The map above shows Illinois and South Carolina side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Illinois vs South Carolina Geography
Land area: Illinois has a land area of 55,513 square miles (143,778 km²), while South Carolina has 30,064 square miles (77,866 km²). Illinois' land area is 1.8 times (85%) larger than South Carolina's.
Total area: Illinois: 57,913 square miles (149,995 km²) vs South Carolina: 32,024 square miles (82,940 km²), including inland and coastal water. Illinois' total area is 1.8 times (81%) larger than South Carolina's.
Length: Illinois is 390 miles (628 km) long from north to south; South Carolina is 236 miles (380 km). Illinois' north-south length is 1.7 times (65%) longer than South Carolina's.
Width: Illinois spans 283 miles (456 km) east to west; South Carolina spans 279 miles (449 km). Illinois and South Carolina have about the same east-west width.
Highest point: Illinois's highest point is Charles Mound at 1,232 feet (376 m); South Carolina's is Sassafras Mountain at 3,497 feet (1,066 m). Sassafras Mountain is 2,265 feet higher than Charles Mound.
Lowest point: Illinois's lowest point is Mississippi River at 292 feet; South Carolina's is Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet. South Carolina's lowest point is 292 feet lower.
Illinois vs South Carolina Population and History
Population: Illinois has a population of 12,710,158 (2024), while South Carolina has 5,478,831 (2024). Illinois' population is 2.3 times (132%) larger than South Carolina's.
Population density: Illinois: 229.0 people per square mile vs South Carolina: 182.2. Illinois' population density is 1.3 times (26%) higher than South Carolina's.
Biggest city: Illinois's biggest city is Chicago with 2,721,308 people; South Carolina's is Charleston with 157,665. Chicago's population is 17.3 times larger than Charleston's.
Largest metro area: Illinois's largest metropolitan area is Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area (9,408,576 people) vs South Carolina's Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area (2,883,370). Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area's population is 3.3 times (226%) larger than Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area's.
History: Illinois: Admitted to the Union on December 3, 1818, as the 21st 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 30 years.
Illinois vs South Carolina Economy
GDP: Illinois's GDP is $1,148.1 billion (2024) vs South Carolina's $357.1 billion. Illinois' economic output is 3.2 times (222%) larger than South Carolina's.
GDP per capita: Illinois: $90,330 per person vs South Carolina: $65,173. Illinois' GDP per capita is 1.4 times (39%) higher than South Carolina's.
Average income: Illinois: $74,522 vs South Carolina: $60,776 average income per person (per capita personal income). Illinois' average income is 1.2 times (23%) higher than South Carolina's.
Illinois vs South Carolina Counties
Number of counties: Illinois has 102 counties, while South Carolina has 46. Illinois' county count is 2.2 times (122%) higher than South Carolina's.
Biggest county by area: Illinois's largest county is McLean County at 1,183 square miles; South Carolina's is Horry County at 1,133 square miles. McLean County and Horry County have about the same land area.
Smallest county by area: Illinois: Putnam County (160 sq mi) vs South Carolina: McCormick County (359 sq mi). McCormick County's land area is 2.2 times (124%) larger than Putnam County's.
Most populous county: Illinois: Cook County (5,182,617 people) vs South Carolina: Greenville County (570,745 people). Cook County's population is 9.1 times (808%) larger than Greenville County's.
Least populous county: Illinois: Hardin County (3,550 people) vs South Carolina: Allendale County (7,551 people). Allendale County's population is 2.1 times (113%) larger than Hardin County's.
Richest county: Illinois: Cumberland County ($104,890 per capita income) vs South Carolina: Charleston County ($90,550). Cumberland County's income is 1.2 times (16%) richer than Charleston County's.
Poorest county: Illinois: Lawrence County ($43,606 per capita income) vs South Carolina: Marlboro County ($41,332). Lawrence County's income is 1.1 times (6%) richer than Marlboro County's.
Illinois vs South Carolina Taxes
State income tax: Illinois has a top income tax rate of 4.95%, while South Carolina has a top income tax rate of 6%. South Carolina's top rate is 1.05 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Illinois: 1.92% effective rate vs South Carolina: 0.45% of home value per year. Illinois's rate is 1.47 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Illinois: 8.98% combined state and average local rate vs South Carolina: 7.49%. Illinois's combined rate is 1.49 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Illinois official website · South Carolina official website
More Size Comparisons
All Illinois 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.