Population

 

The United States Census Bureau estimates that the population of Florida was 19,057,542 on July 1, 2011, a 1.36% increase since the 2010 United States Census. The center of population of Florida is located in Polk County, in the town of Lake Wales. As of 2009, Florida's population was estimated to be 18,537,969. The state grew 128,814, or 0.7% from 2007. 

Using the latest population estimates, Florida is the nation's thirtieth-fastest-growing state. During Florida's recent peak growth year of 2005, it was the nation's fifth fastest growing state and grew at an annual rate of 2.2%.

About two-thirds of the population was born in another state, the second highest in the country.

In 2010, illegal immigrants constituted an estimated 5.7% of the population. This was the sixth highest percentage of any state in the country. There were an estimated 675,000 illegal immigrants in the state in 2010.

There were 186,102 military retirees living in the state in 2008.

Racial makeup

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Florida had a population of 18,801,310. In terms of race and ethnicity, the state was:

• 75.0% White (57.9% Non-Hispanic White alone)
• 16.0% Black or African American
• 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native
• 2.4% Asian
• 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
• 3.6% from Some Other Race
• 2.5% from Two or More Races
• Hispanics and Latinos of any race made up 22.5% of the population

Florida