No.
Florida didn’t even crack the top 10 of fastest-growing states in the country from 2024-25 based on net gains.
South Carolina was the fastest-growing state from July 1, 2024 to July 1, 2025, with a 1.5% population increase, according to the most recent numbers from the U.S. Census.
Florida’s population grew from 23.27 million to 23.46 million during that time, making it the third-most populated state behind only California and Texas. It also represents a 196,680 population increase, which is the second-highest numerical growth behind Texas.
However, its net population increase –– which factors in population increases relative to the size of the state –– pushed Florida out of the top 10.
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ March 25 comment that the state is the fastest-growing in the country isn’t backed up by the numbers.
Suncoast Searchlight partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.
Sources
- https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2026/population-growth-slows.html U.S. Population Growth Slows Due to Historic Decline in Net International Migration
