The map above shows Louisiana and South Carolina side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Louisiana vs South Carolina Geography
Land area: Louisiana has a land area of 43,213 square miles (111,921 km²), while South Carolina has 30,064 square miles (77,866 km²). Louisiana's land area is 1.4 times (44%) larger than South Carolina's.
Total area: Louisiana: 52,375 square miles (135,652 km²) vs South Carolina: 32,024 square miles (82,940 km²), including inland and coastal water. Louisiana's total area is 1.6 times (64%) larger than South Carolina's.
Length: Louisiana is 301 miles (484 km) long from north to south; South Carolina is 236 miles (380 km). Louisiana's north-south length is 1.3 times (28%) longer than South Carolina's.
Width: Louisiana spans 356 miles (574 km) east to west; South Carolina spans 279 miles (449 km). Louisiana's east-west width is 1.3 times (28%) wider than South Carolina's.
Highest point: Louisiana's highest point is Driskill Mountain at 533 feet (162 m); South Carolina's is Sassafras Mountain at 3,497 feet (1,066 m). Sassafras Mountain is 2,964 feet higher than Driskill Mountain.
Lowest point: Louisiana's lowest point is New Orleans at -8 feet; South Carolina's is Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet. Louisiana's lowest point is 8 feet lower.
Louisiana vs South Carolina Population and History
Population: Louisiana has a population of 4,597,740 (2024), while South Carolina has 5,478,831 (2024). South Carolina's population is 1.2 times (19%) larger than Louisiana's.
Population density: Louisiana: 106.4 people per square mile vs South Carolina: 182.2. South Carolina's population density is 1.7 times (71%) higher than Louisiana's.
Biggest city: Louisiana's biggest city is New Orleans with 362,701 people; South Carolina's is Charleston with 157,665. New Orleans' population is 2.3 times (130%) larger than Charleston's.
Largest metro area: Louisiana's largest metropolitan area is New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area (966,230 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 3.0 times (198%) larger than New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area's.
History: Louisiana: Admitted to the Union on April 30, 1812, as the 18th 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 24 years.
Louisiana vs South Carolina Economy
GDP: Louisiana's GDP is $329.2 billion (2024) vs South Carolina's $357.1 billion. South Carolina's economic output is 1.1 times (8%) larger than Louisiana's.
GDP per capita: Louisiana: $71,594 per person vs South Carolina: $65,173. Louisiana's GDP per capita is 1.1 times (10%) higher than South Carolina's.
Average income: Louisiana: $61,897 vs South Carolina: $60,776 average income per person (per capita personal income). Louisiana and South Carolina have about the same average income.
Louisiana vs South Carolina Counties
Number of counties: Louisiana has 64 counties, while South Carolina has 46. Louisiana's county count is 1.4 times (39%) higher than South Carolina's.
Biggest county by area: Louisiana's largest county is Vernon Parish at 1,327 square miles; South Carolina's is Horry County at 1,133 square miles. Vernon Parish's land area is 1.2 times (17%) larger than Horry County's.
Smallest county by area: Louisiana: Orleans Parish (170 sq mi) vs South Carolina: McCormick County (359 sq mi). McCormick County's land area is 2.1 times (112%) larger than Orleans Parish's.
Most populous county: Louisiana: East Baton Rouge Parish (453,022 people) vs South Carolina: Greenville County (570,745 people). Greenville County's population is 1.3 times (26%) larger than East Baton Rouge Parish's.
Least populous county: Louisiana: Tensas Parish (3,844 people) vs South Carolina: Allendale County (7,551 people). Allendale County's population is 2.0 times (96%) larger than Tensas Parish's.
Richest county: Louisiana: St. Tammany Parish ($82,398 per capita income) vs South Carolina: Charleston County ($90,550). Charleston County's income is 1.1 times (10%) richer than St. Tammany Parish's.
Poorest county: Louisiana: East Carroll Parish ($36,751 per capita income) vs South Carolina: Marlboro County ($41,332). Marlboro County's income is 1.1 times (12%) richer than East Carroll Parish's.
Louisiana vs South Carolina Taxes
State income tax: Louisiana has a top income tax rate of 3%, while South Carolina has a top income tax rate of 6%. South Carolina's top rate is 3 percentage points higher.
Property tax: Louisiana: 0.53% effective rate vs South Carolina: 0.45% of home value per year. Louisiana's rate is 0.08 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Louisiana: 10.13% combined state and average local rate vs South Carolina: 7.49%. Louisiana's combined rate is 2.64 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Louisiana official website · South Carolina official website
More Size Comparisons
All Louisiana 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.