Louisiana Demographics 2026: Population, Income, Race & Trends Explained, Population Review

Population & Growth

Louisiana's 4,621,025 residents make it the 25th-most populous US state. Over the long term, the state has been gaining population — +177.6% from 1910 to 2024.

Population density: 107 people per square mile. By comparison, the US national average is roughly 94/sq mi, while New Jersey leads with ~1,260/sq mi and Alaska is the lowest at ~1.3/sq mi.

Race & Ethnicity

By Census ACS classification, Louisiana is:

58.0% White (alone)
31.1% Black or African American
0.0% Asian
1.8% Hispanic or Latino (any race)
0.0% two or more races

Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals can exceed 100% in some breakdowns. The full racial composition (including Native Hawaiian, American Indian, etc.) is available on the Louisiana state page.

Income & Economy

Median household income in Louisiana is $60,023, with per-capita income at $34,211. 14.2% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Unemployment rate: 3.7%.

Income is concentrated in metro counties — see the county-level rankings on the cities ranking page and counties ranking page for sub-state variation.

Age & Households

Median age in Louisiana: 37.8 years (US median ~39). The population is 49.0% male and 51.0% female.

Largest Cities in Louisiana

New Orleans city — population 376,035
Baton Rouge city — population 223,699
Shreveport city — population 183,483
Metairie Cdp — population 138,995
Lafayette city — population 121,537

Largest Counties in Louisiana

East Baton Rouge Parish — population 452,821
Jefferson Parish — population 432,484
Orleans Parish — population 376,035
St. Tammany Parish — population 269,331
Lafayette Parish — population 245,075

How Louisiana Compares Nationally

By population: ranked 25th of 50 states. By median household income: see the richest states ranking. By population growth: see fastest growing states. By cost of living: see cheapest states to live.

See the complete Louisiana state page with full demographic breakdown, age pyramid, languages, education, housing, and commute data →

Frequently Asked Questions

Louisiana has a population of 4,621,025 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, ranking 25th among the 50 states. Population density is 107 people per square mile.

Louisiana is gaining population, with a +177.6% change since 1910 (1,656,388 → 4,621,025). This is reported via Census ACS rolling 5-year estimates; for monthly/annual estimates between Census years, see the Census Population Estimates Program.

58.0% of Louisiana's population identifies as White, 31.1% as Black or African American, 0.0% as Asian, and 1.8% as Hispanic or Latino (any race). Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals may exceed 100%.

Median household income in Louisiana is $60,023 per the 2023 ACS. Per-capita income: $34,211. 14.2% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

The median age in Louisiana is 37.8 years. The population is 49.0% male and 51.0% female. Age distribution and population pyramids by 5-year age bands are visible on the Louisiana state page.

The largest cities in Louisiana by population: New Orleans city (376,035), Baton Rouge city (223,699), Shreveport city (183,483), Metairie Cdp (138,995), Lafayette city (121,537).

California is the most populous US state at roughly 39 million, followed by Texas (~30M), Florida (~22M), New York (~20M), and Pennsylvania (~13M). Louisiana ranks 25th. Detailed rankings update each ACS release cycle.

Across recent Census Population Estimates, West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Illinois have shown the largest sustained population declines. Louisiana's own trend is gaining. National state-by-state rankings are published annually by the Census Population Estimates Program.

All demographic data on this page comes from the US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, currently the 2023 release. Historical population figures use Census Population Estimates Program annual estimates. Data is public domain and freely available at census.gov.