The map above shows Arkansas and South Carolina side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Arkansas vs South Carolina Geography
Land area: Arkansas has a land area of 51,992 square miles (134,658 km²), while South Carolina has 30,064 square miles (77,866 km²). Arkansas' land area is 1.7 times (73%) larger than South Carolina's.
Total area: Arkansas: 53,198 square miles (137,781 km²) vs South Carolina: 32,024 square miles (82,940 km²), including inland and coastal water. Arkansas' total area is 1.7 times (66%) larger than South Carolina's.
Length: Arkansas is 243 miles (392 km) long from north to south; South Carolina is 236 miles (380 km). Arkansas and South Carolina have about the same north-south length.
Width: Arkansas spans 279 miles (449 km) east to west; South Carolina spans 279 miles (449 km). Arkansas and South Carolina have about the same east-west width.
Highest point: Arkansas's highest point is Mount Magazine at 2,752 feet (839 m); South Carolina's is Sassafras Mountain at 3,497 feet (1,066 m). Sassafras Mountain is 745 feet higher than Mount Magazine.
Lowest point: Arkansas's lowest point is Ouachita River at 55 feet; South Carolina's is Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet. South Carolina's lowest point is 55 feet lower.
Arkansas vs South Carolina Population and History
Population: Arkansas has a population of 3,088,354 (2024), while South Carolina has 5,478,831 (2024). South Carolina's population is 1.8 times (77%) larger than Arkansas'.
Population density: Arkansas: 59.4 people per square mile vs South Carolina: 182.2. South Carolina's population density is 3.1 times (207%) higher than Arkansas'.
Biggest city: Arkansas's biggest city is Little Rock with 204,774 people; South Carolina's is Charleston with 157,665. Little Rock's population is 1.3 times (30%) larger than Charleston's.
Largest metro area: Arkansas's largest metropolitan area is Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area (1,339,345 people) vs South Carolina's Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area (2,883,370). Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area's population is 2.2 times (115%) larger than Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area's.
History: Arkansas: Admitted to the Union on June 15, 1836, as the 25th state. South Carolina: Admitted to the Union on May 23, 1788, as the 8th state. In its current form, South Carolina is the older of the two by 48 years.
Arkansas vs South Carolina Economy
GDP: Arkansas's GDP is $188.3 billion (2024) vs South Carolina's $357.1 billion. South Carolina's economic output is 1.9 times (90%) larger than Arkansas'.
GDP per capita: Arkansas: $60,984 per person vs South Carolina: $65,173. South Carolina's GDP per capita is 1.1 times (7%) higher than Arkansas'.
Average income: Arkansas: $59,320 vs South Carolina: $60,776 average income per person (per capita personal income). Arkansas and South Carolina have about the same average income.
Arkansas vs South Carolina Counties
Number of counties: Arkansas has 75 counties, while South Carolina has 46. Arkansas' county count is 1.6 times (63%) higher than South Carolina's.
Biggest county by area: Arkansas's largest county is Union County at 1,039 square miles; South Carolina's is Horry County at 1,133 square miles. Horry County's land area is 1.1 times (9%) larger than Union County's.
Smallest county by area: Arkansas: Lafayette County (530 sq mi) vs South Carolina: McCormick County (359 sq mi). Lafayette County's land area is 1.5 times (48%) larger than McCormick County's.
Most populous county: Arkansas: Pulaski County (401,209 people) vs South Carolina: Greenville County (570,745 people). Greenville County's population is 1.4 times (42%) larger than Pulaski County's.
Least populous county: Arkansas: Calhoun County (4,690 people) vs South Carolina: Allendale County (7,551 people). Allendale County's population is 1.6 times (61%) larger than Calhoun County's.
Richest county: Arkansas: Benton County ($120,594 per capita income) vs South Carolina: Charleston County ($90,550). Benton County's income is 1.3 times (33%) richer than Charleston County's.
Poorest county: Arkansas: Lincoln County ($36,032 per capita income) vs South Carolina: Marlboro County ($41,332). Marlboro County's income is 1.1 times (15%) richer than Lincoln County's.
Arkansas vs South Carolina Taxes
State income tax: Arkansas has a top income tax rate of 3.9%, while South Carolina has a top income tax rate of 6%. South Carolina's top rate is 2.1 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Arkansas: 0.52% effective rate vs South Carolina: 0.45% of home value per year. Arkansas's rate is 0.07 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Arkansas: 9.48% combined state and average local rate vs South Carolina: 7.49%. Arkansas's combined rate is 1.99 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Arkansas official website · South Carolina official website
More Size Comparisons
All Arkansas size comparisons · All South Carolina size comparisons
Area, elevation and boundary figures come from official national statistics and US Census Bureau and Natural Earth boundary data; US state population, economic, county and tax figures come from the US Census Bureau, the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Tax Foundation. Figures are rounded and for general reference.