Introduction
Cape Coral-Fort Myers MSA vs. Florida
Cape Coral-Fort Myers MSA:
2022 Population = 822,453
2022 Percent of State = 0.29%
Florida:
2022 Population = 22,244,823
2022 Percent of U.S. = 6.67%
Attracting and retaining people to live, work, raise a family, and retire underlies the economic vitality of any region. Population growth is both a cause--and a consequence--of economic growth. Patterns of population growth and change reflect differences among regions to attract and retain people both as producers and consumers in their economy.
The following graphs offer a broad overview of trends in the pattern of population growth and change of the Cape Coral-Fort Myers MSA with comparisons to Florida and the nation at large. This analysis features alternative approaches toward discussing, diagnosing and comparing the Cape Coral-Fort Myers MSA vs. Florida's population growth over 1969-2022. The data used are those compiled by the Regional Income and Product Divisions of the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce.
Page 2 of 13
Population, 1969-2022
Population, 1969-2022
Figure 1.
Figure 1 traces the Cape Coral-Fort Myers MSA's annual population for the period 1969-2022 to illustrate population patterns over time. During this 54-year period, the Cape Coral-Fort Myers MSA's population rose from 99,376 in 1969 to 822,453 in 2022, for a net gain of 723,077, or 727.62%.
NOTE: The county and state population totals reported by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) are from the Bureau of Census midyear (July 1) estimates. These estimates may differ from those prepared independently in some states by various agencies and/or universities.
Page 3 of 13
Population, 1969-2022
Population, 1969-2022
Figure 2.
Figure 2 traces Florida's annual population for the period 1969-2022 to illustrate population patterns over time. During this 54-year period, Florida's population rose from 6,641,000 in 1969 to 22,244,823 in 2022, for a net gain of 15,603,823, or 234.96%.
NOTE: The county and state population totals reported by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) are from the Bureau of Census midyear (July 1) estimates. These estimates may differ from those prepared independently in some states by various agencies and/or universities.
Page 4 of 13
Population Indices (1969=100): 1969-2022
Population Indices (1969=100): 1969-2022
Figure 3.
Figure 3 shows the Cape Coral-Fort Myers MSA's population growth in a broader context by offering direct comparisons across time with Florida, the United States. The growth indices shown here express each region's population in 1969 as a base figure of 100, and the populations in later years as a percentage of the 1969 base figure. This method allows for more direct comparison of differences in population growth between regions that may differ vastly in size.
The Cape Coral-Fort Myers MSA's overall population growth was 727.62% over 1969-2022 outpaced Florida's increase of 234.96%, and outpaced the United States' increase of 65.57%.
Page 5 of 13
Population as a Percent of the Florida Total: 1969-2022
Population as a Percent of the Florida Total: 1969-2022
Figure 4.
Another interesting and insightful way of highlighting the population growth of the Cape Coral-Fort Myers MSA is to trace its individual percentage contributions to Florida's statewide population over time, as shown in Figure 4. A rising share means a region's population grew faster, or declined less, than Florida's population, while a declining share shows it grew more slowly.
In 1969, the Cape Coral-Fort Myers MSA's population totaled 1.50% of Florida's population, while in 2022 it equated to 3.70% thereby yielding a +2.20% share-shift.
   
 
Population Share-Shift
2022 vs. 1969
 
Share-
Shift*
 
2022
vs.
1969
+2.20%
=
3.70%
-
1.50%
 
   
Page 6 of 13
Cape Coral-Fort Myers MSA Population:
Annual Percent Change, 1970-2022
Cape Coral-Fort Myers MSA Population:
Annual Percent Change, 1970-2022
Figure 5.
Figure 5 displays the short-run pattern of the Cape Coral-Fort Myers MSA's population growth by tracking the year-to-year percent change over 1970-2022. The average annual percent change for the entire 53-year period is also illustrated on this chart to provide a benchmark for gauging periods of relative high--and relative low--growth against the backdrop of the long-term average.
On average, the Cape Coral-Fort Myers MSA's population grew at an annual rate of 4.09% over 1970-2022. The Cape Coral-Fort Myers MSA recorded its highest growth in 1972 (9.17%) and recorded its lowest growth in 2009 (0.21%). In 2022, the Cape Coral-Fort Myers MSA's population grew by 4.02%
Page 7 of 13
Cape Coral-Fort Myers MSA Population:
Annual Percent Change and Decade Averages Over 1970-2022
Cape Coral-Fort Myers MSA Population:
Annual Percent Change and Decade Averages Over 1970-2022
Figure 6.
Over the past five decades some msas have experienced extreme swings in growth, and often such swings have tended to coincide with the decades themselves. Figure 6 again traces the annual percent change in the Cape Coral-Fort Myers MSA's population since 1970, but this time they are overlayed with average growth rates for the decade of the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020-2022.
During the 1970s, the Cape Coral-Fort Myers MSA's annual population growth rate averaged 6.86%. It averaged 5.29% during the 1980s, 2.98% throughout the 1990s, 3.56% during the 2000s, 2.04% throughout the 2010s, 3.15% thus far this decade (2020-2022).
Page 8 of 13
Population Growth:
Average Annual Percent Change by Decade
Population Growth:
Average Annual Percent Change by Decade
Figure 7.
Figure 7 compares the decade average growth rates for the Cape Coral-Fort Myers MSA noted in the previous graph with the corresponding decade averages for Florida and the nation. As the chart reveals, the Cape Coral-Fort Myers MSA's average annual population growth outpaced Florida's average during the 1970s (6.86% vs. 3.62%), topped Florida's average during the 1980s (5.29% vs. 2.93%), registered above Florida's average during the 1990s (2.98% vs. 2.23%), outpaced Florida's average throughout the 2000s (3.56% vs. 1.70%), outpaced Florida's average in the 2010s (2.04% vs. 1.36%), and outperformed Florida's average over the 3 year period of the current decade, 2020-2022 (3.15% vs. 1.37%).
Finally, relative to nationwide population growth trends, the Cape Coral-Fort Myers MSA led the nation throughout the 1970s (6.86% vs. 1.10%), outperformed the nation over the 1980s (5.29% vs. 0.95%), outperformed the nation during the 1990s (2.98% vs. 1.23%), outpaced the nation over the 2000s (3.56% vs. 0.95%), outgained the nation in the 2010s (2.04% vs. 0.74%), and outpaced the nation over 2020-2022 (3.15% vs. 0.31%).
   
 
Population Growth:
Average Annual Percent Change
 
 
 
4.09
6.86
5.29
2.98
3.56
2.04
3.15
4.02
 
2.31
3.62
2.93
2.23
1.70
1.36
1.37
1.91
 
0.96
1.10
0.95
1.23
0.95
0.74
0.31
0.38
 
   
Page 9 of 13

Interactive TableTip: To augment your analysis click on the column headers in the following table to rank and/or sort the data.

   
 
Cape Coral-Fort Myers MSA:
Population, 1969-2022
 
1969
 
99,376
100.0
N
0.06
1970
 
107,430
108.1
8.10
0.06
1971
 
116,946
117.7
8.86
0.07
1972
 
127,672
128.5
9.17
0.07
1973
 
137,276
138.1
7.52
0.08
1974
 
146,825
147.7
6.96
0.08
1975
 
154,905
155.9
5.50
0.09
1976
 
159,632
160.6
3.05
0.09
1977
 
173,998
175.1
9.00
0.10
1978
 
182,920
184.1
5.13
0.10
1979
 
192,597
193.8
5.29
0.10
1980
 
208,050
209.4
8.02
0.11
1981
 
218,795
220.2
5.16
0.12
1982
 
230,932
232.4
5.55
0.12
1983
 
241,554
243.1
4.60
0.13
1984
 
255,299
256.9
5.69
0.13
1985
 
267,107
268.8
4.63
0.14
1986
 
280,483
282.2
5.01
0.14
1987
 
295,262
297.1
5.27
0.15
1988
 
306,842
308.8
3.92
0.15
1989
 
322,253
324.3
5.02
0.16
1990
 
339,012
341.1
5.20
0.16
1991
 
351,069
353.3
3.56
0.17
1992
 
359,679
361.9
2.45
0.17
1993
 
368,938
371.3
2.57
0.17
1994
 
380,928
383.3
3.25
0.17
1995
 
391,823
394.3
2.86
0.18
1996
 
400,723
403.2
2.27
0.18
1997
 
410,841
413.4
2.52
0.18
1998
 
421,889
424.5
2.69
0.18
1999
 
431,981
434.7
2.39
0.18
2000
 
444,311
447.1
2.85
0.19
2001
 
461,037
463.9
3.76
0.19
2002
 
478,889
481.9
3.87
0.20
2003
 
497,662
500.8
3.92
0.20
2004
 
522,431
525.7
4.98
0.21
2005
 
555,029
558.5
6.24
0.22
2006
 
582,678
586.3
4.98
0.23
2007
 
604,716
608.5
3.78
0.24
2008
 
610,984
614.8
1.04
0.24
2009
 
612,297
616.1
0.21
0.23
2010
 
619,982
623.9
1.26
0.24
2011
 
628,655
632.6
1.40
0.24
2012
 
639,773
643.8
1.77
0.24
2013
 
653,285
657.4
2.11
0.24
2014
 
668,448
672.6
2.32
0.24
2015
 
688,440
692.8
2.99
0.25
2016
 
708,970
713.4
2.98
0.25
2017
 
723,989
728.5
2.12
0.26
2018
 
735,249
739.9
1.56
0.26
2019
 
749,512
754.2
1.94
0.26
2020
 
765,504
770.3
2.13
0.27
2021
 
790,676
795.6
3.29
0.28
2022
 
822,453
827.6
4.02
0.29
Source: Calculations by the Florida Regional Economic Analysis Project (FL-REAP)
with data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
November 2023
REAP_PI_CA1400_100_PSN
 
   
Page 10 of 13

Interactive TableTip: To augment your analysis click on the column headers in the following table to rank and/or sort the data.

   
 
Florida:
Population, 1969-2022
 
1969
 
6,641,000
100.0
N
3.30
1970
 
6,845,353
103.1
3.08
3.36
1971
 
7,163,026
107.9
4.64
3.46
1972
 
7,520,324
113.2
4.99
3.59
1973
 
7,927,099
119.4
5.41
3.75
1974
 
8,317,034
125.2
4.92
3.90
1975
 
8,541,660
128.6
2.70
3.96
1976
 
8,695,356
130.9
1.80
4.00
1977
 
8,888,958
133.8
2.23
4.04
1978
 
9,131,554
137.5
2.73
4.11
1979
 
9,470,585
142.6
3.71
4.22
1980
 
9,839,835
148.2
3.90
4.33
1981
 
10,192,775
153.5
3.59
4.44
1982
 
10,471,405
157.7
2.73
4.52
1983
 
10,749,849
161.9
2.66
4.60
1984
 
11,039,925
166.2
2.70
4.68
1985
 
11,351,120
170.9
2.82
4.77
1986
 
11,667,503
175.7
2.79
4.86
1987
 
11,997,282
180.7
2.83
4.95
1988
 
12,306,400
185.3
2.58
5.03
1989
 
12,637,718
190.3
2.69
5.12
1990
 
13,033,307
196.3
3.13
5.22
1991
 
13,369,798
201.3
2.58
5.28
1992
 
13,650,553
205.5
2.10
5.32
1993
 
13,927,185
209.7
2.03
5.36
1994
 
14,239,444
214.4
2.24
5.41
1995
 
14,537,875
218.9
2.10
5.46
1996
 
14,853,360
223.7
2.17
5.51
1997
 
15,186,304
228.7
2.24
5.57
1998
 
15,486,559
233.2
1.98
5.61
1999
 
15,759,421
237.3
1.76
5.65
2000
 
16,047,515
241.6
1.83
5.69
2001
 
16,356,966
246.3
1.93
5.74
2002
 
16,689,370
251.3
2.03
5.80
2003
 
17,004,085
256.0
1.89
5.86
2004
 
17,415,318
262.2
2.42
5.95
2005
 
17,842,038
268.7
2.45
6.04
2006
 
18,166,990
273.6
1.82
6.09
2007
 
18,367,842
276.6
1.11
6.10
2008
 
18,527,305
279.0
0.87
6.09
2009
 
18,652,644
280.9
0.68
6.08
2010
 
18,842,884
283.7
1.02
6.09
2011
 
19,039,100
286.7
1.04
6.11
2012
 
19,271,885
290.2
1.22
6.13
2013
 
19,507,621
293.7
1.22
6.16
2014
 
19,795,405
298.1
1.48
6.20
2015
 
20,145,580
303.4
1.77
6.26
2016
 
20,537,931
309.3
1.95
6.33
2017
 
20,871,785
314.3
1.63
6.39
2018
 
21,133,562
318.2
1.25
6.43
2019
 
21,354,519
321.6
1.05
6.47
2020
 
21,589,602
325.1
1.10
6.51
2021
 
21,828,069
328.7
1.10
6.57
2022
 
22,244,823
335.0
1.91
6.67
Source: Calculations by the Florida Regional Economic Analysis Project (FL-REAP)
with data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
November 2023
REAP_PI_CA1400_100_PSN
 
   
Page 11 of 13

Interactive TableTip: To augment your analysis click on the column headers in the following table to rank and/or sort the data.

   
 
United States:
Population, 1969-2022
 
1969
 
201,298,000
100.0
N
1970
 
203,798,722
101.2
1.24
1971
 
206,817,509
102.7
1.48
1972
 
209,274,882
104.0
1.19
1973
 
211,349,205
105.0
0.99
1974
 
213,333,635
106.0
0.94
1975
 
215,456,585
107.0
1.00
1976
 
217,553,859
108.1
0.97
1977
 
219,760,875
109.2
1.01
1978
 
222,098,244
110.3
1.06
1979
 
224,568,579
111.6
1.11
1980
 
227,224,719
112.9
1.18
1981
 
229,465,744
114.0
0.99
1982
 
231,664,432
115.1
0.96
1983
 
233,792,014
116.1
0.92
1984
 
235,824,907
117.2
0.87
1985
 
237,923,734
118.2
0.89
1986
 
240,132,831
119.3
0.93
1987
 
242,288,936
120.4
0.90
1988
 
244,499,004
121.5
0.91
1989
 
246,819,222
122.6
0.95
1990
 
249,622,814
124.0
1.14
1991
 
252,980,941
125.7
1.35
1992
 
256,514,224
127.4
1.40
1993
 
259,918,588
129.1
1.33
1994
 
263,125,821
130.7
1.23
1995
 
266,278,393
132.3
1.20
1996
 
269,394,284
133.8
1.17
1997
 
272,646,925
135.4
1.21
1998
 
275,854,104
137.0
1.18
1999
 
279,040,168
138.6
1.15
2000
 
282,162,411
140.2
1.12
2001
 
284,968,955
141.6
0.99
2002
 
287,625,193
142.9
0.93
2003
 
290,107,933
144.1
0.86
2004
 
292,805,298
145.5
0.93
2005
 
295,516,599
146.8
0.93
2006
 
298,379,912
148.2
0.97
2007
 
301,231,207
149.6
0.96
2008
 
304,093,966
151.1
0.95
2009
 
306,771,529
152.4
0.88
2010
 
309,378,433
153.7
0.85
2011
 
311,841,632
154.9
0.80
2012
 
314,344,331
156.2
0.80
2013
 
316,735,375
157.3
0.76
2014
 
319,270,047
158.6
0.80
2015
 
321,829,327
159.9
0.80
2016
 
324,367,742
161.1
0.79
2017
 
326,623,063
162.3
0.70
2018
 
328,542,157
163.2
0.59
2019
 
330,233,102
164.1
0.51
2020
 
331,511,512
164.7
0.39
2021
 
332,031,554
164.9
0.16
2022
 
333,287,557
165.6
0.38
Source: Calculations by the Florida Regional Economic Analysis Project (FL-REAP)
with data provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis
November 2023
REAP_PI_CA1400_100_PN
 
   
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