Fort Myers, Florida Population 2023

105,260

Fort Myers is a city located in Lee County Florida. It is also the county seat of Lee County. With a 2023 population of 105,260, it is the 22nd largest city in Florida and the 299th largest city in the United States.Fort Myers is currently growing at a rate of 6.82% annually and its population has increased by 21.89% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 86,354 in 2020. Spanning over 49 miles, Fort Myers has a population density of 2,642 people per square mile.

The average household income in Fort Myers is $71,739 with a poverty rate of 18.92%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Fort Myers is 40.9 years, 40.5 years for males, and 42.2 years for females.

Fort Myers is located in the southwest region of Florida, and it is tourist hotspot for many reasons, including its beautiful beaches.

Fort Myers Population and Economy

The city’s economy is centered on the retail, healthcare and accommodation industries. Over 80% of adults in the city have graduated from high school, while nearly one-quarter have a college education.

Fort Myers Population Growth

Fort Myers has seen incredible growth to its population throughout its history. A community of just 575 people at the time of the 1890 census bounced to over 2,400 residents in 1910. By the 1940 census, the city had over 10,000 residents, more than doubling this number in 1960. Recent estimates show that the city is still on the upward trajectory, with a population growth of almost 24% since the 2010 census. With these growth rates, the city is well on its way to reaching 100,000 residents soon.

During the American Indian Wars in the 1830s, the U.S. built Fort Myers as a base against the Seminole Indians. The founding of the city did not occur until after the Civil War. It was founded in 1866 by Manuel Gonzalez. Gonzalez became familiar with the area while delivering mail and supplies to the fort, and when it was abandoned later, he returned with his wife and child, along with his friend and his family.

The first trading post was established near the old fort. Goods including tobacco and gun powder were traded with the Seminole tribe. It was during this time that a community began to form, although it stayed quite small.

The late 19th century would bring about more significant growth. People that resided in the northern states were traveling to Florida during the winter months. The town had reached a total population of just 349 in 1885, the year that it was incorporated. In 1898, the Royal Palm Hotel was built, attracting tourists during the winter. The city continued to flourish as the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad offered greater access in the early 1900s. Development continued in the growing area, including the construction of the Arcade Theater in 1908.

It was during the 1920s that the Edison Botanic Research Corporation was established in Fort Myers. This facility was used by resident Thomas Alva Edison to research exotic trees and plants. Another famous resident was Henry Ford, known for Ford automobiles, who lived next door to Edison. The city’s population continued to climb with the construction of the Edison Bridge, which was opened in 1931. The next decade brought about even more growth with the addition of subdivisions.

In recent years, the city continues to grow and thrive. The homes of Edison and Ford are now open to the public and are popular tourist attractions. The city also has many restaurants, shopping centers, nightclubs, and of course beautiful beaches which bring in new residents and tourists year after year.

Fort Myers Demographics

According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Fort Myers was:

  • White: 61.7%
  • Black or African American: 23.32%
  • Other race: 6.88%
  • Two or more races: 5.55%
  • Asian: 2.25%
  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.17%
  • Native American: 0.13%
The current population of Fort Myers, Florida is 105,260 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates.The last official US Census in 2020 recorded the population at 86,354.

Fort Myers, Florida Population 2023

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Fort Myers Metro Area Population by Year

Population by Race

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White

Black or African American

Other race

Two or more races

Asian

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Native American

Fort Myers Population by Race

Fort Myers Population Pyramid 2023

Fort Myers Median Age

40.9

Total

40.5

Male

42.2

Female

Fort Myers Adults

There are 66,236 adults, (18,541 of whom are seniors) in Fort Myers.

Fort Myers Age Dependency

75.1

Age Dependency Ratio

38.9

Old Age Dependency Ratio

36.2

Child Dependency Ratio

Fort Myers Sex Ratio

Female43,21351.75%
Male40,29248.25%

Fort Myers Population by Age

Fort Myers Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

3.33

Average Family Size

2.53

Average Household Size

48.2%

Rate of Home Ownership

Married

Male

Female

NonFamily

owner

renter

Fort Myers Households and Families

Male

Female

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Less Than 9th Grade

9th to 12th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Associates Degree

Bachelors Degree

Graduate Degree

Fort Myers Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)

Fort Myers Educational Attainment by Race

High School Graduation Rate

Bachelors Rate

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The highest rate of high school graduation is among native american people with a rate of 98.17%.

The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among native american people with a rate of 79.82%.

Fort Myers Educational Attainment by Race

All

Male

Female

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$32,007

Average Earnings

$34,249

Average Male

$29,980

Average Female

Fort Myers Earnings by Educational Attainment

Fort Myers Language by Age

Only English

Spanish

Other Indo-European Languages

Asian and Pacific Island Languages

Other Languages

Fort Myers Language

72.95% of Fort Myers residents speak only English, while 27.05% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 19.64% of the population.

Fort Myers Language

Fort Myers Poverty by Race

rate

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18.92%

Overall Poverty Rate

13.91%

Male Poverty Rate

17.96%

Female Poverty Rate

Poverty in Fort Myers

The race most likely to be in poverty in Fort Myers is Islander, with 38.38% below the poverty level.

The race least likely to be in poverty in Fort Myers is Asian, with 7.25% below the poverty level.

The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 3.67%. Among those working part-time, it was 17.13%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 20.85%.

Fort Myers Poverty

rate

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Fort Myers Poverty Rate by Education

rate

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Fort Myers Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

Fort Myers Income by Household Type

Households

Families

MarriedFamilies

NonFamilies

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mean

median

Income by Household Type

Fort Myers Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Marriage Rates

42.6%

Overall Marriage Rate

44.2%

Male Marriage Rate

41.1%

Female Marriage Rate

Fort Myers Married by Age and Sex

male

female

Fort Myers Marriage

The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 45-54.

Fort Myers Marital Status by Race

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Fort Myers Marital Status

Second Gulf War

First Gulf War

Vietnam

Korea

World War II

4,143

Number of Veterans

3,754

Male Veterans

389

Female Veterans

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Fort Myers Veterans by War

count

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Fort Myers Veterans by Age

count

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Fort Myers Veterans by Race

Fort Myers Veterans by Education

Less Than 9th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Bachelors or Greater

8.96%

Veteran Poverty Rate

21.76%

Veteran Disability Rate

Fort Myers Veterans by Education

LaborForceParticipation

54.9%

Labor Force Participation

52.5%

Employment Rate

4.5%

Unemployment Rate

Fort Myers Employment by Age

LaborForceParticipation

Fort Myers Employment by Race

LaborForceParticipation

Fort Myers Employment by Education

Origin of Non-Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.

Origin of Naturalized Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

33.84%

Born in Fort Myers

78.82%

Native Born

17.88%

Foreign Born

10.07%

Non Citizen

7.81%

Naturalized

Place of Birth

78.82% of Fort Myers residents were born in the United States, with 33.84% having been born in Florida. 10.07% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.

Fort Myers Place of Birth

Note: data after 2021 is projected based on recent change
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Fort Myers Population by Year