Dreamers and doers have a history of staking their fortunes and futures on Florida. Sixteenth-century explorers came from the old world to plant the first permanent new world settlement here; four centuries later, a new generation of explorers went from this world to plant our country’s flag outside of it.
Florida is an eclectic mix of eight economic development regions, at least one of which is right for you and your business. From Naples up to Jacksonville and from Pensacola down to Miami and the Florida Keys, this state boasts a blend of cutting-edge innovation and kickback style that is second to none. In any region of Florida, you are never more than 50 miles from a postsecondary educational institution or 90 miles from a deep-water port. It’s a good bet you’ll find a golf course, theme park, shopping mall and/or sandy beach within close proximity too.
The Regions
FLORIDA BY THE NUMBERS
Population 21.3 million
3rd largest in the U.S.
Civilian Labor Force 10.2 million
3rd largest in the U.S.
Gross Domestic Product $1.0 trillion
4th largest in the U.S.
Total Personal Income $1.1 trillion
4th highest in the U.S.
Per Capita Personal Income $49,417
2nd in the Southeast
Households 8,567,707
Total Earnings $593 billion
Total Retail Sales $379 billion
FLORIDA BY THE NUMBERS
Population 21.3 million
3rd largest in the U.S.
Civilian Labor Force 10.2 million
3rd largest in the U.S.
Gross Domestic Product $1.0 trillion
4th largest in the U.S.
Total Personal Income $1.1 trillion
4th highest in the U.S.
Per Capita Personal Income $49,417
2nd in the Southeast
Households 8,567,707
Total Earnings $593 billion
Total Retail Sales $379 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 | 1,487,565 |
| Labor Force | 688,752 |
| Households | 599,766 |
| Total Earnings | $37.97B |
| Med. Per Cap. Income | $37,682 |
| Total Retail Sales | $23.08B |
Sources: US Census Bureau, 2018; Labor Market Statistics Center, Florida DEO 2018; Woods & Poole Economics, 2019
North Central
read the full report
Key Demographics
| Population | 926,219 |
| Labor Force | 389,678 |
| Households | 391,076 |
| Total Earnings | $20.08B |
| Med. Per Cap. Income | $34,654 |
| Total Retail Sales | $13.01B |
Airports
• Gainesville Regional
Sources: US Census Bureau, 2018; Labor Market Statistics Center, Florida DEO 2018; Woods & Poole Economics, 2019
Key Demographics
| Population | 1,720,931 |
| Labor Force | 847,266 |
| Households | 696,500 |
| Total Earnings | $50.85B |
| Med. Per Cap. Income | $46,866 |
| Total Retail Sales | $27.65B |
Airports
• Jacksonville International
• Northeast Florida Regional
Seaports
• JAXPORT
• Port of Fernandina
Spaceports
• Cecil Spaceport
Sources: US Census Bureau, 2018; Labor Market Statistics Center, Florida DEO 2018; Woods & Poole Economics, 2019
Key Demographics
| Population | 4,820,174 |
| Labor Force | 2,243,216 |
| Households | 2,039,455 |
| Total Earnings | $124.7B |
| Med. Per Cap. Income | $45,308 |
| Total Retail Sales | $79.6B |
Airports
• St. Peteg-Clearwater International
• Sarasota Bradenton International
• Tampa International
Seaports
• Port Manatee
• Port of St. Petersburg
• Port Tampa Bay
Sources: US Census Bureau, 2018; Labor Market Statistics Center, Florida DEO 2018; Woods & Poole Economics, 2019
East Central
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Key Demographics
| Population | 3,846,103 |
| Labor Force | 1,899,028 |
| Households | 1,489,657 |
| Total Earnings | $107.3B |
| Med. Per Cap. Income | $45,634 |
| Total Retail Sales | $72.77B |
Airports
• Daytona Beach International
• Orlando Melbourne International
• Orlando International
• Orlando Sanford International
Seaports
• Port Canaveral
Spaceports
• Cape Canaveral Spaceport
Sources: US Census Bureau, 2018; Labor Market Statistics Center, Florida DEO 2018; Woods & Poole Economics, 2019
Key Demographics
| Population | 1,318,096 |
| Labor Force | 590,988 |
| Households | 557,359 |
| Total Earnings | $32.18B |
| Med. Per Cap. Income | $53,730 |
| Total Retail Sales | $24.57B |
Airports
• Punta Gorda
• Southwest Florida International
Sources: US Census Bureau, 2018; Labor Market Statistics Center, Florida DEO 2018; Woods & Poole Economics, 2019
South Central
read the full report
Key Demographics
| Population | 266,975 |
| Labor Force | 97,718 |
| Households | 104,889 |
| Total Earnings | $3.95B |
| Med. Per Cap. Income | $30,338 |
| Total Retail Sales | $2.96B |
Sources: US Census Bureau, 2018; Labor Market Statistics Center, Florida DEO 2018; Woods & Poole Economics, 2019
Key Demographics
| Population | 6,913,262 |
| Labor Force | 3,477,723 |
| Households | 2,719,005 |
| Total Earnings | $217.58B |
| Med. Per Cap. Income | $79,351 |
| Total Retail Sales | $135.4B |
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, 2018; Labor Market Statistics Center, Florida DEO 2018; Woods & Poole Economics, 2019
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.
