Ocala, Florida FAQ: City of Ocala Population and More

By the Only In Ocala editorial team. Last updated November 6, 2026. Read our editorial guidelines. AI tools helped gather the sources and draft this page; each fact was checked against those sources before publishing. For a city overview, see the Ocala, Florida city guide.

What is the population of the city of Ocala?

The city of Ocala, Florida had an estimated 71,753 residents on July 1, 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Vintage 2025 population estimates. That is 12.7 percent above the April 1, 2020 estimates base of 63,663. The official 2020 Census count for the city was 63,591, up from 56,315 in 2010.

• The city grew by 7,276 residents between the 2010 and 2020 Censuses and an estimated 8,090 more between the April 2020 estimates base and July 2025.
• The Census Bureau lists the city's land area as 47.26 square miles in 2020, or about 1,346 people per square mile.
• The Census Bureau counted 27,152 households in the city for 2020-2024, averaging 2.34 people each.
• Marion County's population is separate from the city's: most county residents live outside the city limits. Marion County grew an estimated 17.8 percent between April 2020 and July 2025.

Sources: Census Bureau QuickFacts for Ocala city, Florida and Marion County, Florida. Growth by neighborhood, the metro area and demographics are on the Ocala population and growth page. Racial, age and education figures for the city are in the demographics answer below.

What is Ocala known for?

Ocala is best known as horse country. A 2023 American Horse Council study, summarized by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association, counted about 75,000 horses and ponies in Marion County, more than any other U.S. county. Visitors also know Ocala for Silver Springs State Park's glass-bottom boats and the Ocala National Forest's 600-plus lakes and rivers.

• Horse country: the same study puts horse use on about 210,000 acres, roughly 20 percent of the county, and reports a total economic impact above $4.3 billion, about 22 percent of the county's gross domestic product, and about 28,500 jobs. See Ocala horse country.
• Silver Springs State Park: Florida State Parks describes the park as home to one of America's largest springs, with glass-bottom boat tours of the Silver River and more than 30 documented springs in its upper reaches.
• Ocala National Forest: the U.S. Forest Service lists more than 600 lakes and rivers for swimming, fishing, snorkeling, canoeing and boating.

Sources: Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association, Florida State Parks and the U.S. Forest Service. More things to see are on the things to do in Ocala page.