How many Brazilians live in Florida today is a question that doesn't have a single answer, and understanding why this is the case is the first step to truly knowing this community. Depending on the source consulted, the number varies from just over 113 to almost 460 people.
This enormous difference is neither a mistake nor an exaggeration. It shows how two distinct methodologies perceive the same reality: the official United States census and the consular estimates from the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty).
In this article you will understand where these numbers come from, why they diverge so much, and in which cities in Florida the Brazilian presence is strongest today.
How many Brazilians live in Florida according to the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs?
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs periodically publishes the survey "Brazilian Communities Abroad," compiled from reports submitted by embassies and consulates worldwide.
According to the most recent edition, approximately 4,9 million Brazilians live outside the country, an increase of about 400 people compared to the previous year. The United States accounts for nearly 1,9 million of this diaspora, almost 40% of the total.
Within the US, Florida appears as the state with the highest concentration of Brazilians, ahead of Massachusetts and California. Estimates range between 390 and 458 Brazilians living in the state, equivalent to about 22% of the entire Brazilian community in the United States.
In practice, this means that for every five Brazilians who decide to start a new life in America, at least one chooses Florida as their new home.
Why does the American census show a much lower number?
The American Community Survey (ACS), conducted by the United States Census Bureau, arrives at a much more modest number: 113.915 people born in Brazil living in Florida, according to the most recent survey.
This total represents 21,2% of all Brazilians counted by the census nationwide, confirming Florida as the state with the highest concentration. Even so, this is a very different scale from the estimate made by the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty).
The explanation lies in the methodology. The census relies on voluntary household surveys, and a large portion of Brazilians in Florida live in an irregular immigration situation. These families tend to avoid any contact with official surveys for fear of exposure.
The Brazilian Foreign Ministry itself acknowledges this limitation in its reports. Since a large portion of Brazilians abroad avoid registering with consulates or responding to censuses, diplomatic posts rely on projections based on passport issuance, consular registrations, and visa processing.
In practice, the most honest answer to "how many Brazilians live in Florida" is this: at least 113, verifiably, but probably between 300 and 460, including those who do not appear in official statistics.
Where are Brazilians concentrated within the state?
According to the Migration Policy Institute, five counties concentrate a large portion of the Brazilian immigrant population in the United States, four of which are in Florida:
- Broward County: the largest Brazilian community in the state, with approximately 24,5 residents registered by the census.
- Orange County (Orlando area): approximately 19,8 according to the census, with a much higher unofficial presence.
- Miami-Dade County: approximately 15,3 residents
- Palm Beach County: among the five counties with the most Brazilians in the entire country.
Together, Broward, Orange, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach, plus Middlesex County in Massachusetts, account for 23% of the entire Brazilian immigrant population in the United States.
In terms of cities, Deerfield Beach leads with approximately 7,5 Brazilians according to the census, followed by Orlando (7,1) and Pompano Beach (3,8).
Orlando, the unofficial capital of Brazilians in Florida.
No city in Florida better illustrates Brazilian growth than Orlando. While the census indicates approximately 19,8 Brazilians in Orange County, estimates from the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs cited in the press reach 170 people in the region.
This large difference reinforces the weight of the Brazilian population, which does not appear in official statistics in cities like this one. Between July 2023 and July 2024, the Orlando metropolitan area received approximately 76 new residents, a growth rate of 2,7% per year, above the state average.
The effect is visible on the streets. International Drive is home to dozens of bakeries, beauty salons, barbershops, and service providers specifically catering to the Brazilian public. More than 2 Brazilian businesses have opened in the area in the last decade alone.
In 2022, the Brazilian government inaugurated a vice-consulate in Orlando, an official recognition that the local community had become too large to depend solely on the Miami consulate. If you want to better understand this local market, it's worth checking out our complete overview of the Brazilian market in Orlando.
Miami and the strength of the community in the southern part of the state.
While Orlando is growing at a rapid pace, South Florida remains the historical cradle of Brazilian immigration to the state. Approximately 60% of Brazilians living in Florida are concentrated in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach.
Miami has established itself as the third largest metropolitan area in the United States with a Brazilian population, behind only New York and Greater Boston. The city serves as a gateway for new immigrants, both due to its cultural proximity to Latin America and its direct air links with Brazil.
This proximity also explains the tourism figures. Florida received 1,3 million Brazilian visitors in 2025, a 10% increase over 2024. About 60% of all Brazilians who travel to the United States choose Florida as their destination, and some of them end up returning later to live there.
If you're considering whether moving to the region is worthwhile, learn more about the Brazilian market in Miami before making your decision.
How does Florida compare to other US states?
Placing Florida in a national context, it becomes clear why the state is considered the top Brazilian destination in the U.S.:
- Florida: with between 390 and 458 Brazilians, it ranks first in population concentration.
- Massachusetts: between 240 and 390, second place.
- California: approximately 45 to 49 according to the census, with informal estimates higher.
- New Jersey: approximately 30
Together, Florida, California, Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey account for 63% of all Brazilians living in the United States, according to data from the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty).
It's worth emphasizing that this ranking has changed over the years. In older surveys, New York held the top spot. Today, Florida has taken that position, driven mainly by the rapid growth of Orlando.
Growth shows no signs of slowing down.
The numbers show a clear trend of expansion, not stabilization. Between 2015 and 2023, the Brazilian population abroad grew by more than 80%, driven by the search for work, education, and quality of life.
In the United States, this trend is also evident among highly qualified professionals. The number of Brazilians receiving EB-1 and EB-2 work visas hit a record high in 2024, reflecting the arrival of doctors, engineers, and technology professionals.
At the same time, it's important to maintain a balanced view. In 2025, deportations of Brazilians from the United States also reached record levels, a reminder that immigration to Florida involves both real opportunities and legal risks.
In other words, the community is growing, but immigration regularization remains the main challenge for those who decide to move to the state.
What do these numbers mean for those who already live in or are thinking of moving to?
For those already living in Florida, this data confirms something that daily life already shows: it's rare for a Brazilian to go a day without crossing paths with another Brazilian, whether at the supermarket, the gym, or in line at the consulate.
For those considering the change, the message is twofold. On one hand, a community of this size represents real support: more companies with customer service in Portuguese, more specialized services, and greater ease in the initial months of adaptation.
On the other hand, it also means more competition for jobs, housing, and places in private schools in the most sought-after regions, such as Orlando and South Florida.
Understanding the real numbers, and not just the "guesswork" circulating within the community, helps in making more informed decisions about where to live, when to move, and what to expect from life as a Brazilian in the Sunshine State.
