53.156 TWh	0.004 TWh	1.660 TWh	2.531 TWh	12.57¢/kWh
2016	96.986 TWh	16.367 TWh	21.003 TWh	55.826 TWh	0.005 TWh	1.249 TWh	2.536 TWh	12.65¢/kWh
2017	93.081 TWh	17.156 TWh	18.152 TWh	54.345 TWh	0.080 TWh	0.810 TWh	2.539 TWh	13.02¢/kWh
2018	99.364 TWh	21.654 TWh	19.497 TWh	52.716 TWh	0.510 TWh	2.309 TWh	2.677 TWh	12.44¢/kWh
2019	100.108 TWh	23.926 TWh	14.861 TWh	56.103 TWh	0.859 TWh	2.068 TWh	2.291 TWh	12.99¢/kWh
2020	98.529 TWh	24.228 TWh	12.459 TWh	54.751 TWh	1.722 TWh	3.184 TWh	2.185 TWh	12.78¢/kWh
2021	98.390 TWh	23.242 TWh	15.188 TWh	53.771 TWh	2.280 TWh	1.776 TWh	2.133 TWh	12.86¢/kWh
2022	98.710 TWh	24.144 TWh	14.243 TWh	54.370 TWh	2.422 TWh	1.310 TWh	2.221 TWh	13.59¢/kWh
2023	100.853 TWh	23.691 TWh	15.150 TWh	55.622 TWh	2.762 TWh	1.745 TWh	1.882 TWh	13.68¢/kWh
2024	100.485 TWh	22.809 TWh	16.842 TWh	53.770 TWh	2.926 TWh	2.161 TWh	1.978 TWh	14.23¢/kWh

Method and limitations

FactVote uses EIA's annual utility-scale net generation series and groups sources into seven categories. The residential price is EIA's annual average revenue per kilowatthour and includes generation, transmission, distribution, taxes, and fees reflected in electric bills.

Generation is electricity produced inside South Carolina, not electricity consumed there; interstate imports and exports are not represented.
The consistent utility-scale series excludes estimated generation from small-scale solar systems under 1 megawatt. Hydroelectric combines conventional and pumped-storage net generation; the 'other' category is the residual of remaining reported energy sources.
The residential price is a statewide nominal average and can mask large differences among utilities, plans, and household usage.

Fuel cost

Monthly regular gasoline price

$3.716/galmonthly average

Monthly regular-grade gasoline prices in EIA’s Lower Atlantic region show the market trend surrounding South Carolina. The regional average includes South Carolina.

Regular gasoline · monthly average

Price: $3.716/gal
From prior month: −0.5¢
From one year earlier: +80.0¢

U.S. comparison & state rank2026-07

Regular gasoline

South Carolina: $3.716/gal
U.S. benchmark: $3.932/gal
State rank #1 has the highest gasoline price — worse: #27* of 49

* EIA does not publish a current South Carolina statewide monthly gasoline-price series; this chart uses a six-state regional average, not a statewide measurement.

Ranks sort the measured value from highest to lowest. Each State rank explains what #1 means for that fact.Gasoline ranks cover states with a published FactVote monthly series. An asterisk marks an EIA regional or metro proxy rather than a statewide measurement.U.S. Energy Information Administration: U.S. regular gasoline prices

View chart data

Month	Regular gasoline price
January 2020	$2.403/gal
February 2020	$2.270/gal
March 2020	$2.058/gal
April 2020	$1.733/gal
May 2020	$1.706/gal
June 2020	$1.899/gal
July 2020	$2.010/gal
August 2020	$2.011/gal
September 2020	$2.043/gal
October 2020	$2.025/gal
November 2020	$1.958/gal
December 2020	$2.060/gal
January 2021	$2.205/gal
February 2021	$2.377/gal
March 2021	$2.672/gal
April 2021	$2.689/gal
May 2021	$2.812/gal
June 2021	$2.876/gal
July 2021	$2.922/gal
August 2021	$2.930/gal
September 2021	$2.967/gal
October 2021	$3.109/gal
November 2021	$3.230/gal
December 2021	$3.129/gal
January 2022	$3.123/gal
February 2022	$3.373/gal
March 2022	$4.056/gal
April 2022	$3.884/gal
May 2022	$4.192/gal
June 2022	$4.609/gal
July 2022	$4.201/gal
August 2022	$3.615/gal
September 2022	$3.335/gal
October 2022	$3.295/gal
November 2022	$3.305/gal
December 2022	$2.960/gal
January 2023	$3.201/gal
February 2023	$3.227/gal
March 2023	$3.221/gal
April 2023	$3.436/gal
May 2023	$3.322/gal
June 2023	$3.290/gal
July 2023	$3.349/gal
August 2023	$3.622/gal
September 2023	$3.502/gal
October 2023	$3.224/gal
November 2023	$2.980/gal
December 2023	$2.974/gal
January 2024	$2.958/gal
February 2024	$3.112/gal
March 2024	$3.283/gal
April 2024	$3.394/gal
May 2024	$3.389/gal
June 2024	$3.265/gal
July 2024	$3.331/gal
August 2024	$3.214/gal
September 2024	$3.019/gal
October 2024	$2.944/gal
November 2024	$2.926/gal
December 2024	$2.900/gal
January 2025	$2.961/gal
February 2025	$2.944/gal
March 2025	$2.894/gal
April 2025	$2.957/gal
May 2025	$2.906/gal
June 2025	$2.919/gal
July 2025	$2.916/gal
August 2025	$2.911/gal
September 2025	$2.907/gal
October 2025	$2.835/gal
November 2025	$2.834/gal
December 2025	$2.741/gal
January 2026	$2.678/gal
February 2026	$2.745/gal
March 2026	$3.450/gal
April 2026	$3.859/gal
May 2026	$4.140/gal
June 2026	$3.721/gal
July 2026	$3.716/gal
August 2026	$3.767/gal

Method and limitations

FactVote uses EIA’s monthly Lower Atlantic (PADD 1C) Regular All Formulations Retail Gasoline Prices series. Monthly averages are simple averages of the published weekly estimates; prices include taxes.

This regional series covers Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia; it is not a South Carolina statewide average.
The regional average masks differences among states, communities, and individual stations.
Prices are nominal and not adjusted for inflation or seasonal patterns. The monthly series ends in August 2026 and can differ from the weekly fact.
Price changes alone do not establish the effect of any bill, official, or government action.

Gun policy and public safety

Firearm rights, gun-safety rules, and violence prevention.

Gun policy

1,064

Firearm deaths

2024 final data

Deaths in which firearm injury was the underlying cause, with the rate age-adjusted per 100,000 residents.

View breakdowns and source

Population-adjusted measure

Age-adjusted firearm death rate: 19.5 per 100,000

How it was measured

CDC National Vital Statistics System death-certificate data.

Keep in mind

The total combines firearm deaths across intents, including suicide, homicide, legal intervention, and unintentional or undetermined injury.
It does not measure nonfatal injuries, firearm ownership, defensive uses, or policy effects.

Social Security, Medicare, and retirement

Retirement benefits, Medicare, and the long-term financing of these programs.

Immigration and border policy

Border enforcement, legal immigration, and pathways to citizenship.

Immigration

5.8%

Residents who are foreign-born

2020–2024 estimate

Share of South Carolina residents who were not U.S. citizens at birth, including naturalized citizens, lawful noncitizens, and people without lawful status.

View breakdowns and source

How it was measured

U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, sourced from the American Community Survey 2020–2024 five-year estimate.

Keep in mind

Foreign-born is not a measure of unauthorized immigration or current border crossings.
The Census does not assign legal status in this measure.

Related state trends

Immigration over time

Population change is separated into natural change, domestic migration, and international migration.

People

Population growth and migration

5.6Mresidents

July 1 population estimates alongside the annual changes attributable to births minus deaths, domestic migration, and international migration.

Population
Births minus deaths
Domestic migration
International migration

Births minus deaths: +564
Domestic migration: +66.6K
International migration: +12.9K

U.S. comparison & state rank2025

Population

South Carolina: 5,570,274
U.S. total: 341,784,857
State rank #1 is most populous — not a performance ranking: #23 of 50

Ranks sort the measured value from highest to lowest. Each State rank explains what #1 means for that fact.U.S. Census Bureau: Vintage 2025 national population estimates

View chart data

Year	Population	Natural change	Domestic migration	International migration	Residual
2020	5,131,992	—	—	—	—
2021	5,194,346	-9,170	68,406	4,026	-908
2022	5,288,957	-7,151	83,341	15,365	3,056
2023	5,390,798	-865	79,536	21,668	1,502
2024	5,490,316	-525	66,367	32,760	916
2025	5,570,274	564	66,622	12,930	-158

Method and limitations

FactVote uses the Census Bureau's Vintage 2025 consistent state series. Population is the July 1 estimate. Change components describe the preceding annual estimates period, and the Census residual adjustment reconciles the components to the published population change.

Vintage estimates are revised as the Census Bureau incorporates newer records and methods.
Domestic and international migration are modeled demographic estimates, not direct counts of every move.
The small residual adjustment is included in the data table but not drawn as a separate bar.

Voting, democracy, and government accountability

Voting access, election administration, ethics, transparency, and corruption.

Democracy and accountability

75.0%

Registered-voter turnout

November 5, 2024 general election

Ballots cast in South Carolina's November 2024 general election as a share of registered voters.

View breakdowns and source

2024 turnout comparison

General election turnout: 75.0%
Primary election turnoutJune 11 and June 25, 2024 statewide primary process: 15.6%

South Carolina reports the primary figure for voters participating in either the June 11 primary or June 25 runoff, counting each voter once in the primary process.

The primary percentage combines the initial primary and runoff process and is not the June 11 election-day rate alone.
Turnout does not by itself measure election access, administration quality, confidence, or the effect of a specific rule.

South Carolina State Election Commission: Voter Participation History, 1998–2024 Review by January 31, 2027

How it was measured

The South Carolina State Election Commission reports statewide registered-voter participation for the general election and the statewide primary process.

Keep in mind

The general-election figure is rounded to a whole percentage in the commission's annual report.
Registered-voter turnout is not a measure of participation among every voting-eligible resident or of election accuracy.

Abortion and reproductive rights

Access to abortion and reproductive healthcare.

Reproductive rights

2,534

Abortions occurring or prescribed in South Carolina

2025 occurrence data

Abortions that occurred or were prescribed in South Carolina and were reported to the state Department of Public Health during calendar year 2025.

View breakdowns and source

Patient residence

South Carolina residents: 2,388
Out-of-state residents: 146

How it was measured

South Carolina Department of Public Health compiled reports submitted under state law using the reporting form adopted August 23, 2023; the published residence categories sum to the statewide occurrence total.

Keep in mind

This is occurrence data and does not include South Carolina residents whose abortion occurred or was prescribed outside South Carolina.
DPH suppresses small cells and additional cells when needed to prevent reidentification; the statewide total and residence breakdown are published without suppression, and neither measure establishes the effect of a law or candidate position.

Facts are shown for context only and do not affect candidate matching or rankings. Dates, definitions, limitations, and primary sources are included with each figure.

State trends

How South Carolina is changing

Nine trend views cover population, work, housing, public safety, education, health coverage, longevity, gasoline prices, and energy. Gasoline uses an explicitly labeled regional average; other charts use South Carolina statewide measures. Each chart now sits directly beneath its related fact section.

South Carolina

FY2026–27 current appropriations

Fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

Taxes and the economy

How it was measured

Unemployment rate

Housing and property costs

How it was measured

Home-price growth

Income growth

Public safety and criminal justice

How it was measured

How it was measured

Population-adjusted measure

How it was measured

Violent-crime rate

Property-crime rate

Healthcare

How it was measured

Uninsured rate

Life expectancy

Education

How it was measured

Grade 4 reading

Grade 4 math

Grade 8 reading

Grade 8 math

Environment and energy

Selected generation shares

How it was measured

South Carolina and U.S. context

Recent EIA observations

How it was measured

Residential electricity price

Regular gasoline

Gun policy and public safety

Population-adjusted measure

How it was measured

Social Security, Medicare, and retirement

Beneficiaries by grouped benefit type

How it was measured

Immigration and border policy

How it was measured

Population

Voting, democracy, and government accountability

2024 turnout comparison

How it was measured

Abortion and reproductive rights

Patient residence

How it was measured