Florida is known for being one of the biggest states, but this reputation actually comes from the state's population, not its area. Florida is slightly bigger than the average state, as it ranks 22nd by area. Its total area is 65,758 square miles. A relatively high 18.5% of Florida's area is covered by water. This includes the Everglades in the southern tip of the state, which are the largest tropical wilderness in the country and one of the largest tropical wildernesses in the Americas.
How big is Florida by population?
While Florida is only slightly bigger than average when it comes to area, it has one of the largest populations of any state. In fact, Florida is the 3rd most populous state in America. The only states with larger populations than Florida are California and Texas. Florida's population is estimated at over 21 million, and it is growing rapidly.
Florida's most populous city is Jacksonville, with an estimated population of 949,611. There are over 1.6 million people in the Jacksonville area. However, the Miami metro area is the state's most populous area, with a population of well over 6 million people.