States › South Carolina › 2020

2020

South Carolina in 2020

Deaths 1,066Fatal crashes 964Per 100,000 20.8US deaths 39,007

FARS data are based on police crash reports and other sources; the drunk-driving measure is based on the highest BAC of any driver in the crash. Final FARS file for 2020.

In 2020, 1,066 people died in 964 fatal crashes in South Carolina, 20.8 deaths per 100,000 residents against 11.8 nationally.

The death toll rose 6% from 1,006 in 2019 to 1,066 in 2020.

South Carolina accounted for 2.7% of the 39,007 crash deaths recorded nationally that year.

34% of the state's fatal crashes that year had at least one driver reported as drinking.

By FHWA road function class, the largest share was on minor arterial roads (38%).

35% of the crashes happened between 6pm to midnight; Friday was the most common day.

← 201920202021 →All years

Compared with 2019 and the nation

Measure	South Carolina 2020	South Carolina 2019	United States 2020
Deaths	1,066	1,006	39,007
Fatal crashes	964	927	35,935
Deaths per 100,000 residents	20.8	19.5	11.8
Crashes with a drinking driver	34%	31%	27%

Counties in 2020

Every county with a fatal crash in 2020, by deaths. Counts under three are shown as "1–2" (small-count rule); the per-100,000 column is blank for them. 46 counties listed.

County	Fatal crashes	Deaths	Per 100,000	Deaths 2015–2024
Greenville County	72	82	14.4	831
Charleston County	68	73	16.9	682
Horry County	56	63	15.2	714
Spartanburg County	58	62	16.8	672
Berkeley County	49	60	22.7	410
Richland County	49	55	12.8	585
Anderson County	47	48	22.1	435
Lexington County	42	43	13.7	501
Colleton County	32	38	96.8	215
Orangeburg County	29	37	44.5	387
York County	36	36	11.9	338
Aiken County	30	32	17.9	321
Florence County	28	32	23.2	349
Sumter County	23	25	23.9	234
Dorchester County	22	24	13.7	245
Laurens County	17	23	32.6	238
Greenwood County	18	20	28.6	124
Beaufort County	16	20	9.9	225
Pickens County	14	19	13.7	203
Lancaster County	17	18	16.1	167
Kershaw County	15	18	25.1	167
Fairfield County	17	17	83.5	113
Darlington County	14	14	22.4	213
Jasper County	14	14	39.3	178
Marlboro County	13	14	54.9	103
Oconee County	12	14	17.0	142
Dillon County	13	13	47.1	112
Hampton County	12	13	71.5	64
Cherokee County	12	12	20.8	160
Newberry County	12	12	30.6	95
Chesterfield County	11	12	27.0	118
Georgetown County	11	12	18.2	150
Williamsburg County	10	12	40.2	114
Chester County	11	11	34.0	135
Marion County	9	10	35.3	101
Clarendon County	9	9	29.0	146
Edgefield County	7	8	27.2	52
Union County	7	7	26.2	71
Allendale County	6	6	79.5	28
Lee County	6	6	37.6	64
Abbeville County	5	5	20.3	48
Saluda County	4	5	25.7	42
Bamberg County	4	4	31.1	35
Calhoun County	4	4	28.1	67
Barnwell County	1–2	3	14.6	47
McCormick County	1–2	1–2	—	32

Per 100,000 uses the 2024 population estimate for every year, so early-year rates are understated where a county has grown.

Hour of day

12am5.8%

1am3.9%

2am3.2%

3am3.1%

4am2.6%

5am3.4%

6am4.1%

7am2.9%

8am1.8%

9am2.1%

10am2.7%

11am2.9%

12pm4.3%

1pm4.3%

2pm3.5%

3pm3.8%

4pm6%

5pm4.6%

6pm4.7%

7pm4.8%

8pm6.7%

9pm6.8%

10pm6.1%

11pm5.8%

Weekday

Sunday16%

Monday12%

Tuesday11%

Wednesday15%

Thursday13%

Friday17%

Saturday17%

Road type

Minor arterial38%

Other principal arterial37%

Interstate11%

Local7%

Major collector6%

Other freeways and expressways1%

Minor collector0%

Questions and answers

How many people died in crashes in South Carolina in 2020?

1,066 people in 964 fatal crashes, according to NHTSA's FARS 2020 file, or 20.8 per 100,000 residents.

Which county in South Carolina had the most crash deaths in 2020?

Greenville County with 82 deaths in 72 fatal crashes. The table on this page lists every county with a fatal crash that year.

How did 2020 compare with 2019 in South Carolina?

1,066 deaths against 1,006 in 2019 (+6%). Nationally the 2020 total was 39,007.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2020 national file (accident table, vehicle and person tables); US Census Bureau population estimates. Data through 31 Dec 2024; generated 30 Sep 2026.