The map above shows Alabama and South Carolina side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Alabama vs South Carolina Geography
Land area: Alabama has a land area of 50,651 square miles (131,185 km²), while South Carolina has 30,064 square miles (77,866 km²). Alabama's land area is 1.7 times (68%) larger than South Carolina's.
Total area: Alabama: 52,420 square miles (135,767 km²) vs South Carolina: 32,024 square miles (82,940 km²), including inland and coastal water. Alabama's total area is 1.6 times (64%) larger than South Carolina's.
Length: Alabama is 331 miles (532 km) long from north to south; South Carolina is 236 miles (380 km). Alabama's north-south length is 1.4 times (40%) longer than South Carolina's.
Width: Alabama spans 212 miles (341 km) east to west; South Carolina spans 279 miles (449 km). South Carolina's east-west width is 1.3 times (32%) wider than Alabama's.
Highest point: Alabama's highest point is Cheaha Mountain at 2,405 feet (733 m); South Carolina's is Sassafras Mountain at 3,497 feet (1,066 m). Sassafras Mountain is 1,092 feet higher than Cheaha Mountain.
Lowest point: Alabama's lowest point is Gulf of Mexico at 0 feet; South Carolina's is Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet. Both lowest points are at or near sea level.
Alabama vs South Carolina Population and History
Population: Alabama has a population of 5,157,699 (2024), while South Carolina has 5,478,831 (2024). South Carolina's population is 1.1 times (6%) larger than Alabama's.
Population density: Alabama: 101.8 people per square mile vs South Carolina: 182.2. South Carolina's population density is 1.8 times (79%) higher than Alabama's.
Biggest city: Alabama's biggest city is Huntsville with 230,402 people; South Carolina's is Charleston with 157,665. Huntsville's population is 1.5 times (46%) larger than Charleston's.
Largest metro area: Alabama's largest metropolitan area is Birmingham, AL metro area (1,192,583 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 2.4 times (142%) larger than Birmingham, AL metro area's.
History: Alabama: Admitted to the Union on December 14, 1819, as the 22nd 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 31 years.
Alabama vs South Carolina Economy
GDP: Alabama's GDP is $325.3 billion (2024) vs South Carolina's $357.1 billion. South Carolina's economic output is 1.1 times (10%) larger than Alabama's.
GDP per capita: Alabama: $63,080 per person vs South Carolina: $65,173. Alabama and South Carolina have about the same GDP per capita.
Average income: Alabama: $57,311 vs South Carolina: $60,776 average income per person (per capita personal income). South Carolina's average income is 1.1 times (6%) higher than Alabama's.
Alabama vs South Carolina Counties
Number of counties: Alabama has 67 counties, while South Carolina has 46. Alabama's county count is 1.5 times (46%) higher than South Carolina's.
Biggest county by area: Alabama's largest county is Baldwin County at 1,590 square miles; South Carolina's is Horry County at 1,133 square miles. Baldwin County's land area is 1.4 times (40%) larger than Horry County's.
Smallest county by area: Alabama: Etowah County (535 sq mi) vs South Carolina: McCormick County (359 sq mi). Etowah County's land area is 1.5 times (49%) larger than McCormick County's.
Most populous county: Alabama: Jefferson County (664,744 people) vs South Carolina: Greenville County (570,745 people). Jefferson County's population is 1.2 times (16%) larger than Greenville County's.
Least populous county: Alabama: Greene County (7,127 people) vs South Carolina: Allendale County (7,551 people). Allendale County's population is 1.1 times (6%) larger than Greene County's.
Richest county: Alabama: Jefferson County ($75,312 per capita income) vs South Carolina: Charleston County ($90,550). Charleston County's income is 1.2 times (20%) richer than Jefferson County's.
Poorest county: Alabama: Bullock County ($39,403 per capita income) vs South Carolina: Marlboro County ($41,332). Marlboro County's income is 1.0 times (5%) richer than Bullock County's.
Alabama vs South Carolina Taxes
State income tax: Alabama has a top income tax rate of 5%, while South Carolina has a top income tax rate of 6%. South Carolina's top rate is 1 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Alabama: 0.38% effective rate vs South Carolina: 0.45% of home value per year. South Carolina's rate is 0.07 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Alabama: 9.46% combined state and average local rate vs South Carolina: 7.49%. Alabama's combined rate is 1.97 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Alabama official website · South Carolina official website
More Size Comparisons
All Alabama 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.