People

Over the next 25 years, Florida's population will reach 25.5 million people, and the state will become the third most populous in the U.S., behind California and Texas. It will also rank among the fastest growing states, with a growth rate nearly three times that of the nation.

During the same period, South Florida is expected to remain the most populous part of the state, adding 2.5 million people. The region exemplifies the rapid demographic transformation of the U.S., which is now experiencing the second largest period of international immigration in its history. It is now composed of immigrants, domestic newcomers, and native Floridians, whose backgrounds, cultures, and needs are increasingly diverse. South Florida has many opportunities and challenges resulting from rapid population growth and increasing diversity, including closing the gap between growing economic and social disparities and educating its youths in preparation for jobs in higher-wage industries.