At a glance: Florida Florida is the third most populous state in the U.S., with 22,610,726 residents across its 65,758 square miles, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The state ranked No. 5 for business in 2024 by CNBC. Florida is home to one of the busiest ports in the nation, the Port of Miami, and its largest economic industries include tourism, agriculture, aerospace, healthcare, and real estate development. Energy Florida ranks No. 45 among states for most energy consumption, with its leading sources being natural gas, motor gasoline, and nuclear power, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Florida ranks No. 26 for energy production, with natural gas and solar energy contributing the most to in-state production. Floridians’ residential electricity rate is $0.136/kWh, slightly below the national average of $0.16/kWh. Commercial users pay $0.118/kWh, below the national average rate of $0.126/kWh. Industrial users pay $0.094/kWh, higher the national average for industrial electricity. Residential natural gas prices in Florida average $24.72 per thousand cubic feet, well above the national average of $14.75, according to the most recently available data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Environment Annual carbon emissions have increased 72 percent since 1970, as the state’s population surged 169.1 percent during the same period. Florida’s population is projected to grow another 25 percent, reaching 27.2 million residents by 2045. Approximately 28 percent of Florida’s land is under permanent protection, managed by federal, state, local, and nonprofit agencies. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service lists 135 species in Florida as threatened or endangered.
