Laurens County Demographics

A map of Laurens County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	45,157	44,358	65.8%	65.7%
Black	15,724	15,937	22.9%	23.6%
Hispanic	4,614	4,147	6.7%	6.1%
Multiracial	2,574	2,396	3.7%	3.5%
Asian	403	295	0.6%	0.4%
Native American/Other	194	406	0.3%	0.6%

Laurens County, South Carolina has an estimated population of 68,666, a slight increase from the 67,539 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 65.8% White, 22.9% Black, 6.7% Hispanic, 3.7% Multiracial, 0.6% Asian, and 0.3% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Laurens County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Laurens 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 Laurens County, that probability was 50.8% in 2020 and 50.9% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Laurens County is ranked the 20th most populous county in South Carolina, out of 46 counties. Laurens County was ranked the 20th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Laurens County's White Population

45,157 residents of Laurens County, or 65.8% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Laurens County is slightly higher than in South Carolina overall, where 61.9% of the population is White. Laurens County ranks 12th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Laurens County's White population has grown by an estimated 1.8%. White residents' share of Laurens County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 65.8%.

Laurens County is more White than neighboring Greenwood County (57.7% White), Union County (64.2% White), Spartanburg County (65.3% White), and Newberry County (59.7% White). Laurens County is less White than neighboring Abbeville County (68.5% White).

Laurens County's Black Population

15,724 residents of Laurens County, or 22.9% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Laurens County is comparable to the share in South Carolina overall, where 24.6% of the population is Black. Laurens County ranks 30th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Laurens County's Black population has declined by an estimated 1.3%. Black residents' share of Laurens County's population has decreased from 23.6% to 22.9%.

Laurens County is more Black than neighboring Spartanburg County (19.3% Black). Laurens County is less Black than neighboring Greenwood County (31.2% Black), Union County (27.5% Black), Newberry County (28.7% Black), and Abbeville County (25.4% Black).

Laurens County's Asian Population

403 residents of Laurens County, or 0.6% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Laurens County is comparable to the share in South Carolina overall, where 1.7% of the population is Asian. Laurens County ranks 35th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Laurens County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 36.6%. Asian residents' share of Laurens County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.6%.

Laurens County is more Asian than neighboring Union County (0.2% Asian), Newberry County (0.5% Asian), and Abbeville County (0.2% Asian). Laurens County is less Asian than neighboring Greenwood County (0.9% Asian), and Spartanburg County (2.3% Asian).

Laurens County's Hispanic Population

4,614 residents of Laurens County, or 6.7% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Laurens County is comparable to the share in South Carolina overall, where 7.4% of the population is Hispanic. Laurens County ranks 17th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Laurens County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 11.3%. Hispanic residents' share of Laurens County's population has increased from 6.1% to 6.7%.

Laurens County is more Hispanic than neighboring Union County (2.1% Hispanic), and Abbeville County (2.2% Hispanic). Laurens County is less Hispanic than neighboring Greenwood County (7.2% Hispanic), Spartanburg County (9.3% Hispanic), and Newberry County (9.2% Hispanic).

Laurens County's Native American/Other Population

194 residents of Laurens County, or 0.3% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Laurens County is comparable to the share in South Carolina overall, where 0.7% of the population is Native American/Other. Laurens County ranks 29th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Laurens County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 52.2%. Native American/Other residents' share of Laurens County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.3%.

Laurens County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Greenwood County (0.8% Native American/Other), Union County (0.5% Native American/Other), Spartanburg County (0.6% Native American/Other), Newberry County (0.4% Native American/Other), and Abbeville County (0.7% Native American/Other).

Laurens County's Multiracial Population

2,574 residents of Laurens County, or 3.7% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Laurens County is comparable to the share in South Carolina overall, where 3.7% of the population is Multiracial. Laurens County ranks 18th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Laurens County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 7.4%. Multiracial residents' share of Laurens County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.7%.

Laurens County is more Multiracial than neighboring Greenwood County (2.3% Multiracial), Spartanburg County (3.3% Multiracial), Newberry County (1.4% Multiracial), and Abbeville County (3% Multiracial). Laurens County is less Multiracial than neighboring Union County (5.6% 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.