Richland County Demographics

A map of Richland County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
Black	198,097	188,141	46.9%	45.2%
White	166,175	172,644	39.4%	41.5%
Hispanic	27,169	26,095	6.4%	6.3%
Multiracial	14,674	14,750	3.5%	3.5%
Asian	12,528	11,330	3.0%	2.7%
Native American/Other	3,474	3,187	0.8%	0.8%

Richland County, South Carolina has an estimated population of 422,117, a slight increase from the 416,147 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 46.9% Black, 39.4% White, 6.4% Hispanic, 3.5% Multiracial, 3.0% Asian, and 0.8% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Richland County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Richland is about as racially diverse as it was in the 2020 Census. It is considerably more 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 Richland County, that probability was 61.8% in 2020 and 61.9% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Richland County is ranked the 2nd most populous county in South Carolina, out of 46 counties. Richland County was ranked the 2nd most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Richland County's White Population

166,175 residents of Richland County, or 39.4% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Richland County is significantly lower than in South Carolina overall, where 61.9% of the population is White. Richland County ranks 38th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Richland County's White population has declined by an estimated 3.7%. White residents' share of Richland County's population has decreased from 41.5% to 39.4%.

Richland County is more White than neighboring Fairfield County (38.9% White). Richland County is less White than neighboring Calhoun County (54.9% White), Lexington County (70.3% White), Kershaw County (65.8% White), and Sumter County (43.6% White).

Richland County's Black Population

198,097 residents of Richland County, or 46.9% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Richland County is significantly higher than in South Carolina overall, where 24.6% of the population is Black. Richland County ranks 11th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Richland County's Black population has grown by an estimated 5.3%. Black residents' share of Richland County's population has increased from 45.2% to 46.9%.

Richland County is more Black than neighboring Calhoun County (39% Black), Lexington County (15.1% Black), Kershaw County (23.7% Black), and Sumter County (45.8% Black). Richland County is less Black than neighboring Fairfield County (54.5% Black).

Richland County's Asian Population

12,528 residents of Richland County, or 3.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Richland County is comparable to the share in South Carolina overall, where 1.7% of the population is Asian. Richland County ranks 2nd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Richland County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 10.6%. Asian residents' share of Richland County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.0%.

Richland County is more Asian than neighboring Calhoun County (0.2% Asian), Lexington County (2.2% Asian), Fairfield County (0.1% Asian), Kershaw County (0.7% Asian), and Sumter County (1.4% Asian).

Richland County's Hispanic Population

27,169 residents of Richland County, or 6.4% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Richland County is comparable to the share in South Carolina overall, where 7.4% of the population is Hispanic. Richland County ranks 16th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Richland County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 4.1%. Hispanic residents' share of Richland County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 6.4%.

Richland County is more Hispanic than neighboring Calhoun County (3.9% Hispanic), Fairfield County (2.5% Hispanic), Kershaw County (5.9% Hispanic), and Sumter County (4.4% Hispanic). Richland County is less Hispanic than neighboring Lexington County (7.9% Hispanic).

Richland County's Native American/Other Population

3,474 residents of Richland County, or 0.8% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Richland County is comparable to the share in South Carolina overall, where 0.7% of the population is Native American/Other. Richland County ranks 11th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Richland County's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 9.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Richland County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.8%.

Richland County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Calhoun County (0% Native American/Other), Lexington County (0.7% Native American/Other), Fairfield County (0.6% Native American/Other), and Kershaw County (0.2% Native American/Other). Richland County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Sumter County (0.9% Native American/Other).

Richland County's Multiracial Population

14,674 residents of Richland County, or 3.5% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Richland County is comparable to the share in South Carolina overall, where 3.7% of the population is Multiracial. Richland County ranks 19th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 46 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Richland County's Multiracial population has remained roughly the same. Multiracial residents' share of Richland County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 3.5%.

Richland County is more Multiracial than neighboring Calhoun County (2% Multiracial). Richland County is less Multiracial than neighboring Lexington County (3.8% Multiracial), Kershaw County (3.6% Multiracial), and Sumter County (3.8% 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.