Duval County’s population has been increasing at a slower pace than the state, but it still has grown at a double-digit rate the past three decades.
Also, the county’s population is projected to increase by another 9 percent from 2010 to 2020, according to numbers from a state Legislature research office.
Duval’s population is projected to reach 943,862 by 2020, reflecting growth of 65 percent from 1980.
Meanwhile, the state’s population is expected to reach 21.3 million by 2020, a 119 percent increase.
Duval’s growth slowed from almost 18 percent from 1980 to 1990 to almost 16 percent from 1990 to 2000 and 11 percent from 2000 to 2010.
The state’s growth slowed from almost 33 percent from 1980-90 to 23 percent from 1990 to 2000 to almost 18 percent from 2000 to 2010.
Duval is the most populous county of the five-county Northeast Florida metro area, which also includes Baker, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns.
Meanwhile, the legislative office reported 2010 Census numbers showing that Duval County has a smaller percentage of Hispanic or Latino residents than the state — 7.6 percent compared to 22.5 percent.
However, Duval County has a higher percentage of younger residents, a lower percentage of older residents and a younger median age than the state.
People age 18 and younger make up 23.5 percent of Duval’s population, compared with 21.3 percent of the state population.
People age 65 and over are 11.1 percent of the county’s population and 17.3 percent of the state’s.
Duval County’s median age is 35.8, almost five years younger than the state’s median age of 40.7.
The Office of Economic & Demographic Research recently updated profiles of the state’s 67 counties. The office is a research arm of the Legislature principally concerned with forecasting economic and social trends that affect policymaking, revenues and appropriations.
Duval is the seventh most populous county in Florida with 4.6 percent of the state’s population.
The Daily Record continues to provide information about Duval County’s profile.
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Population
| Year | Duval County | % change decade | Florida | % change decade |
| 1980 | 571,003 | -––– | 9,746,961 | ––– |
| 1990 | 672,971 | 17.9% | 12,938,071 | 32.7% |
| 2000 | 778,879 | 15.7% | 15,982,824 | 23.5% |
| 2010 | 864,263 | 11% | 18,801,310 | 17.6% |
| 2011 (estimate) | 864,601 | ––– | 18,905,048 | ––– |
| 2015 (projection) | 901,001 | ––– | 19,974,411 | ––– |
| 2020 (projection) | 943,862 | 9.2% | 21,326,797 | 13.4% |
Source: Florida Legislature Office of Economic and Demographic Research
2010 Population
| Category | Duval County % | Florida | % | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 65,398 | 7.6% | 4,223,806 | 22.5% |
| Under 18 years old | 203,514 | 23.5% | 4,002,091 | 21.3% |
| 65 years old and over | 96,169 | 11.1% | 3,259,602 | 17.3% |
| Median age | 35.8 | 40.7 |
Source: Florida Legislature Office of Economic and Demographic Research