Bordering states
Georgia vs South Carolina
Short answer
- GA
- 11,180,878
- SC
- 5,478,831
The two states, county by county
Both maps share one density scale, so the same shade means the same number of people per square mile on either side of the border. Darker counties are denser. Select a county to open its page.
Georgia
South Carolina
- < 30
- < 53
- < 96
- < 251
- ≥ 251
Residents, 2024
- 01Georgia11,180,878
- 02South Carolina5,478,831
Land, square miles
- 01Georgia57,717
- 02South Carolina30,064
People per square mile
- 01Georgia193.7
- 02South Carolina182.2
Median county household income
- 01Georgia$54,862
- 02South Carolina$57,547
Side by side
| Measure | Georgia | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Residents, 2024 | 11,180,878 | 5,478,831 |
| Rank by population | 8th | 23rd |
| Land, sq mi | 57,717 | 30,064 |
| People per sq mi | 193.7 | 182.2 |
| County-equivalents | 159 | 46 |
| Median county residents | 24,275 | 60,098 |
| Median county income | $54,862 | $57,547 |
| Most populous county | Fulton County | Greenville County |
| Largest county by land | Ware County | Horry County |
| Capital | Atlanta | Columbia |
| Daylight at capital, June 21 | 14 h 24 min | 14 h 25 min |
| Census division | South Atlantic | South Atlantic |
Population and density
Georgia has 11,180,878 residents, 2.0 times South Carolina's 5,478,831. Georgia ranks 8th and South Carolina 23rd of the 50 states and DC. Both average about 194 people per square mile.
Land area
Georgia has 57,717 square miles of land, 92% more than South Carolina's 30,064. The largest county-equivalent in Georgia is Ware County at 899 square miles; in South Carolina it is Horry County at 1,133.
Counties
Georgia is divided into 159 county-equivalents and South Carolina into 46, so an average Georgia county covers 363 square miles against 654. The typical county in Georgia has 24,275 residents, against 60,098 in South Carolina. The most populous are Fulton County (1,090,354) and Greenville County (570,745).
10 county names appear on both sides of the border: Calhoun, Cherokee, Jasper, Laurens, Lee, Marion, Oconee, Pickens, Sumter, Union. Use the FIPS code, not the name, when joining data across the two states.
Household income
The median county in South Carolina has a household income of $57,547, 5% above Georgia's $54,862. The highest county incomes are Forsyth County ($136,347) in Georgia and Charleston County ($88,111) in South Carolina, from SAIPE 2023.
Capitals and daylight
Atlanta and Columbia are 193 miles apart in a straight line; from Atlanta the initial bearing is 84°, E. On June 21, 2026, Atlanta gets 14 h 24 min of daylight and Columbia 14 h 25 min; on December 21 the figures are 9 h 55 min and 9 h 53 min. Month by month tables are on the Atlanta and Columbia daylight pages.
Where they sit
Both are in the Census South Atlantic division of the South region. By county internal points, Georgia spans 2 UTM zones and South Carolina 1.
Questions people ask
Which is bigger, Georgia or South Carolina?
Georgia, with 57,717 square miles of land against 30,064, 1.92 times as large.
Which has more people, Georgia or South Carolina?
Georgia has 11,180,878 residents, 2.0 times South Carolina's 5,478,831.
How far is Atlanta from Columbia?
193 miles in a straight line, heading E (84°) from Atlanta.
Do Georgia and South Carolina have counties with the same name?
Yes, 10: Calhoun, Cherokee, Jasper, Laurens, Lee, Marion, Oconee, Pickens, Sumter, Union.
Sources and data as of
Data as of: Census Vintage 2024 population estimates, 2024 Gazetteer land area and internal points, SAIPE 2023 median household income.
- 01Census Vintage 2024 county population estimates
- 02Census 2024 Gazetteer, counties
- 03Census SAIPE 2023 state and county estimates
- 04Census Bureau regions and divisions of the United States (last verified 2026-09-30)
How every number is computed: methodology. Spotted a wrong figure? Report an error.