Government budget and revenue in South Carolina, United States: official figures
South Carolina's state government took in $47.6 billion in fiscal year 2024, $8,662 per resident, 17th lowest of 50 states per person (all states: $9,318 per person). The total includes taxes, federal funds, charges and pension-fund investment income.
How much does the South Carolina state government spend?
The South Carolina state government spent $49.1 billion in fiscal year 2024, or $8,949 per resident, 20th lowest of 50 states (all states: $9,444). Spending was 43.5% higher than in fiscal year 2019 ($34.2 billion), before adjusting for inflation.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does the South Carolina state government have?
South Carolina state government debt outstanding was $15.4 billion at the end of fiscal year 2024, $2,798 per resident, 24th lowest of 50 states (all states: $3,248). That equals 34% of one year's general revenue; in fiscal year 2019 the debt was $12.9 billion.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much federal funding does South Carolina get?
The federal government provided $15.0 billion to the South Carolina state government in fiscal year 2024, $2,729 per resident and 32.8% of its general revenue, 19th lowest share of 50 states (all states: 34.2%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat are federal funds to South Carolina spent on?
Public welfare programmes, mainly Medicaid, accounted for $9.5 billion or 63% of South Carolina's federal funds in fiscal year 2024, and education for $2.0 billion (13%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat does the South Carolina state government spend its money on?
Direct state spending on public welfare was $2,340 per resident in fiscal year 2024, 15th lowest of 50 states (all states: $3,000); higher education took $1,100 per resident and highways $488.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does South Carolina give to local governments and schools?
22.8% of South Carolina's state general spending in fiscal year 2024 ($10.7 billion) was paid to other governments, mostly local governments and school districts, 19th lowest share of 50 states (all states: 27.7%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does South Carolina collect?
South Carolina collected $19.2 billion in state taxes in fiscal year 2025, $3,455 per resident, 12th lowest of 50 states (all states: $4,503). That was 6.8% more than in fiscal year 2024 ($18.0 billion); across all states collections rose 4.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does South Carolina rely on?
The individual income tax raised $6.8 billion (35.1% of state taxes, 22nd highest share of 50 states) in fiscal year 2025. The general sales tax raised $6.8 billion (35.2%, 17th highest share of 50 states). The largest single tax was the general sales and gross receipts tax (35.2%), followed by the individual income tax (35.1%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyDoes South Carolina have corporate, property or severance taxes?
In fiscal year 2025, in South Carolina, corporate net income tax raised $1.4 billion (7.5% of state taxes); state property tax raised $108.7 million; no severance tax on oil, gas, coal and minerals was collected.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much money does the South Carolina state government hold in reserves?
The South Carolina state government held $48.2 billion in cash and securities at the end of fiscal year 2024, $8,774 per resident, of which $44.8 billion was in insurance trust funds such as public employee pension systems.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow South Carolina compares with other states
State government revenue per person (2024)
South Carolina ranks 34 of 50, highest first. All revenue of the state government, including insurance trust income, divided by 1 July population
| Rank | Region | State government revenue per person |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | Utah | $9,173 |
| 32 | Alabama | $8,789 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $8,690 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $8,662 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $8,478 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $8,473 |
| 37 | Ohio | $8,401 |
State government spending per person (2024)
South Carolina ranks 31 of 50, highest first. Total expenditure of the state government divided by 1 July population
| Rank | Region | State government spending per person |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | Iowa | $9,264 |
| 29 | Connecticut | $9,228 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $9,034 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $8,949 |
| 32 | Ohio | $8,683 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $8,607 |
| 34 | Alabama | $8,594 |
State government debt per person (2024)
South Carolina ranks 27 of 50, highest first. Debt outstanding at the end of the fiscal year divided by 1 July population
| Rank | Region | State government debt per person |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | Illinois | $3,415 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $3,347 |
| 26 | Minnesota | $2,938 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $2,798 |
| 28 | Ohio | $2,722 |
| 29 | Mississippi | $2,618 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $2,601 |
Federal funds received by the state government per person (2024)
South Carolina ranks 40 of 50, highest first. Intergovernmental revenue from the federal government
| Rank | Region | Federal funds received by the state government per person |
|---|---|---|
| 37 | Washington | $2,816 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $2,766 |
| 39 | Colorado | $2,737 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $2,729 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $2,571 |
| 42 | Nevada | $2,564 |
| 43 | Virginia | $2,517 |
Federal funds as a share of state general revenue (2024)
South Carolina ranks 32 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Federal funds as a share of state general revenue |
|---|---|---|
| 29 | Maryland | 33.9% |
| 30 | Vermont | 33.8% |
| 31 | Texas | 32.9% |
| 32 | South Carolina | 32.8% |
| 33 | Iowa | 32.6% |
| 34 | Nevada | 31.9% |
| 35 | Minnesota | 31.0% |
State tax collections per person (2025)
South Carolina ranks 39 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | State tax collections per person |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | Louisiana | $3,547 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $3,496 |
| 38 | Arizona | $3,494 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $3,455 |
| 40 | Alabama | $3,403 |
| 41 | Colorado | $3,370 |
| 42 | Ohio | $3,264 |
Individual income tax as a share of state taxes (2025)
South Carolina ranks 22 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Individual income tax as a share of state taxes |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Kansas | 35.6% |
| 20 | Illinois | 35.6% |
| 21 | Maryland | 35.6% |
| 22 | South Carolina | 35.1% |
| 23 | Idaho | 34.9% |
| 24 | Rhode Island | 33.4% |
| 25 | Alabama | 32.8% |
General sales tax as a share of state taxes (2025)
South Carolina ranks 17 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | General sales tax as a share of state taxes |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Wyoming | 38.7% |
| 15 | Iowa | 38.6% |
| 16 | Idaho | 36.1% |
| 17 | South Carolina | 35.2% |
| 18 | Maine | 34.3% |
| 19 | Utah | 33.7% |
| 20 | Kentucky | 33.6% |
State spending on public welfare per person (2024)
South Carolina ranks 36 of 50, highest first. Direct general expenditure on public welfare, mainly Medicaid
| Rank | Region | State spending on public welfare per person |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | Nebraska | $2,478 |
| 34 | Washington | $2,475 |
| 35 | Michigan | $2,416 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $2,340 |
| 37 | Kansas | $2,309 |
| 38 | Colorado | $2,275 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $2,266 |
More on South Carolina: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: Annual Survey of State Government Finances: State Government Finances, U.S. and States, 2012-2024 (table GS00STATEFIN01, amounts in thousands of dollars), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 72ff59b48414…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Annual Survey of State Government Tax Collections: historical database, fiscal years to 2025 (thousands of dollars), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bdf560cd3d8f…)
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