Florida has moved up to become the world’s 15th largest economy, according to an announcement from the Florida Chamber Foundation. The news was shared during the Future of Florida Forum and the Florida Chamber Annual Meeting in Orlando, where a preview of the upcoming Florida 2030 Blueprint Halftime Report was presented.
“When we launched the Florida 2030 Blueprint, Florida ranked 18th in the world,” said Mark Wilson, President & CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Foundation. “Today, we are 15th and gaining ground on Australia. This is the direct result of years of laser focus on free enterprise, principled leadership, smart policy decisions, and business and community leaders working together to secure Florida’s future. Florida’s rise is not just a state story. It is a global story.”
The initial findings from the Halftime Report indicate progress in several economic areas since the introduction of the Blueprint. Key achievements include growth in high-wage jobs, expansion of the workforce—which now exceeds 10 million workers—and reductions in childhood poverty through initiatives like the Florida Prosperity Initiative.
Other rankings highlighted by the Foundation show that Florida leads or ranks near the top nationally for new business start-ups, business climate, manufacturing job growth, net income migration, and minority-owned businesses. For example, it holds first place for Black-owned businesses and second place for Hispanic- and women-owned businesses. Since launching its Blueprint strategy, more than 155,000 fewer children are living in poverty in Florida.
“Florida’s economic success is no accident,” said Sheridan Morby, Senior Research Economist at the Florida Chamber Foundation. “It is the result of businesses, government, and communities working toward a shared vision. The data show clear progress toward making Florida a top 10 global economy by 2030.”
To support planning efforts across industries and communities as these trends continue to develop, business leaders are invited to attend a virtual event—the 2026 Florida Economic Outlook & Jobs Solution Summit—scheduled for January 29, 2026. The summit will feature economists and industry experts discussing how shifts in global leadership could affect local businesses.
The Foundation noted that while recent figures suggested that Florida had surpassed South Korea economically this year based on GDP comparisons, South Korea’s latest data has yet to be updated; monitoring will continue as new information becomes available.
The Florida Chamber Foundation describes itself as a statewide organization focused on research and leadership with an aim to improve long-term prosperity for Floridians through strategies such as talent development and infrastructure investment.
