News flash: Florida is red hot! And we’re not talking temperatures here. We’re talking human migration. People from all over the world are looking to settle in the Sunshine State ... and no wonder. After two years of business uncertainty and personal disruptions fueled by lockdowns, closures and restrictive COVID-19 measures, people just want a way out. And what better place to launch a restart than easy, breezy Florida?
With its abundance of blue skies, sandy beaches, the world’s best theme parks and real-live rocket launches, Florida has many reasons to grow. And earlier this year, it added one more. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, Florida led the nation for new businesses opened between January 2021 and January 2022.
The Regions
FLORIDA BY THE NUMBERS
Population 21.8 million
3rd largest in the U.S.
Civilian Labor Force 10.6 million
3rd largest in the U.S.
Gross Domestic Product $1.2 trillion
4th largest in the U.S.
Total Personal Income $1.1 trillion
4th highest in the U.S.
Per Capita Personal Income $60,761
2nd in the Southeast
Households 8.9 million
Total Earnings $659.7 billion
Total Retail Sales $418.1 billion
FLORIDA BY THE NUMBERS
Population 21.8 million
3rd largest in the U.S.
Civilian Labor Force 10.6 million
3rd largest in the U.S.
Gross Domestic Product $1.2 trillion
4th largest in the U.S.
Total Personal Income $1.1 trillion
4th highest in the U.S.
Per Capita Personal Income $60,761
2nd in the Southeast
Households 8.9 million
Total Earnings $659.7 billion
Total Retail Sales $418.1 billion
Airports
• Destin-Fort Walton Beach
• Northwest Florida Beaches International
• Pensacola International
• Tallahassee International
Seaports
• Port Panama City
• Port of Pensacola
• Port of Port St. Joe
Key Demographics
| Population | 1,516,046 |
| Labor Force | 713,462 |
| Households | 621,544 |
| Total Earnings | $41.3B |
| Med. Per Cap. Income | $41,895 |
| Total Retail Sales | $25.2B |
Sources: US Census Bureau, 2021; Labor Market Statistics Center, Florida DEO 2022; Woods & Poole Economics, 2022
North Central
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Key Demographics
| Population | 966,996 |
| Labor Force | 399,807 |
| Households | 407,843 |
| Total Earnings | $20.2B |
| Med. Per Cap. Income | $37,344 |
| Total Retail Sales | $14.3B |
Airports
• Gainesville Regional
Sources: US Census Bureau, 2021; Labor Market Statistics Center, Florida DEO 2022; Woods & Poole Economics, 2022
Key Demographics
| Population | 1,832,765 |
| Labor Force | 905,981 |
| Households | 731,902 |
| Total Earnings | $56.2B |
| Med. Per Cap. Income | $53,143 |
| Total Retail Sales | $30.6B |
Airports
• Jacksonville International
• Northeast Florida Regional
Seaports
• JAXPORT
• Port of Fernandina
Spaceports
• Cecil Spaceport
Sources: US Census Bureau, 2021; Labor Market Statistics Center, Florida DEO 2022; Woods & Poole Economics, 2022
Key Demographics
| Population | 4,990,877 |
| Labor Force | 2,406,862 |
| Households | 2,100,493 |
| Total Earnings | $137.6B |
| Med. Per Cap. Income | $50,493 |
| Total Retail Sales | $87.9B |
Airports
• St. Peteg-Clearwater International
• Sarasota Bradenton International
• Tampa International
Seaports
• Port Manatee
• Port of St. Petersburg
• Port Tampa Bay
Sources: US Census Bureau, 2021; Labor Market Statistics Center, Florida DEO 2022; Woods & Poole Economics, 2022
East Central
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Key Demographics
| Population | 4,008,603 |
| Labor Force | 1,978,054 |
| Households | 1,570,604 |
| Total Earnings | $121.29B |
| Med. Per Cap. Income | $51,412 |
| Total Retail Sales | $81.3B |
Airports
• Daytona Beach International
• Orlando Melbourne International
• Orlando International
• Orlando Sanford International
Seaports
• Port Canaveral
Spaceports
• Cape Canaveral Spaceport
Sources: US Census Bureau, 2021; Labor Market Statistics Center, Florida DEO 2022; Woods & Poole Economics, 2022
Key Demographics
| Population | 1,368,799 |
| Labor Force | 633,592 |
| Households | 591,265 |
| Total Earnings | $42.3B |
| Med. Per Cap. Income | $59,502 |
| Total Retail Sales | $27.4B |
Airports
• Punta Gorda
• Southwest Florida International
Sources: US Census Bureau, 2021; Labor Market Statistics Center, Florida DEO 2022; Woods & Poole Economics, 2022
South Central
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Key Demographics
| Population | 255,945 |
| Labor Force | 99,924 |
| Households | 108,263 |
| Total Earnings | $4.3B |
| Med. Per Cap. Income | $34,156 |
| Total Retail Sales | $3.2B |
Sources: US Census Bureau, 2021; Labor Market Statistics Center, Florida DEO 2022; Woods & Poole Economics, 2022
Key Demographics
| Population | 6,841,100 |
| Labor Force | 3,488,978 |
| Households | 2,839,403 |
| Total Earnings | $424.9B |
| Med. Per Cap. Income | $88,897 |
| Total Retail Sales | $148.1B |
Airports
• Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International
• Key West International
• Miami International
• Palm Beach International
Seaports
• Port Everglades
• Port of Fort Pierce
• Port of Key West
• PortMiami
• Port of Palm Beach
Sources: US Census Bureau, 2021; Labor Market Statistics Center, Florida DEO 2022; Woods & Poole Economics, 2022
How to use the map: Click a region for key statistics and a link to the full report. Click the 
in the upper right corner to return to the main map.
