There are roughly 17.1 million veterans living in the U.S., according to data from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Though, the VA anticipates the percentage of the U.S. population with military experience will continue to decline over the next couple of decades—by 2046, it expects the number of living U.S. veterans to decrease by 29%.
Stacker compiled a list of the counties with the most veterans in South Carolina using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percent of residents that are veterans based on the Census' 2024 5-year estimate.
Alaska, Virginia, and Montana are home to the most veterans per capita. American veterans live in virtually all of the country's 3,144 counties.
Keep reading to see where the most veterans live in your home state.
#46. Williamsburg County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 4.7% (1,144 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 6
--- Korean War: 42
--- Vietnam War: 517
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 304
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 157
#45. Dillon County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 4.8% (1,002 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 20
--- Vietnam War: 433
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 297
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 162
#44. Allendale County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 5.3% (334 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 0
--- Vietnam War: 50
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 97
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 65
#43. Darlington County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 5.3% (2,557 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 29
--- Korean War: 133
--- Vietnam War: 991
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 550
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 288
#42. Marlboro County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 5.9% (1,219 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 18
--- Korean War: 10
--- Vietnam War: 343
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 192
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 133
#41. Pickens County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 5.9% (6,468 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 20
--- Korean War: 420
--- Vietnam War: 2,490
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,276
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,511
#40. Orangeburg County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.2% (4,023 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 19
--- Korean War: 146
--- Vietnam War: 1,292
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 897
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,057
#39. Bamberg County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.3% (672 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 3
--- Korean War: 1
--- Vietnam War: 278
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 50
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 58
#38. Greenwood County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.4% (3,467 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 16
--- Korean War: 177
--- Vietnam War: 1,141
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 524
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 820
#37. Laurens County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.4% (3,453 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 24
--- Korean War: 163
--- Vietnam War: 1,549
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 716
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 560
#36. Lee County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.4% (839 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 6
--- Korean War: 31
--- Vietnam War: 399
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 236
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 111
#35. Marion County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.5% (1,451 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 40
--- Vietnam War: 484
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 320
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 210
#34. Greenville County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.6% (27,985 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 139
--- Korean War: 946
--- Vietnam War: 9,230
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 7,370
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 6,336
#33. Spartanburg County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.6% (17,521 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 31
--- Korean War: 1,027
--- Vietnam War: 5,933
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 3,950
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 4,360
#32. Fairfield County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.9% (1,157 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 1
--- Korean War: 38
--- Vietnam War: 401
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 379
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 237
#31. Hampton County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.9% (983 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 40
--- Vietnam War: 221
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 256
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 181
#30. Saluda County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 6.9% (1,033 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 3
--- Korean War: 72
--- Vietnam War: 334
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 169
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 211
#29. Chesterfield County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7% (2,385 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 50
--- Vietnam War: 891
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 567
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 426
#28. Clarendon County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7% (1,780 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 99
--- Korean War: 59
--- Vietnam War: 895
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 416
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 343
#27. Barnwell County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.1% (1,118 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 8
--- Korean War: 8
--- Vietnam War: 336
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 225
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 457
#26. Jasper County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.1% (1,854 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 101
--- Vietnam War: 842
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 511
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 325
#25. Florence County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.2% (7,525 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 62
--- Korean War: 269
--- Vietnam War: 2,410
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 2,313
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 2,007
#24. Newberry County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.2% (2,168 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 84
--- Vietnam War: 946
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 532
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 354
#23. Cherokee County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.3% (3,196 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 56
--- Korean War: 74
--- Vietnam War: 1,028
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 812
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 689
#22. Abbeville County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.4% (1,461 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 115
--- Korean War: 39
--- Vietnam War: 556
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 281
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 379
#21. York County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.5% (16,710 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 127
--- Korean War: 363
--- Vietnam War: 5,432
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 3,993
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 4,603
#20. Anderson County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.6% (12,388 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 43
--- Korean War: 400
--- Vietnam War: 4,043
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 2,772
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 2,613
#19. Lancaster County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.7% (6,257 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 7
--- Korean War: 191
--- Vietnam War: 2,179
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,285
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,553
#18. Union County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.8% (1,659 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 31
--- Korean War: 78
--- Vietnam War: 348
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 620
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 553
#17. Oconee County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.1% (5,245 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 19
--- Korean War: 270
--- Vietnam War: 2,031
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 858
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,094
#16. Charleston County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.2% (27,518 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 98
--- Korean War: 1,414
--- Vietnam War: 8,648
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 7,594
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 8,173
#15. Edgefield County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.3% (1,897 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 33
--- Korean War: 25
--- Vietnam War: 633
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 517
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 541
#14. Chester County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.4% (2,081 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 28
--- Korean War: 31
--- Vietnam War: 784
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 476
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 431
#13. Georgetown County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.7% (4,680 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 27
--- Korean War: 165
--- Vietnam War: 2,269
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,067
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 516
#12. Horry County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.9% (28,326 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 220
--- Korean War: 1,142
--- Vietnam War: 13,721
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 5,376
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 4,322
#11. McCormick County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.9% (780 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 8
--- Korean War: 23
--- Vietnam War: 392
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 204
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 76
#10. Colleton County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9% (2,692 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 11
--- Korean War: 105
--- Vietnam War: 1,052
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 669
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 564
#9. Lexington County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9% (21,040 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 145
--- Korean War: 806
--- Vietnam War: 6,667
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 6,331
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 6,104
#8. Calhoun County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.6% (1,107 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 15
--- Vietnam War: 428
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 408
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 159
#7. Richland County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.7% (31,245 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 115
--- Korean War: 659
--- Vietnam War: 7,395
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 10,463
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 12,658
#6. Aiken County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.8% (13,389 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 96
--- Korean War: 447
--- Vietnam War: 4,923
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 3,599
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 3,792
#5. Kershaw County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 10.1% (5,243 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 19
--- Korean War: 99
--- Vietnam War: 1,590
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,773
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,621
#4. Beaufort County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 11% (16,866 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 187
--- Korean War: 697
--- Vietnam War: 6,360
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 3,956
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 4,390
#3. Dorchester County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.8% (14,738 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 126
--- Korean War: 300
--- Vietnam War: 3,438
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 5,009
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 5,812
#2. Berkeley County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 12.4% (22,409 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 11
--- Korean War: 529
--- Vietnam War: 6,066
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 8,197
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 8,113
#1. Sumter County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 14.2% (10,759 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 26
--- Korean War: 474
--- Vietnam War: 2,424
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 3,958
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 4,766
