WASHINGTON – May 10, 2011 – Florida continues to grow. According to the 2010 Census, Florida’s population was 18,801,310 on April 1, 2010, an increase of 2,818,486 since April 1, 2000.

The 2000-2010 period was the fourth consecutive decade to see the Florida population grow by more than 2.8 million residents. Florida’s numeric population increase during the past decade was the third largest of any state, trailing only Texas and California. Its percent increase (17.6 percent) was the eighth largest in the nation.

County trends

Only Monroe and Pinellas counties saw a population decline over the decade, while 65 of Florida’s 67 counties logged an increase. Monroe lost 6,499 residents while Pinellas declined by 4,953.

Twenty-four of Florida’s 67 counties grew by more than 20 percent, and 52 beat the national growth rate of 9.7 percent.

Four counties grew by more than 50 percent – Flagler, Sumter, Osceola and St. Johns – while another eight – St. Lucie, Lake, Lee, Walton, Clay, Pasco, Wakulla and Hernando – grew by 30-50 percent. Growth has no clear geographic border, and Florida’s rapidly expanding counties can be found throughout the state, on both coasts and in the interior.

Only six counties grew by less than 5 percent since 2000: Hardee, Gadsden, Madison, Escambia, Monroe and Pinellas.

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