Select a Domain Below to Explore the Data for Polk County
At A Glance
Polk County, with a population of 725,046 residents, is experiencing rapid growth, ranking as the fastest-growing county in Florida and the seventh fastest nationwide. From 2010 to 2020, its population expanded by 20.4%, exceeding Florida’s overall growth of 14.5%. As the state’s ninth most populous county, Polk County anticipates a population increase of over 20% by 2030. The county’s demographic profile is slightly younger than the state average, with the most significant growth expected in the under 18 age group, projected to rise from 22% of the total population in 2020 to nearly 27% in 2030. While its population is predominantly White Non-Hispanic, Polk County boasts considerable diversity, including a substantial Hispanic/Latino population (25.9%) and Black/African American residents (13.9%), alongside a continued upward trend in the numbers of Hispanic/Latino, Black, and multi-ethnic residents.
Key Indicators – Polk County
Population & Demographics – Polk County
Total Population
In 2023, the official U.S. Census Bureau estimate for Polk County’s population was 797,616. This number represents a sizeable increase (13.02%) from the recent 2020 census county (705,735). Currently, Polk County is the fastest-growing county in Florida and one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States. Population growth in Polk County is expected to continue at a rapid pace. U.S. Census Bureau, estimates have the population of Polk County increasing by 28% from 2020 to 2030. It is expected that Polk County will reach 900,000 residents by 2030 and surpass 1,000,000 residents by 2040.
Current Age Distribution
In 2022, the median age for residents of Polk County was 39.8 years of age, 2.5 years younger than the median age of the population of Florida as a whole (42.4 years). While the population of Florida has steadily aged since 2012, the median age of Polk County residents has remained relatively static, suggesting many of the new residents who have moved to the county in the last 10 years, are under the age of 40. Currently, the median age of Polk County residents is close to the median age of U.S. residents (39.0 years).
Population Change by Percentage
As a percentage, populations in Polk County have changed little since 1995. The percentage of the population under 20 years of age has dropped 3% since 1995, however, persons under 20 years still make up nearly 1/4 of Polk County’s population. The senior population in Polk County(those over 65 years of age) has remained stable since 1995, always hovering near 20%.
Population Change by Raw Count
While Polk County has seen little change in percentages amongst age groups, the rapid overall change in the population as a whole has led to massive increases in the number of persons counted in each age group. Since 1995, Polk County residents aged 0-19 years declined as a percentage of population, from 27.2% to 24.3%, but the total number of persons aged 0-19 in Polk County went from 120,000 to over 192,000 in that same time frame. The senior population(aged 65 years or older) of Polk County was nearly identical in 1995 and 2023(19.3% v. 19.6%), however, the number of seniors in Polk County nearly doubled from 85,000 to 155,000 over that time frame. Every tracked age group within Polk County has seen a large increase in raw numbers due to the rapid influx of people into the county. These significant changes in Polk residents at all age levels highlights the need for more services for children, families, and seniors within the county.
Racial Demographics
Note: The U.S. Census Bureau defines “Hispanic” as an ethnicity rather than a race. Officially, in the census statistics, a person of any race can be of Hispanic ethnicity. For the purposes of this chart, Hispanic populations have been separated into their own category regardless of their census recognized race. All other labeled groups reflect persons that identify as “Non-Hispanic”.
In Polk County, approximately 30% of the population identifies as Hispanic, just over 50% of citizens self-identify as White, non-Hispanic, and another 15% of citizens identify as Black, non-Hispanic. Less than 5% of the Polk County population is made up of Asian, Pacific Islander, or American Indian citizens. The racial demographics of Polk County in 2023, are nearly identical to statewide demographics.
Source: countyhealthrankings.org, Health Data, Florida, Polk, Florida, 2025