Oconee County Demographics

A map of Oconee County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	66,876	64,696	83.1%	82.3%
Hispanic	5,022	4,384	6.2%	5.6%
Black	4,159	5,119	5.2%	6.5%
Multiracial	3,329	3,443	4.1%	4.4%
Asian	575	591	0.7%	0.8%
Native American/Other	508	374	0.6%	0.5%

Oconee County, South Carolina has an estimated population of 80,469, a slight increase from the 78,607 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 83.1% White, 6.2% Hispanic, 5.2% Black, 4.1% Multiracial, 0.7% Asian, and 0.6% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Oconee County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Oconee has become 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 Oconee County, that probability was 31.3% in 2020 and 30.1% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Oconee County is ranked the 18th most populous county in South Carolina, out of 46 counties. Oconee County was ranked the 18th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Oconee County's White Population

66,876 residents of Oconee County, or 83.1% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Oconee County is significantly higher than in South Carolina overall, where 61.9% of the population is White. Oconee County ranks 1st statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Oconee County's White population has grown by an estimated 3.4%. White residents' share of Oconee County's population has increased from 82.3% to 83.1%.

Oconee County is more White than neighboring Stephens County (80.6% White), Pickens County (82.7% White), Franklin County (80.9% White), and Hart County (73.9% White). Oconee County is less White than neighboring Rabun County (86.7% White).

Oconee County's Black Population

4,159 residents of Oconee County, or 5.2% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Oconee County is significantly lower than in South Carolina overall, where 24.6% of the population is Black. Oconee County ranks 45th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Oconee County's Black population has declined by an estimated 18.8%. Black residents' share of Oconee County's population has decreased from 6.5% to 5.2%.

Oconee County is more Black than neighboring Rabun County (0.8% Black). Oconee County is less Black than neighboring Stephens County (8.1% Black), Pickens County (5.7% Black), Franklin County (8.8% Black), and Hart County (17% Black).

Oconee County's Asian Population

575 residents of Oconee County, or 0.7% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Oconee County is comparable to the share in South Carolina overall, where 1.7% of the population is Asian. Oconee County ranks 20th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Oconee County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 2.7%. Asian residents' share of Oconee County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.7%.

Oconee County is less Asian than neighboring Stephens County (1.1% Asian), Rabun County (0.9% Asian), Pickens County (1.6% Asian), Franklin County (1.8% Asian), and Hart County (1.4% Asian).

Oconee County's Hispanic Population

5,022 residents of Oconee County, or 6.2% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Oconee County is comparable to the share in South Carolina overall, where 7.4% of the population is Hispanic. Oconee County ranks 18th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Oconee County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 14.6%. Hispanic residents' share of Oconee County's population has increased from 5.6% to 6.2%.

Oconee County is more Hispanic than neighboring Stephens County (4% Hispanic), Pickens County (5.4% Hispanic), Franklin County (5.4% Hispanic), and Hart County (4.3% Hispanic). Oconee County is less Hispanic than neighboring Rabun County (8.8% Hispanic).

Oconee County's Native American/Other Population

508 residents of Oconee 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 Oconee County is comparable to the share in South Carolina overall, where 0.7% of the population is Native American/Other. Oconee County ranks 38th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Oconee County's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 35.8%. Native American/Other residents' share of Oconee County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.6%.

Oconee County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Stephens County (0.1% Native American/Other), Rabun County (0.1% Native American/Other), Franklin County (0.3% Native American/Other), and Hart County (0.2% Native American/Other).

Oconee County's Multiracial Population

3,329 residents of Oconee County, or 4.1% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Oconee County is comparable to the share in South Carolina overall, where 3.7% of the population is Multiracial. Oconee County ranks 3rd statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Oconee County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 3.3%. Multiracial residents' share of Oconee County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.1%.

Oconee County is more Multiracial than neighboring Rabun County (2.8% Multiracial), Pickens County (4% Multiracial), Franklin County (2.7% Multiracial), and Hart County (3.3% Multiracial). Oconee County is less Multiracial than neighboring Stephens County (6.2% 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.