DeSoto County Demographics

A map of DeSoto County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	19,441	18,624	54.9%	54.8%
Hispanic	10,635	10,011	30.1%	29.5%
Black	4,365	4,203	12.3%	12.4%
Multiracial	749	781	2.1%	2.3%
Native American/Other	163	168	0.5%	0.5%
Asian	33	189	0.1%	0.6%

DeSoto County, Florida has an estimated population of 35,386, an increase from the 33,976 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 54.9% White, 30.1% Hispanic, 12.3% Black, 2.1% Multiracial, 0.5% Native American/Other, and 0.1% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of DeSoto County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

DeSoto is about as racially diverse as it was in the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Florida overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In DeSoto County, that probability was 59.7% in 2020 and 59.2% in the most recent ACS estimates.

DeSoto County is ranked the 49th most populous county in Florida, out of 67 counties. DeSoto County was ranked the 48th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

DeSoto County's White Population

19,441 residents of DeSoto County, or 54.9% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in DeSoto County is slightly higher than in Florida overall, where 50.4% of the population is White. DeSoto County ranks 53rd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 67 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, DeSoto County's White population has grown by an estimated 4.4%. White residents' share of DeSoto County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 54.9%.

DeSoto County is more White than neighboring Hardee County (46.4% White). DeSoto County is less White than neighboring Charlotte County (81.3% White), Highlands County (63.1% White), Sarasota County (80% White), and Lee County (62% White).

DeSoto County's Black Population

4,365 residents of DeSoto County, or 12.3% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in DeSoto County is slightly lower than in Florida overall, where 14.6% of the population is Black. DeSoto County ranks 27th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 67 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, DeSoto County's Black population has grown by an estimated 3.9%. Black residents' share of DeSoto County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 12.3%.

DeSoto County is more Black than neighboring Hardee County (7.2% Black), Charlotte County (5% Black), Highlands County (9.3% Black), Sarasota County (3.9% Black), and Lee County (7.6% Black).

DeSoto County's Asian Population

33 residents of DeSoto County, or 0.1% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in DeSoto County is slightly lower than in Florida overall, where 2.9% of the population is Asian. DeSoto County ranks 50th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 67 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, DeSoto County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 82.5%. Asian residents' share of DeSoto County's population has decreased from 0.6% to 0.1%.

DeSoto County is less Asian than neighboring Hardee County (1.1% Asian), Charlotte County (1.3% Asian), Highlands County (1.5% Asian), Sarasota County (1.9% Asian), and Lee County (1.7% Asian).

DeSoto County's Hispanic Population

10,635 residents of DeSoto County, or 30.1% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in DeSoto County is slightly higher than in Florida overall, where 27.4% of the population is Hispanic. DeSoto County ranks 7th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 67 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, DeSoto County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 6.2%. Hispanic residents' share of DeSoto County's population has increased from 29.5% to 30.1%.

DeSoto County is more Hispanic than neighboring Charlotte County (8.2% Hispanic), Highlands County (22.2% Hispanic), Sarasota County (10.7% Hispanic), and Lee County (24.7% Hispanic). DeSoto County is less Hispanic than neighboring Hardee County (42.3% Hispanic).

DeSoto County's Native American/Other Population

163 residents of DeSoto County, or 0.5% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in DeSoto County is comparable to the share in Florida overall, where 0.8% of the population is Native American/Other. DeSoto County ranks 63rd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 67 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, DeSoto County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 3.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of DeSoto County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.5%.

DeSoto County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Hardee County (0.3% Native American/Other). DeSoto County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Charlotte County (0.6% Native American/Other), Highlands County (0.8% Native American/Other), Sarasota County (0.7% Native American/Other), and Lee County (0.8% Native American/Other).

DeSoto County's Multiracial Population

749 residents of DeSoto County, or 2.1% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in DeSoto County is comparable to the share in Florida overall, where 3.8% of the population is Multiracial. DeSoto County ranks 59th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 67 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, DeSoto County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 4.1%. Multiracial residents' share of DeSoto County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.1%.

DeSoto County is less Multiracial than neighboring Hardee County (2.6% Multiracial), Charlotte County (3.5% Multiracial), Highlands County (3.1% Multiracial), Sarasota County (2.9% Multiracial), and Lee County (3.2% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.