Kiawah Island, SC Demographics

A map of Kiawah Island's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	2,283	1,915	98.2%	95.1%
Asian	24	22	1.0%	1.1%
Black	7	20	0.3%	1.0%
Multiracial	7	17	0.3%	0.8%
Hispanic	5	31	0.2%	1.5%
Native American/Other	0	8	0.0%	0.4%

Kiawah Island, South Carolina has an estimated population of 2,326, a large increase from the 2,013 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 98.2% White, 1.0% Asian, 0.3% Black, 0.3% Multiracial, 0.2% Hispanic, and 0.0% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Kiawah Island, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Kiawah Island has become considerably less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably 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 Kiawah Island, that probability was 9.4% in 2020 and 3.6% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Kiawah Island is ranked the 180th most populous place in South Carolina, out of 475 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Kiawah Island was ranked the 190th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Kiawah Island's White Population

2,283 residents of Kiawah Island, or 98.2% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Kiawah Island is significantly higher than in South Carolina overall, where 61.9% of the population is White. Kiawah Island ranks 8th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 475 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kiawah Island's White population has grown by an estimated 19.2%. White residents' share of Kiawah Island's population has increased from 95.1% to 98.2%.

Kiawah Island is more White than neighboring Seabrook Island (96.1% White), Folly Beach (96.3% White), Rockville (92.6% White), James Island (81.3% White), and Hollywood (55.4% White).

Kiawah Island's Black Population

7 residents of Kiawah Island, or 0.3% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Kiawah Island is significantly lower than in South Carolina overall, where 24.6% of the population is Black. Kiawah Island ranks 451st statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 475 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kiawah Island's Black population has declined by an estimated 65.0%. Black residents' share of Kiawah Island's population has decreased from 1.0% to 0.3%.

Kiawah Island is more Black than neighboring Seabrook Island (0.2% Black), Folly Beach (0% Black), and Rockville (0% Black). Kiawah Island is less Black than neighboring James Island (12.7% Black), and Hollywood (38.8% Black).

Kiawah Island's Asian Population

24 residents of Kiawah Island, or 1.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Kiawah Island is comparable to the share in South Carolina overall, where 1.7% of the population is Asian. Kiawah Island ranks 132nd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 475 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kiawah Island's Asian population has grown by an estimated 9.1%. Asian residents' share of Kiawah Island's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.0%.

Kiawah Island is more Asian than neighboring Seabrook Island (0.6% Asian), Folly Beach (0% Asian), Rockville (0% Asian), and James Island (0.6% Asian). Kiawah Island is less Asian than neighboring Hollywood (1.4% Asian).

Kiawah Island's Hispanic Population

5 residents of Kiawah Island, or 0.2% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Kiawah Island is lower than in South Carolina overall, where 7.4% of the population is Hispanic. Kiawah Island ranks 383rd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 475 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kiawah Island's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 83.9%. Hispanic residents' share of Kiawah Island's population has decreased from 1.5% to 0.2%.

Kiawah Island is more Hispanic than neighboring Folly Beach (0% Hispanic). Kiawah Island is less Hispanic than neighboring Seabrook Island (1.8% Hispanic), Rockville (1.7% Hispanic), James Island (2.1% Hispanic), and Hollywood (3% Hispanic).

Kiawah Island's Native American/Other Population

0 residents of Kiawah Island, or 0.0% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Kiawah Island is comparable to the share in South Carolina overall, where 0.7% of the population is Native American/Other. Kiawah Island ranks 362nd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 475 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kiawah Island's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Kiawah Island's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Kiawah Island is less Native American/Other than neighboring Folly Beach (1.4% Native American/Other), Rockville (1.7% Native American/Other), James Island (0.1% Native American/Other), and Hollywood (0.2% Native American/Other).

Kiawah Island's Multiracial Population

7 residents of Kiawah Island, or 0.3% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Kiawah Island is slightly lower than in South Carolina overall, where 3.7% of the population is Multiracial. Kiawah Island ranks 460th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 475 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kiawah Island's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 58.8%. Multiracial residents' share of Kiawah Island's population has decreased from 0.8% to 0.3%.

Kiawah Island is less Multiracial than neighboring Seabrook Island (1.2% Multiracial), Folly Beach (2.3% Multiracial), Rockville (4.1% Multiracial), James Island (3.1% Multiracial), and Hollywood (1.2% 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.