The map above shows Rhode Island and South Carolina side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Rhode Island vs South Carolina Geography
Land area: Rhode Island has a land area of 1,034 square miles (2,678 km²), while South Carolina has 30,064 square miles (77,866 km²). South Carolina's land area is 29.1 times larger than Rhode Island's.
Total area: Rhode Island: 1,545 square miles (4,002 km²) vs South Carolina: 32,024 square miles (82,940 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Carolina's total area is 20.7 times larger than Rhode Island's.
Length: Rhode Island is 61 miles (98 km) long from north to south; South Carolina is 236 miles (380 km). South Carolina's north-south length is 3.9 times (287%) longer than Rhode Island's.
Width: Rhode Island spans 42 miles (67 km) east to west; South Carolina spans 279 miles (449 km). South Carolina's east-west width is 6.6 times (564%) wider than Rhode Island's.
Highest point: Rhode Island's highest point is Jerimoth Hill at 811 feet (247 m); South Carolina's is Sassafras Mountain at 3,497 feet (1,066 m). Sassafras Mountain is 2,686 feet higher than Jerimoth Hill.
Lowest point: Rhode Island's lowest point is Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet; South Carolina's is Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet. Both lowest points are at or near sea level.
Rhode Island vs South Carolina Population and History
Population: Rhode Island has a population of 1,112,308 (2024), while South Carolina has 5,478,831 (2024). South Carolina's population is 4.9 times (393%) larger than Rhode Island's.
Population density: Rhode Island: 1,075.8 people per square mile vs South Carolina: 182.2. Rhode Island's population density is 5.9 times (490%) higher than South Carolina's.
Biggest city: Rhode Island's biggest city is Providence with 194,706 people; South Carolina's is Charleston with 157,665. Providence's population is 1.2 times (23%) larger than Charleston's.
Largest metro area: Rhode Island's largest metropolitan area is Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area (1,700,901 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 1.7 times (70%) larger than Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metro area's.
History: Rhode Island: Admitted to the Union on May 29, 1790, as the 13th 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 2 years.
Rhode Island vs South Carolina Economy
GDP: Rhode Island's GDP is $80.4 billion (2024) vs South Carolina's $357.1 billion. South Carolina's economic output is 4.4 times (344%) larger than Rhode Island's.
GDP per capita: Rhode Island: $72,265 per person vs South Carolina: $65,173. Rhode Island's GDP per capita is 1.1 times (11%) higher than South Carolina's.
Average income: Rhode Island: $70,622 vs South Carolina: $60,776 average income per person (per capita personal income). Rhode Island's average income is 1.2 times (16%) higher than South Carolina's.
Rhode Island vs South Carolina Counties
Number of counties: Rhode Island has 5 counties, while South Carolina has 46. South Carolina's county count is 9.2 times (820%) higher than Rhode Island's.
Biggest county by area: Rhode Island's largest county is Providence County at 410 square miles; South Carolina's is Horry County at 1,133 square miles. Horry County's land area is 2.8 times (177%) larger than Providence County's.
Smallest county by area: Rhode Island: Bristol County (24 sq mi) vs South Carolina: McCormick County (359 sq mi). McCormick County's land area is 14.9 times larger than Bristol County's.
Most populous county: Rhode Island: Providence County (675,912 people) vs South Carolina: Greenville County (570,745 people). Providence County's population is 1.2 times (18%) larger than Greenville County's.
Least populous county: Rhode Island: Bristol County (50,145 people) vs South Carolina: Allendale County (7,551 people). Bristol County's population is 6.6 times (564%) larger than Allendale County's.
Richest county: Rhode Island: Bristol County ($99,923 per capita income) vs South Carolina: Charleston County ($90,550). Bristol County's income is 1.1 times (10%) richer than Charleston County's.
Poorest county: Rhode Island: Providence County ($61,040 per capita income) vs South Carolina: Marlboro County ($41,332). Providence County's income is 1.5 times (48%) richer than Marlboro County's.
Rhode Island vs South Carolina Taxes
State income tax: Rhode Island has a top income tax rate of 5.99%, while South Carolina has a top income tax rate of 6%.
Property tax: Rhode Island: 1.07% effective rate vs South Carolina: 0.45% of home value per year. Rhode Island's rate is 0.62 percentage points higher.
Sales tax: Rhode Island: 7% combined state and average local rate vs South Carolina: 7.49%. South Carolina's combined rate is 0.49 percentage points higher.
Official Websites
Rhode Island official website · South Carolina official website
More Size Comparisons
All Rhode Island 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.