Fort Walton Beach, FL Demographics

A map of Fort Walton Beach's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	13,458	13,777	64.0%	65.8%
Hispanic	2,743	2,444	13.0%	11.7%
Black	2,431	2,284	11.6%	10.9%
Multiracial	1,242	1,382	5.9%	6.6%
Asian	832	828	4.0%	4.0%
Native American/Other	319	207	1.5%	1.0%

Fort Walton Beach, Florida has an estimated population of 21,025, a less than 1% change from the 20,922 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 64.0% White, 13.0% Hispanic, 11.6% Black, 5.9% Multiracial, 4.0% Asian, and 1.5% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Fort Walton Beach, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Fort Walton Beach has become more racially diverse since 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 Fort Walton Beach, that probability was 53.5% in 2020 and 55.5% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Fort Walton Beach is ranked the 198th most populous place in Florida, out of 956 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Fort Walton Beach was ranked the 199th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Fort Walton Beach's White Population

13,458 residents of Fort Walton Beach, or 64.0% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Fort Walton Beach is considerably higher than in Florida overall, where 50.4% of the population is White. Fort Walton Beach ranks 503rd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 956 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Fort Walton Beach's White population has declined by an estimated 2.3%. White residents' share of Fort Walton Beach's population has decreased from 65.8% to 64.0%.

Fort Walton Beach is more White than neighboring Wright (51.3% White), and Shalimar (63.2% White). Fort Walton Beach is less White than neighboring Cinco Bayou (79.8% White), Ocean City (65.3% White), and Mary Esther (76.1% White).

Fort Walton Beach's Black Population

2,431 residents of Fort Walton Beach, or 11.6% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Fort Walton Beach is slightly lower than in Florida overall, where 14.6% of the population is Black. Fort Walton Beach ranks 323rd statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 956 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Fort Walton Beach's Black population has grown by an estimated 6.4%. Black residents' share of Fort Walton Beach's population has increased from 10.9% to 11.6%.

Fort Walton Beach is more Black than neighboring Cinco Bayou (2.8% Black), Ocean City (5.3% Black), Mary Esther (5.7% Black), and Shalimar (6.2% Black). Fort Walton Beach is less Black than neighboring Wright (14.2% Black).

Fort Walton Beach's Asian Population

832 residents of Fort Walton Beach, or 4.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Fort Walton Beach is comparable to the share in Florida overall, where 2.9% of the population is Asian. Fort Walton Beach ranks 114th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 956 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Fort Walton Beach's Asian population has remained roughly the same. Asian residents' share of Fort Walton Beach's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.0%.

Fort Walton Beach is more Asian than neighboring Cinco Bayou (1.5% Asian), Ocean City (2.8% Asian), and Mary Esther (3.4% Asian). Fort Walton Beach is less Asian than neighboring Wright (4.8% Asian), and Shalimar (4.9% Asian).

Fort Walton Beach's Hispanic Population

2,743 residents of Fort Walton Beach, or 13.0% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Fort Walton Beach is considerably lower than in Florida overall, where 27.4% of the population is Hispanic. Fort Walton Beach ranks 485th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 956 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Fort Walton Beach's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 12.2%. Hispanic residents' share of Fort Walton Beach's population has increased from 11.7% to 13.0%.

Fort Walton Beach is more Hispanic than neighboring Cinco Bayou (4.9% Hispanic), and Mary Esther (7.4% Hispanic). Fort Walton Beach is less Hispanic than neighboring Ocean City (19.8% Hispanic), Wright (21.9% Hispanic), and Shalimar (18.5% Hispanic).

Fort Walton Beach's Native American/Other Population

319 residents of Fort Walton Beach, or 1.5% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Fort Walton Beach is comparable to the share in Florida overall, where 0.8% of the population is Native American/Other. Fort Walton Beach ranks 253rd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 956 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Fort Walton Beach's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 54.1%. Native American/Other residents' share of Fort Walton Beach's population has increased from 1.0% to 1.5%.

Fort Walton Beach is more Native American/Other than neighboring Ocean City (0.1% Native American/Other), Wright (0.7% Native American/Other), Mary Esther (0.6% Native American/Other), and Shalimar (1.2% Native American/Other). Fort Walton Beach is less Native American/Other than neighboring Cinco Bayou (1.6% Native American/Other).

Fort Walton Beach's Multiracial Population

1,242 residents of Fort Walton Beach, or 5.9% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Fort Walton Beach is slightly higher than in Florida overall, where 3.8% of the population is Multiracial. Fort Walton Beach ranks 50th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 956 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Fort Walton Beach's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 10.1%. Multiracial residents' share of Fort Walton Beach's population has decreased from 6.6% to 5.9%.

Fort Walton Beach is less Multiracial than neighboring Cinco Bayou (9.4% Multiracial), Ocean City (6.7% Multiracial), Wright (7% Multiracial), Mary Esther (6.8% Multiracial), and Shalimar (6% 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.