Lee County Demographics

A map of Lee County's Population by Race

Lee County, South Carolina has an estimated population of 16,166, a slight decrease from the 16,531 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 62.2% Black, 33.2% White, 2.4% Hispanic, 1.8% Multiracial, 0.2% Asian, and 0.2% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Lee County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Lee has become slightly less racially diverse since 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 Lee County, that probability was 50.9% in 2020 and 50.2% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Lee County is ranked the 42nd most populous county in South Carolina, out of 46 counties. Lee County was ranked the 42nd most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Lee County's White Population

5,374 residents of Lee County, or 33.2% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Lee County is significantly lower than in South Carolina overall, where 61.9% of the population is White. Lee County ranks 43rd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Lee County's White population has declined by an estimated 6.1%. White residents' share of Lee County's population has decreased from 34.6% to 33.2%.

Lee County is less White than neighboring Sumter County (43.6% White), Darlington County (53.1% White), Kershaw County (65.8% White), Chesterfield County (58.4% White), and Clarendon County (49.3% White).

Lee County's Black Population

10,051 residents of Lee County, or 62.2% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Lee County is significantly higher than in South Carolina overall, where 24.6% of the population is Black. Lee County ranks 3rd statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Lee County's Black population has remained roughly the same. Black residents' share of Lee County's population has increased from 60.8% to 62.2%.

Lee County is more Black than neighboring Sumter County (45.8% Black), Darlington County (40.6% Black), Kershaw County (23.7% Black), Chesterfield County (30% Black), and Clarendon County (44.1% Black).

Lee County's Asian Population

26 residents of Lee County, or 0.2% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Lee County is comparable to the share in South Carolina overall, where 1.7% of the population is Asian. Lee County ranks 44th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Lee County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 23.5%. Asian residents' share of Lee County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.2%.

Lee County is less Asian than neighboring Sumter County (1.4% Asian), Darlington County (0.6% Asian), Kershaw County (0.7% Asian), Chesterfield County (0.5% Asian), and Clarendon County (0.8% Asian).

Lee County's Hispanic Population

390 residents of Lee County, or 2.4% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Lee County is slightly lower than in South Carolina overall, where 7.4% of the population is Hispanic. Lee County ranks 42nd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Lee County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 32.2%. Hispanic residents' share of Lee County's population has increased from 1.8% to 2.4%.

Lee County is less Hispanic than neighboring Sumter County (4.4% Hispanic), Darlington County (2.5% Hispanic), Kershaw County (5.9% Hispanic), Chesterfield County (5.9% Hispanic), and Clarendon County (3.2% Hispanic).

Lee County's Native American/Other Population

27 residents of Lee County, or 0.2% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Lee County is comparable to the share in South Carolina overall, where 0.7% of the population is Native American/Other. Lee County ranks 46th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Lee County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 57.8%. Native American/Other residents' share of Lee County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.2%.

Lee County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Sumter County (0.9% Native American/Other), Darlington County (0.4% Native American/Other), Chesterfield County (0.5% Native American/Other), and Clarendon County (0.3% Native American/Other).

Lee County's Multiracial Population

298 residents of Lee County, or 1.8% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Lee County is comparable to the share in South Carolina overall, where 3.7% of the population is Multiracial. Lee County ranks 41st statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Lee County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 17.9%. Multiracial residents' share of Lee County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.8%.

Lee County is less Multiracial than neighboring Sumter County (3.8% Multiracial), Darlington County (2.8% Multiracial), Kershaw County (3.6% Multiracial), Chesterfield County (4.7% Multiracial), and Clarendon County (2.3% 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.