My mapAll 546 citiesCities by stateCompare two citiesSee all: CitiesAll placesNational parksState parksZoos and aquariumsSee all: PlacesBest places to liveBest places to retireFor young professionalsSee all: RankingsCost of living calculatorTwin city finderWhere your salary goes furthestSee all: Tools and gamesSign in

Lakeland population

Lakeland, Florida had an estimated 125,520 residents on July 1, 2025, the 240th-largest city in the US. That is up 28.8% since the 2010 Census and up 48.2% since 2000.

LakelandFloridaPop. 125,520
Population, July 2025
125,520+11.5% since April 2020
People per sq mile
1,88566.6 sq mi of land
Median age
38.921.5% are 65 or older
Households with kids
24.6%with anyone under 18

Population by year, 2000 to 2025

71k85k98k112k126k2000: 84,69120002001: 85,2812002: 86,01220022003: 87,2602004: 88,97620042005: 91,6252006: 94,39020062007: 96,5532008: 97,31920082009: 97,3672010: 97,42220102011: 98,8612012: 99,02920122013: 100,3612014: 102,07420142015: 103,5962016: 105,89820162017: 107,7612018: 110,47620182019: 112,1232020: 112,60420202021: 117,4202022: 120,69320222023: 123,2212024: 124,88920242025: 125,5202025
Darker bars are the April 2000, 2010 and 2020 benchmarks; the rest are July 1 estimates. Source: US Census Bureau population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020 and Vintage 2025).
YearPopulationChangeBasis
2025125,520+631Estimate, July 1
2024124,889+1,668Estimate, July 1
2023123,221+2,528Estimate, July 1
2022120,693+3,273Estimate, July 1
2021117,420+4,816Estimate, July 1
2020112,604+481April 2020 estimates base
2019112,123+1,647Estimate, July 1
2018110,476+2,715Estimate, July 1
2017107,761+1,863Estimate, July 1
2016105,898+2,302Estimate, July 1
2015103,596+1,522Estimate, July 1
2014102,074+1,713Estimate, July 1
2013100,361+1,332Estimate, July 1
201299,029+168Estimate, July 1
201198,861+1,439Estimate, July 1
201097,422+552010 Census (April 1)
200997,367+48Estimate, July 1
200897,319+766Estimate, July 1
200796,553+2,163Estimate, July 1
200694,390+2,765Estimate, July 1
200591,625+2,649Estimate, July 1
200488,976+1,716Estimate, July 1
200387,260+1,248Estimate, July 1
200286,012+731Estimate, July 1
200185,281+590Estimate, July 1
200084,691April 2000 estimates base

Year-to-year changes across 2010 and 2020 mix census counts with estimates, so small jumps at those years are partly method changes.

Frequently asked questions

What is the population of Lakeland in 2025?

The Census Bureau estimates Lakeland had 125,520 residents on July 1, 2025, making it the 240th-largest city in the US.

Is Lakeland growing?

Yes. Lakeland has grown 28.8% since the 2010 Census (97,422 people), and grown 11.5% since 2020.

What was the population of Lakeland in 2000?

About 84,691 (the Census Bureau's April 2000 estimates base). By the 2010 Census it was 97,422.

How dense is Lakeland?

Lakeland has about 1,885 people per square mile of land (66.6 square miles).

More about Lakeland

See cost of living, jobs and commutes in Lakeland, Lakeland weather by month, or every Lakeland ZIP code. For the biggest cities in the country, see the largest US cities.