Lake Wales, FL Demographics

A map of Lake Wales's Population by Race

Lake Wales, Florida has an estimated population of 16,785, a slight increase from the 16,361 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 44.3% White, 30.8% Hispanic, 21.8% Black, 1.8% Multiracial, 1.1% Asian, and 0.2% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Lake Wales, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Lake Wales is about as racially diverse as it was in the 2020 Census. It is more 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 Lake Wales, that probability was 66.0% in 2020 and 66.1% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Lake Wales is ranked the 241st 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). Lake Wales was ranked the 237th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Lake Wales's White Population

7,436 residents of Lake Wales, or 44.3% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Lake Wales is lower than in Florida overall, where 50.4% of the population is White. Lake Wales ranks 696th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 956 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Lake Wales's White population has declined by an estimated 4.1%. White residents' share of Lake Wales's population has decreased from 47.4% to 44.3%.

Lake Wales is more White than neighboring Dundee (28% White). Lake Wales is less White than neighboring Highland Park (89.7% White), Waverly (91.4% White), Crooked Lake Park (57.1% White), and Babson Park (81.1% White).

Lake Wales's Black Population

3,652 residents of Lake Wales, or 21.8% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Lake Wales is higher than in Florida overall, where 14.6% of the population is Black. Lake Wales ranks 157th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 956 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Lake Wales's Black population has declined by an estimated 6.8%. Black residents' share of Lake Wales's population has decreased from 23.9% to 21.8%.

Lake Wales is more Black than neighboring Highland Park (0% Black), Waverly (0% Black), Crooked Lake Park (21.7% Black), Dundee (10.1% Black), and Babson Park (9.8% Black).

Lake Wales's Asian Population

186 residents of Lake Wales, or 1.1% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Lake Wales is comparable to the share in Florida overall, where 2.9% of the population is Asian. Lake Wales ranks 568th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 956 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Lake Wales's Asian population has grown by an estimated 11.4%. Asian residents' share of Lake Wales's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.1%.

Lake Wales is more Asian than neighboring Waverly (0% Asian), Crooked Lake Park (0% Asian), and Babson Park (0% Asian). Lake Wales is less Asian than neighboring Dundee (3.1% Asian).

Lake Wales's Hispanic Population

5,178 residents of Lake Wales, or 30.8% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Lake Wales is slightly higher than in Florida overall, where 27.4% of the population is Hispanic. Lake Wales ranks 266th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 956 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Lake Wales's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 32.2%. Hispanic residents' share of Lake Wales's population has increased from 23.9% to 30.8%.

Lake Wales is more Hispanic than neighboring Highland Park (2.5% Hispanic), Waverly (8.6% Hispanic), Crooked Lake Park (19.3% Hispanic), and Babson Park (9.1% Hispanic). Lake Wales is less Hispanic than neighboring Dundee (55.9% Hispanic).

Lake Wales's Native American/Other Population

34 residents of Lake Wales, or 0.2% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Lake Wales is comparable to the share in Florida overall, where 0.8% of the population is Native American/Other. Lake Wales ranks 668th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 956 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Lake Wales's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 63.4%. Native American/Other residents' share of Lake Wales's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.2%.

Lake Wales is more Native American/Other than neighboring Waverly (0% Native American/Other), Crooked Lake Park (0% Native American/Other), and Babson Park (0% Native American/Other). Lake Wales is less Native American/Other than neighboring Highland Park (3.9% Native American/Other), and Dundee (0.5% Native American/Other).

Lake Wales's Multiracial Population

299 residents of Lake Wales, or 1.8% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Lake Wales is comparable to the share in Florida overall, where 3.8% of the population is Multiracial. Lake Wales ranks 605th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 956 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Lake Wales's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 42.2%. Multiracial residents' share of Lake Wales's population has decreased from 3.2% to 1.8%.

Lake Wales is more Multiracial than neighboring Waverly (0% Multiracial), and Babson Park (0% Multiracial). Lake Wales is less Multiracial than neighboring Highland Park (2.8% Multiracial), Crooked Lake Park (2% Multiracial), and Dundee (2.4% 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.