Beaufort County Demographics

A map of Beaufort County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	131,453	126,704	67.3%	67.7%
Black	30,270	27,545	15.5%	14.7%
Hispanic	24,168	23,411	12.4%	12.5%
Multiracial	6,152	5,928	3.2%	3.2%
Asian	2,149	2,381	1.1%	1.3%
Native American/Other	1,097	1,148	0.6%	0.6%

Beaufort County, South Carolina has an estimated population of 195,289, an increase from the 187,117 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 67.3% White, 15.5% Black, 12.4% Hispanic, 3.2% Multiracial, 1.1% Asian, and 0.6% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Beaufort County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Beaufort is about as racially diverse as it was in the 2020 Census. It is less diverse than South Carolina overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Beaufort County, that probability was 50.3% in 2020 and 50.6% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Beaufort County is ranked the 10th most populous county in South Carolina, out of 46 counties. Beaufort County was ranked the 10th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Beaufort County's White Population

131,453 residents of Beaufort County, or 67.3% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Beaufort County is higher than in South Carolina overall, where 61.9% of the population is White. Beaufort County ranks 8th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Beaufort County's White population has grown by an estimated 3.7%. White residents' share of Beaufort County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 67.3%.

Beaufort County is more White than neighboring Jasper County (46.2% White), Colleton County (56.5% White), Chatham County (45.3% White), and Hampton County (40.6% White). Beaufort County is less White than neighboring Effingham County (72.9% White).

Beaufort County's Black Population

30,270 residents of Beaufort County, or 15.5% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Beaufort County is lower than in South Carolina overall, where 24.6% of the population is Black. Beaufort County ranks 42nd statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Beaufort County's Black population has grown by an estimated 9.9%. Black residents' share of Beaufort County's population has increased from 14.7% to 15.5%.

Beaufort County is more Black than neighboring Effingham County (14.4% Black). Beaufort County is less Black than neighboring Jasper County (32.8% Black), Colleton County (33.6% Black), Chatham County (38.4% Black), and Hampton County (51.9% Black).

Beaufort County's Asian Population

2,149 residents of Beaufort County, or 1.1% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Beaufort County is comparable to the share in South Carolina overall, where 1.7% of the population is Asian. Beaufort County ranks 14th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Beaufort County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 9.7%. Asian residents' share of Beaufort County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.1%.

Beaufort County is more Asian than neighboring Jasper County (0.6% Asian), Colleton County (0.4% Asian), Hampton County (1% Asian), and Effingham County (1% Asian). Beaufort County is less Asian than neighboring Chatham County (3% Asian).

Beaufort County's Hispanic Population

24,168 residents of Beaufort County, or 12.4% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Beaufort County is slightly higher than in South Carolina overall, where 7.4% of the population is Hispanic. Beaufort County ranks 3rd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Beaufort County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 3.2%. Hispanic residents' share of Beaufort County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 12.4%.

Beaufort County is more Hispanic than neighboring Colleton County (4.6% Hispanic), Chatham County (8.3% Hispanic), Hampton County (4.1% Hispanic), and Effingham County (6.6% Hispanic). Beaufort County is less Hispanic than neighboring Jasper County (17.6% Hispanic).

Beaufort County's Native American/Other Population

1,097 residents of Beaufort County, or 0.6% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Beaufort County is comparable to the share in South Carolina overall, where 0.7% of the population is Native American/Other. Beaufort County ranks 26th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Beaufort County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 4.4%. Native American/Other residents' share of Beaufort County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.6%.

Beaufort County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Jasper County (0.1% Native American/Other). Beaufort County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Chatham County (1.1% Native American/Other), Hampton County (0.7% Native American/Other), and Effingham County (0.7% Native American/Other).

Beaufort County's Multiracial Population

6,152 residents of Beaufort County, or 3.2% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Beaufort County is comparable to the share in South Carolina overall, where 3.7% of the population is Multiracial. Beaufort County ranks 25th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Beaufort County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 3.8%. Multiracial residents' share of Beaufort County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.2%.

Beaufort County is more Multiracial than neighboring Jasper County (2.6% Multiracial), and Hampton County (1.7% Multiracial). Beaufort County is less Multiracial than neighboring Colleton County (4.3% Multiracial), Chatham County (3.9% Multiracial), and Effingham County (4.5% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.