Skip to content
Beacon CRE

Which counties in South Carolina are losing population?

12 of the 46 counties in South Carolina had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020. Allendale County lost the largest share, down 7.4% (−585 people). Williamsburg County lost the most residents (−1,252).

Of the 12 counties that lost residents between 2020 and 2025, the largest factor was natural change (more deaths than births) in 9 and net domestic migration (more residents moving to other U.S. counties than arriving) in 3 (Census Bureau components of population change).

Data as of 2025 · updated

See the listAll South Carolina counties

All 12 South Carolina counties that lost residents

Counties losing population in South Carolina
RankCountyChange 2020–25Residents lost 2020–25Residents 2025Largest factor 2020–25
1Allendale County−7.4%−5857,355Domestic migration (−311)
2Lee County−5.0%−82115,730Domestic migration (−612)
3Williamsburg County−4.0%−1,25229,662Natural change (−1,123)
4Marlboro County−3.8%−1,00625,488Natural change (−721)
5Bamberg County−3.5%−46312,796Natural change (−531)
6Marion County−2.9%−84628,242Natural change (−827)
7Dillon County−2.9%−81627,458Natural change (−587)
8Fairfield County−2.6%−55220,340Natural change (−838)
9Hampton County−1.9%−35218,174Natural change (−386)
10Union County−1.4%−37426,799Natural change (−1,103)
11Orangeburg County−0.9%−78483,177Natural change (−2,442)
12Sumter County−0.3%−342105,067Domestic migration (−744)

How this is ranked

Counties whose Census Bureau resident population estimate for July 1, 2025 is lower than for July 1, 2020, steepest percentage decline first. The largest factor is the most negative of natural change (births minus deaths), net domestic migration and net international migration over the same years (Census Bureau components of population change). Counties with fewer than 1,000 residents, or without a figure for the same period as the others, are left out, as on every ranking.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025). Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how ranks and figures are built. More on every layer: data sources and licences.

Get the report for any South Carolina county — $99

The quarterly County Growth Report for any county as a PDF: growth, jobs, wages, permits, announcements, sales where allowed, ranks against peer counties and a methods page. Pay once, no subscription.

Choose a county — $99

Every purchase also includes a CSV of every table in the report, ready for a spreadsheet.

Refund terms: Terms. · How we compute every number

Questions

Which county in South Carolina is losing population fastest?

Allendale County: down 7.4% between 2020 and 2025, to 7,355 residents (−585 people; Census Bureau population estimates). Next: Lee County (−5.0%) and Williamsburg County (−4.0%).

How many counties in South Carolina are losing population?

12 of the 46 counties in South Carolina had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020; the other 34 grew or held steady.

Why are counties in South Carolina losing population?

Of the 12 counties that lost residents between 2020 and 2025, the largest factor was natural change (more deaths than births) in 9 and net domestic migration (more residents moving to other U.S. counties than arriving) in 3 (Census Bureau components of population change).

More county rankings for South Carolina

Counties losing population in other states

Across the U.S.