Bordering states
North Carolina vs South Carolina
Short answer
- NC
- 11,046,024
- 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.
North Carolina
South Carolina
- < 51
- < 80
- < 147
- < 300
- ≥ 300
Residents, 2024
- 01North Carolina11,046,024
- 02South Carolina5,478,831
Land, square miles
- 01North Carolina48,624
- 02South Carolina30,064
People per square mile
- 01North Carolina227.2
- 02South Carolina182.2
Median county household income
- 01North Carolina$60,263
- 02South Carolina$57,547
Side by side
| Measure | North Carolina | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Residents, 2024 | 11,046,024 | 5,478,831 |
| Rank by population | 9th | 23rd |
| Land, sq mi | 48,624 | 30,064 |
| People per sq mi | 227.2 | 182.2 |
| County-equivalents | 100 | 46 |
| Median county residents | 52,768 | 60,098 |
| Median county income | $60,263 | $57,547 |
| Most populous county | Wake County | Greenville County |
| Largest county by land | Robeson County | Horry County |
| Capital | Raleigh | Columbia |
| Daylight at capital, June 21 | 14 h 35 min | 14 h 25 min |
| Census division | South Atlantic | South Atlantic |
Population and density
North Carolina has 11,046,024 residents, 2.0 times South Carolina's 5,478,831. North Carolina ranks 9th and South Carolina 23rd of the 50 states and DC. North Carolina is the more crowded, with 227.2 people per square mile against 182.2, 25% more.
Land area
North Carolina has 48,624 square miles of land, 62% more than South Carolina's 30,064. The largest county-equivalent in North Carolina is Robeson County at 947 square miles; in South Carolina it is Horry County at 1,133.
Counties
North Carolina is divided into 100 county-equivalents and South Carolina into 46, so an average North Carolina county covers 486 square miles against 654. The typical county in North Carolina has 52,768 residents, against 60,098 in South Carolina. The most populous are Wake County (1,232,444) and Greenville County (570,745).
4 county names appear on both sides of the border: Beaufort, Cherokee, Lee, Union. Use the FIPS code, not the name, when joining data across the two states.
Household income
The median county in North Carolina has a household income of $60,263, 5% above South Carolina's $57,547. The highest county incomes are Wake County ($103,084) in North Carolina and Charleston County ($88,111) in South Carolina, from SAIPE 2023.
Capitals and daylight
Raleigh and Columbia are 183 miles apart in a straight line; from Raleigh the initial bearing is 229°, SW. On June 21, 2026, Raleigh gets 14 h 35 min of daylight and Columbia 14 h 25 min; on December 21 the figures are 9 h 44 min and 9 h 53 min. Month by month tables are on the Raleigh and Columbia daylight pages.
Where they sit
Both are in the Census South Atlantic division of the South region. By county internal points, North Carolina spans 3 UTM zones and South Carolina 1.
Questions people ask
Which is bigger, North Carolina or South Carolina?
North Carolina, with 48,624 square miles of land against 30,064, 1.62 times as large.
Which has more people, North Carolina or South Carolina?
North Carolina has 11,046,024 residents, 2.0 times South Carolina's 5,478,831.
How far is Raleigh from Columbia?
183 miles in a straight line, heading SW (229°) from Raleigh.
Do North Carolina and South Carolina have counties with the same name?
Yes, 4: Beaufort, Cherokee, Lee, 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.