How Big Is South Carolina? See Its Size in Miles, Acres, and How It Compares to Other States

South Carolina is a southern state beloved by its residents and vacationers for its culture, natural areas, and great weather. Even though the state seems to have so much in it, South Carolina is not among the largest in the country. Instead, it is rather small. Just how big is South Carolina, though?

Learn about the size of this state in square miles, square kilometers, and acres. Find out how it compares to some of the other states in the U.S.!

How Big Is South Carolina in Square Miles?

South Carolina is 32,020 square miles in total size. that makes it about 8,000 square miles larger than West Virginia.

How Many Acres Is South Carolina?

South Carolina is 20,492,800 acres large. That makes the state the 40^th largest state in the country.  

How Many Square Kilometers Is the Palmetto State?

South Carolina is about 82,933 square kilometers in size. That makes it about 8,000 square kilometers smaller than Maine, the 39^th largest state in the country.

How Big Is South Carolina Overall?

South Carolina is 32,020 square miles, 82,933 square kilometers, and 20,492,800 acres in total size. According to these measures, the state is the 40^th largest in the country. Roughly 30,060 square miles of the state are land. That equals 93.88% of the total area in the state.

About 1,959.79 square miles of the state is water, roughly 6.12 % of the area in the state. So, the Palmetto State is among the smallest states in the country in terms of overall size and land size.

South Carolina Compared to Other States

Knowing the size of the state in absolute values is incredibly helpful. Many people will want to know South Carolina’s size relative to other states. Understanding the size of a state relative to others provides helpful context. The following charts will demonstrate the size of South Carolina relative to similarly sized states, the largest states, and the smallest states in the United States.  

States Similar in Size to South Carolina

Maine is over 3,000 square miles larger than the Palmetto State, making it the 39^th largest state in the country. West Virginia is the 41^st largest state in the country, and it is about three-quarters of the size of South Carolina. The disparity between these two states shows how much smaller the states get as they reach the bottom of the list of states based on size.

South Carolina vs. the Largest States

The Palmetto State is almost five times smaller than Montana, the fourth-largest state in the country. The state is 8 times smaller than Texas, the largest state in the contiguous United States. As the 10^th smallest state, a huge disparity exists between the Palmetto State and the largest states in the country.

South Carolina vs. the Smallest States

South Carolina is among the top 10 smallest states in the country. Yet, the area of South Carolina is massive compared to the three smallest states in the U.S. The state is 5 times larger than Connecticut, and over 10 times larger than Delaware. While the Palmetto State is quite small, it is bigger than a handful of other states.

About South Carolina

The Palmetto State is in the Southeastern United States, bordered to the north by North Carolina and to the south by Georgia. A fair portion of the state borders the Atlantic Ocean, allowing people to enjoy the beaches and saltwater fishing opportunities in the region.

This state is defined by its Southern culture, slow living, and food. People travel to this area in the summer to take part in sports, especially golf, and water recreation.

Also, this region is steeped in the history of the United States, especially the Civil War period. Overall, the state is small, but it’s easier to think of it as compact. South Carolina has a lot happening within its borders.

The State’s Population and Its Largest Cities

According to the 2020 Census, 5,282,634 people live in the state. Despite being the 40^th largest state in terms of size, the Palmetto State is home to the 23^rd largest population in the country.

South Carolina lacks major metropolitan centers like those seen in New York City or Los Angeles. Still, the city has a few moderately sized cities. The largest cities in the Palmetto State in terms of population are:

Fewer than a million people live in the top five largest cities in the state. Still, a large portion of the state’s population is concentrated in the south-central and central portions of the state.

How big is South Carolina? Well, it’s quite small when compared to most of the other states in the country. The state is ranked 40^th in size, but it is still several times bigger than the very smallest states.  

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