Florida
‘Adding a city:’ Millions more could flock to Florida. Here’s when to expect it
Florida has been a hotspot in the U.S. for many people over the past few years, with more than 1 million people moving to the state in 2022.
U.S. Census Bureau data shows that a large chunk of Florida’s incoming residents have moved from states like New York, California or foreign countries.
The state’s population has been on an incline for decades, though it saw an explosion of new residents beginning back in 2016.
In fact, inbound migration to Florida has been so high that the state’s population has passed 23 million people for the first time ever, according to the state’s Demographic Estimating Conference.
Earlier this month, the DEC announced that the record figure had been reached back in April, though rapid population growth is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.
To be precise, Florida is set to see well over 300,000 people move in annually through 2026 — just under 900 people per day on average.
“These increases are analogous to adding a city slightly smaller than Orlando, but larger than St. Petersburg every year,” the DEC report reads.
By these estimates, Florida will reach 24 million residents by 2027; 25 million residents by 2031; and 26 million residents by 2036.
| Fiscal Year | Population (End of Fiscal Year) | Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-2024 | 23,088,994 | 1.59% |
| 2024-2025 | 23,411,344 | 1.40% |
| 2025-2026 | 23,719,175 | 1.31% |
| 2026-2027 | 24,015,118 | 1.25% |
| 2027-2028 | 24,300,771 | 1.19% |
| 2028-2029 | 24,574,248 | 1.13% |
| 2029-2030 | 24,836,074 | 1.07% |
| 2030-2031 | 25,086,130 | 1.01% |
| 2031-2032 | 25,324,175 | 0.95% |
| 2032-2033 | 25,549,255 | 0.89% |
| 2033-2034 | 25,761,882 | 0.83% |
| 2034-2035 | 25,964,259 | 0.79% |
| 2035-2036 | 26,156,254 | 0.74% |
| 2036-2037 | 26,336,762 | 0.69% |
| 2037-2038 | 26,507,435 | 0.65% |
| 2038-2039 | 26,670,769 | 0.62% |
This huge influx of people into Florida is also set to bolster the state’s GDP and job growth, according to UCF economist Sean Snaith earlier this year.
“Florida is going to keep cruising at a higher altitude than the rest of the country,” Snaith predicted. “That’s because the ‘twin engines’ of a robust labor market and population growth are propelling us forward.”
Snaith explained that many of the people moving into Florida are retirees, which means more jobs are being created to meet their needs and wants.
However, this population growth could have other consequences.
With more people moving into the state, there are more people seeking goods and services like housing, food, gas and insurance — among many other products.
As a result, Florida’s cost of living is becoming inflated, outpacing wage growth in the state. This is despite having predicted average growth higher than the rest of the nation.
“Florida should enjoy the ride through these economically friendly skies with seatbelts fastened — just in case,” Snaith said.
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FORT MYERS, Fla. – An injured manatee and her calf are recovering after authorities on a boat rescued them from the Orange River near Fort Myers on Thursday.
What we know:
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said its Marine Unit, Advanced Technology Support Unit, drone pilots and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission helped in saving the pair after the mother was found hurt in the water and in need of medical attention.
READ: Missing Florida man found stuck in mud without food or water for days: PFD
Video shows authorities pulling the frantic manatees safely onto the boat in netting before taking them to shore.
Courtesy: Lee County Sheriff’s Office
Both animals will be taken to ZooTampa for evaluation and medical care.
What we don’t know:
LCSO did not say the extent of the mother’s injuries.
By the numbers:
As of Feb. 20, there have been 85 manatee deaths across Florida in 2026, according to the FWC. Last year reportedly saw a total of 632 manatee deaths.
Dig deeper:
Earlier this month, the FWC began investigating a spike in manatee deaths, specifically in Lee County, where officials say 25 were found dead within a week.
READ: FWC investigating spike in manatee deaths over the past week
The FWC believes these manatee deaths could be from several factors: cold stress, a lack of seagrass and polluted waterways.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Trump threatens tariffs on countries that supply oil to Cuba
Trump warned Cuba to reach an agreement with the U.S. after signing an executive order to impose tariffs on countries that supply the island with oil.
HAVANA (Reuters) – Four people were killed and seven others were wounded on Feb. 25 after a speedboat from Florida entered Cuban waters and opened fire on Cuban forces, who returned fire, Cuba’s Interior Ministry said.
All four dead were aboard the Florida-based speedboat, and another six were injured, Cuba said. In addition, the Cuban commander of border patrol boat was wounded, Cuba said.
The wounded foreign attackers were evacuated and received medical attention, Cuba said.
The incident took place amid heightened tension between Cuba and the United States, which has blocked virtually all oil shipments to the island, increasing pressure on the Communist-run government. American forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas on Jan. 3, removing a key Cuban ally from power.
“Faced with the current challenges, Cuba reaffirms its commitment to protecting its territorial waters, based on the principle that national defense is a fundamental pillar for the Cuban state in safeguarding its sovereignty and stability in the region,” the Cuban statement said.
Reporting by Daniel Trotta in Havana.
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