Florida's South and Central regions see significant population growth

Florida continues to see rapid population growth in several major metropolitan areas. Recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that both South Florida and Central Florida are among the fastest-growing regions in the nation. From July 2023 to July 2024, the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach area added 123,471 residents, reaching a total of over 6.4 million people. This growth ranks it fourth in the U.S. for numeric population increase. Central Florida's Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford area also grew, adding 75,969 people and reaching over 2.864 million, placing it seventh nationally. Four Florida metro areas are on the national Top Ten list for percentage growth. Ocala leads with a 4% increase. Panama City follows with a 3.8% rise, while Lakeland-Winter Haven and Port St. Lucie have growth rates of 3.5% and 2.9%, respectively. The Census data does not account for the effects of last year's hurricane season, which saw severe storms that caused significant destruction and forced some residents to leave. Despite these challenges, Florida's population growth trend has persisted since before the COVID-19 pandemic. The state is now the third most populous in the U.S., with over 23.3 million residents. However, the rapid growth may be slowing due to rising living costs, especially in housing. Major moving companies have observed a narrowing gap between people moving into and out of Florida, indicating that this trend could balance out soon. Tightening immigration policies at both federal and state levels could further impact population growth. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has supported measures that align with former President Trump's immigration plans, including significant funding for enforcement. This has led state demographic experts to postpone new population projections while awaiting more clarity on these immigration policies. Currently, state forecasters maintain their earlier projections, predicting Florida's population will exceed 24.7 million by 2030, reflecting a growth rate of 1.2%.