Have you ever wondered which U.S. states resemble countries more closely than others? The Country – US State Comparisons are designed to quantify just that — measuring how similar each U.S. state is to different countries around the world relative to the United States. This index provides a data-driven way to make those comparisons. It equally weights five major factors: demographics, culture, politics, technology, and geography. Over 1,000 different data points are used to generate the results.
Top 10 Countries More Similar to South Carolina than the US
South Carolina has a warmer climate than most areas of the United States. It has a high percentage of people with African ancestry. In addition, it is not as wealthy and its infrastructure is not as well developed as other states. As a result, the countries that are much more similar to South Carolina than the United States overall all have populations with predominately African ancestry. Four of the five are in Africa.
- Central African Republic, like South Carolina, has a hotter and wetter climate than the overall United States. Corn is one of their most commonly grown crops as well. Both governments do not prioritize the rights of their workers. Religion varies though with Christianity prominent in both but more diverse in the Central African Republic.
- Togo shares with South Carolina a warm climate. Both places have a mix of rural and urban areas, and the level of economic development is lower than average. South Carolina and Togo also have a similar rate of both homicide and suicide. They also are very religious as well.
- The Bahamas and South Carolina are known for beautiful beaches. They have histories that are deeply shaped by slavery. As a result, both have a high percentage of people with African ancestry. In addition, the vast majority of their people are Protestant Christian. Both tend to have many obese people as well.
- Zambia is in Southern Africa. It shares South Carolina’s warmer climate and subtropical geography. Most of their people are Protestant Christian as well, due to historical British influence. Both deal with inequality and developmental challenges exacerbated by climate change.
- Benin borders Togo so it has similar characteristics. Both rely on farming for livelihoods, with crops like corn, cotton, and cassava in Benin paralleling South Carolina’s agricultural history, amid lower economic development and poverty issues. Both face social concerns including crime rates and the need for economic diversification.
- Burkina Faso, 7. Guyana, 8. Guinea, 9. Jamaica, 10. Botswana
Top 10 Countries Less Similar to South Carolina than the US
The countries with the least amount of traits in common with South Carolina compared to the United States overall have populations with predominately European ancestry. Their infrastructure tends to be more developed as well. Furthermore, these countries are a lot less conservative politically than South Carolina.
- Canada is located to the north of the United States and has a much colder climate than South Carolina. In addition, Canadians tend to be more liberal than people in South Carolina. Canada invests more in equitable public education, while South Carolina’s is shaped by local inequalities and historical segregation.
- Australia has a much drier climate than South Carolina. As a result it Australia provides public healthcare and a broader welfare state, while South Carolina relies more on market forces and charity.
- Switzerland and South Carolina are far different. While Switzerland is extremely mountainous and landlocked, South Carolina has more coastline and a flatter terrain. South Carolina struggles inequality. Switzerland is far wealthier.
- New Zealand is one of the most progressive, secular, egalitarian countries in the world, while South Carolina is one of the most conservative, religious, and unequal states in the U.S. In addition, it has few people with African ancestry.
- Spain‘s dry Mediterranean climate contrasts with South Carolina’s. Politically, Spain has strong labor protections and progressive social laws. Its modern infrastructure (high-speed rail and advanced healthcare) sets it further apart from South Carolina.
- Austria, 7. Chile, 8. Germany, 8. Netherlands, 9. Luxembourg, 10. Russia
Full Ranking of Countries and Territories More Similar to South Carolina than the US
All data accurate as of 2025.