Florida is the third-most populous state in the United States. Its residents include people from a wide variety of ethnic, racial, national and religious backgrounds. The state has attracted immigrants, particularly from Latin America.[8] Florida's majority ethnic group are European Americans, with approximately 65% of the population identifying as White. National ethnic communities in the state include Cubans, who migrated en masse following the revolution in the mid 20th century. They have been joined by other immigrants from Latin America, and Spanish is spoken by more than 20% of the state's population, with high usage especially in the Miami-Dade County area.
Between the 2010 and 2020 census, the population of the state overall did increase. 50 counties in Florida would experience population growth while 17 counties saw their populations decline. Most of Florida's population lives in urban areas as in the 2020 census, close to 97% of people in Florida resided in metropolitan areas.[9] Florida in the 2022 US Census estimate was the fastest growing state in terms of population and the first time it was the fastest growing since 1957.[10] In the 2020 census Florida had a population density of 401.4 people per square mile.[11]
Population
Florida's metropolitan areas and major citiesFlorida's population density per square mileFlorida ancestry map
With a population getting close to 23 million people according to the 2023 US Census estimates,[7][12] Florida is the most populous state in the Southeastern United States, and the second-most populous state in the South behind Texas. Within the United States, it contains the highest percentage of people over 65 (17.3%), and the 8th fewest people under 18 (21.9%).[13][better source needed] Florida's population growth primarily comes from those moving to the state. The rate of natural change of births and deaths is "typically flat" and actually had negative natural population change in 2020.[12] The 2022 US Census estimate found the largest age group moving to Florida were those from 60 and 69 years old with the second largest age group being those from 50 to 59 years old.[14]
Map of counties in Florida by racial plurality, per the 2020 US Census
Non-Hispanic White
30–40%
40–50%
50–60%
60–70%
70–80%
80–90%
Hispanic or Latino
50–60%
60–70%
Black or African American
50–60%
2010 census
According to the 2010 census, the racial distributions are as follows; 53.5% Non-Hispanic White, 25.6% of the population are Hispanic or Latino (of any race), 15.2% African American (includes Afro-Caribbeans), 4.5% Native American, 2.0% Asian and others Florida has one of the largest African-American populations in the country, and has the second-highest Latino population on the East Coast outside of New York state. Its ethnic Asian population has grown rapidly since the late 1990s; the majority are Filipinos (163,000), Indians
(128,000), Vietnamese (90,000) , ethnic Chinese (81,000). The state has some federally recognized Native American tribes, such as the Seminoles in the southeastern part of the state.[16]
According to the 2021 US Census Bureau estimates, Florida's population was 56.1% White (51.1% Non-Hispanic White), 15.1% Black or African American, 2.9% Asian, 0.3% Native American and Alaskan Native, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 6.5% Some Other Race, and 19.1% from two or more races.[17] The White population continues to remain the largest racial category as a high percentage of Hispanics in Florida identify as White (18.4%) with others identifying as Some Other Race (21.9%), Multiracial (57.0%), Black (1.7%), American Indian and Alaskan Native (0.2%), Asian (0.1%), and Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (0.1%).[17] By ethnicity, 26.8% of the total population is Hispanic-Latino (of any race) and 73.2% is Non-Hispanic (of any race). If treated as a separate category, Hispanics are the largest minority group in Florida.[17]
Florida residents identify as mostly of various Protestant groups. Roman Catholics make up the single largest denomination in the state. Florida residents' current religious affiliations are shown in the table below:[38]
There were 1.6 million veterans in Florida in 2010, representing 8% of the total population.[39]
Migration
In 2013, most net migrants come from 1) New York, 2) New Jersey, 3) Pennsylvania, and 4) the Midwestern United States; emigration is higher from these same states. For example, about 50,000 moved to New York; but more than 50,000 people moved from New York to Florida.[40]
References
^"Census Counts: 1830-2020". Florida County Population Census Counts: 1830 to 2020. Office of Economic and Demographic Research, The Florida Legislature. 2023. Archived from the original on April 4, 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
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