Florida Fastest Growing State for First Time Since 1957

December 26, 2022

After decades of rapid population increase, Florida now is the nation’s fastest-growing state for the first time since 1957, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Vintage 2022 population estimates released. Florida’s population increased by 1.9% to 22,244,823 between 2021 and 2022, surpassing Idaho, the previous year’s fastest-growing state. During the 1950s, Florida’s growth far outpaced the national rate, which was between 1.5% and 2% each year that decade. The baby boom (1946-64) came to an end in the 1960s, and Florida’s extraordinary growth during the 1950s slowed. However, “slowed” is a bit of a misnomer since, between 1960 and 1989, Florida’s average annual growth remained over 3%. In the 2000s, the slowing trend continued with Florida averaging an annual growth of 1.7%. During the same period, the national growth hovered around 1% a year. That trend has continued since 2010. Between 2010 and 2020, national growth dipped from 0.9% to 0.5% each year while Florida’s increases ranged from 1% to 2%. In 2022, Florida’s growth was nearing that previous decade high at 1.9%, not high compared to past gains but still the fastest among the states. Vintage 2022 population estimates scheduled for release over the next few months will shed light on which areas and demographic groups contributed to the state’s growth.