Immigration has dominated recent public discourse about Florida, whether it be the opening of Alligator Alcatraz, or Gov. Ron DeSantis declaring an “immigration emergency”.

The monthly Current Population Survey shows a dramatic drop but the data is less reliable than other Census tools.

Demographers expect deaths to have risen sharply, as the COVID-19 virus swept through China's 1.41 billion population early last year after Beijing unexpectedly removed restrictions in December 2022.

As demographers, we can say it is likely that both Biden and Trump will be alive when the presidential term that begins in 2025 comes to an end in 2029.

As demographers – that is, people who count people – we’ve noticed that this conversation has proceeded largely without the benefit of a clear description of Florida’s immigrant population.

At 65%, its urbanisation rate is lower than the 80-90% rates in Japan or South Korea - and this could give it room for manoeuvre, demographers say.

By 2050 those figures are expected to reach 520m and 38%. Yet demographers describe China’s future as greyer—and smaller. While its older cohorts are growing, younger ones are not (see chart).