Orlando is now the 20th most populous region in the country.
ORLANDO, Florida - It's common knowledge that more and more people are choosing Florida to live in. And, according to new data, the Orlando area has been standing out as one of the favorite destinations for those who decide to put down roots.
According to information released by the Orlando Economic Partnership based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of metropolitan Orlando grew by 2.7% in 2024, surpassing the average for the state of Florida, which was 2.0%.
This result has earned Orlando the title of the fastest-growing large region in the United States, ranking first among the 30 most populous metropolitan areas in the country.
The most recent estimates show that the Orlando Metropolitan Statistical Area(MSA) welcomed approximately 76,000 new residents between July 1, 2023 and July 1, 2024. This represents around 1,500 new residents per week, bringing the region's total population to 2,940,513.
This accelerated growth has led Orlando to become the 20th most populous region in the US, reflecting a national trend of migration to the south of the country, especially to states such as Texas, Florida and North Carolina.
According to the Orlando Economic Partnership, international migration is now the main factor responsible for the region's population expansion.
Since the 2020 Census, Orlando has welcomed 267,126 new residents - a number comparable to the sum of the population of the four largest neighboring cities: Kissimmee, Sanford, St. Cloud and Apopka. It's worth noting that almost 65% of this growth has come from international migration, while 25% is due to domestic migration (people coming from other parts of the US) and only 10% to natural growth (the difference between births and deaths).
