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Florida is the third-most populous state in the United States. Its residents include people from a wide variety of ethnic, racial, national and religious backgrounds. The state has attracted immigrants, particularly from Latin America.^[8] Florida's majority ethnic group are European Americans, with approximately 65% of the population identifying as White. National ethnic communities in the state include Cubans, who migrated en masse following the revolution in the mid 20th century. They have been joined by other immigrants from Latin America, and Spanish is spoken by more than 20% of the state's population, with high usage especially in the Miami-Dade County area.

Between the 2010 and 2020 census, the population of the state overall did increase. 50 counties in Florida would experience population growth while 17 counties saw their populations decline. Most of Florida's population lives in urban areas as in the 2020 census, close to 97% of people in Florida resided in metropolitan areas.^[9] Florida in the 2022 US Census estimate was the fastest growing state in terms of population and the first time it was the fastest growing since 1957.^[10] In the 2020 census Florida had a population density of 401.4 people per square mile.^[11]

With a population getting close to 23 million people according to the 2023 US Census estimates,^[7][12] Florida is the most populous state in the Southeastern United States, and the second-most populous state in the South behind Texas. Within the United States, it contains the highest percentage of people over 65 (17.3%), and the 8th fewest people under 18 (21.9%).^{[13][better source needed]} Florida's population growth primarily comes from those moving to the state. The rate of natural change of births and deaths is "typically flat" and actually had negative natural population change in 2020.^[12] The 2022 US Census estimate found the largest age group moving to Florida were those from 60 and 69 years old with the second largest age group being those from 50 to 59 years old.^[14]

Note: Births in the table exceed 100% because some Hispanics are counted both by their ethnicity and by their race, giving a higher overall number.

As of 2010^[update], 73.36% of Florida residents age 5 and older spoke English at home as a primary language, while 19.54% spoke Spanish, 1.84% French Creole (mostly Haitian Creole), 0.60% French and 0.50% Portuguese. In total, 26.64% of Florida's population age 5 and older spoke a mother language other than English.^[29]

Florida's public education system identified more than 200 first languages other than English spoken in the homes of students.^[30] In 1990, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) settled a class action lawsuit against the state Florida Department of Education with a consent decree that required educators to be trained in teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).^[31]

Article II, Section 9, of the Florida Constitution provides that "English is the official language of the State of Florida." This provision was adopted in 1988 by a vote following an Initiative Petition.

A Miami accent has developed among persons born and/or raised in and around Miami-Dade County and a few other parts of South Florida.^[32] It is more prominent among Hispanics (especially Cuban Americans and other Latino groups, influenced by the Spanish language).^[33][34]

Florida residents identify as mostly of various Protestant groups. Roman Catholics make up the single largest denomination in the state. Florida residents' current religious affiliations are shown in the table below:^[35]

• Christianity 70%
  • Protestantism 46%
    • Evangelical Protestant 24%
    • Mainline Protestant 14%
    • Historically Black Protestant 8%
  • Catholicism 21%
  • Mormonism 1%
  • Jehovah's Witness 1%
  • Other Christian 1%
• Non-Christian Faiths 6%
  • Judaism 3%
  • Other religion (e.g. Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism) 3%
• Unaffiliated 24%

There were 1.6 million veterans in Florida in 2010, representing 8% of the total population.^[36]

In 2013, most net migrants come from 1) New York, 2) New Jersey, 3) Pennsylvania, and 4) the Midwestern United States; emigration is higher from these same states. For example, about 50,000 moved to New York; but more than 50,000 people moved from New York to Florida.^[37]