Rank #25 by Population · Updated April 2026
Louisiana Population 2026
The population of Louisiana is 4,621,025 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 25th-most populous state in the United States. The median household income is $60,023, the median home value is $208,700, and the median age is 37.8.
Louisiana's population has grown 177.6% since 1910 (1,656,388 → 4,597,740).
4,621,025
Population
107
People / sq mi
$60,023
Median Income
37.8
Median Age
Louisiana covers 43,213 sq mi of land at a density of 106.9 people per square mile.
About Louisiana
The poverty rate is what most separates Louisiana from the typical US state: 14.2% of residents live below the federal poverty line, against 12.4% nationally. Louisiana is a US state with a population of 4,621,025. It ranks #25 among US states by population.
Money is tight relative to the rest of US states: the median household earns just $60,023, below the US median of $78,538. The poverty rate, 14.2%, is among the steepest of comparable US states and above the national 12.4%. Property is affordable here, the median home worth $208,700, with typical rent around $1,038.
Four-year-degree attainment is near the bottom of the range for US states, 26.6%, below the national 35.0%. Almost everyone commutes — only 7.2% work from home, below the national 14.0%, and the average commute runs about 26 minutes each way.
The elevated poverty rate is the context for the rest of the profile in Louisiana: it pulls on median income, housing tenure, and the share of residents with a college degree.
Louisiana, #25 by population
Louisiana Population History (1910-2024)
The state of Louisiana had a population of 1,656,388 in 1910 and 4,597,740 in 2024, a 2.8× growth over 114 years. The peak was 4,657,757 in 2020. Average annual growth rate: 0.62%.
4,597,740
Population (2024)
1,656,388
Population (1910)
4,657,757
Peak (2020)
0.62%
Avg Annual Growth
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1910 | 1,656,388 |
| 1920 | 1,798,509 |
| 1930 | 2,101,593 |
| 1940 | 2,363,880 |
| 1950 | 2,683,516 |
| 1960 | 3,257,022 |
| 1970 | 3,641,306 |
| 1980 | 4,205,900 |
| 1990 | 4,219,973 |
| 2000 | 4,468,976 |
| 2010 | 4,533,372 |
| 2020 | 4,657,757 |
| 2020 | 4,652,301 |
| 2021 | 4,627,971 |
| 2022 | 4,593,687 |
| 2023 | 4,588,071 |
| 2024 | 4,597,740 |
Age Distribution
Male: 49.0% · Female: 51.0%
Race & Ethnicity
| White | 58.0% |
| Black or African American | 31.1% |
| Asian | 0.0% |
| American Indian & Alaska Native | 0.6% |
| Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander | 0.1% |
| Two or More Races | 0.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.8% |
Economy & Income
$60,023
Median Household Income
$34,211
Per Capita Income
14.2%
Poverty Rate
3.7%
Unemployment Rate
$85,745
Mean Household Income
55.1%
Employment Rate
Cost of Living
Louisiana's overall price level is 88.2 on the BEA Regional Price Parity index (US average = 100), meaning prices are 11.8% lower the US average. Adjusting for cost of living, Louisiana's median household income of $60,023 has the buying power of $68,048 in average-priced areas.
88.2
Price Level (US = 100)
$68,048
COL-Adjusted Median Income
$60,023
Nominal Median Income
Education
86.9%
High School Graduate+
26.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
Births & Fertility
56,479
Live Births (2022)
12.2
Birth Rate (per 1,000)
45.3%
Births to Married Mothers
Births by Mother's Age
Births by Mother's Race
| White | 57.2% |
| Black or African American | 38.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 10.5% |
Housing
$208,700
Median Home Value
$1,038
Median Rent
2,094,002
Total Housing Units
67.3%
Owner-Occupied
32.7%
Renter-Occupied
14.8%
Vacant
Languages Spoken at Home
91.7% of Louisiana residents age 5+ speak only English at home. The most common non-English languages spoken at home in Louisiana:
| # | Language | Speakers | % of pop. 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spanish | 91,943 | 2.12% |
| 2 | Vietnamese | 11,813 | 0.27% |
| 3 | French (incl. Cajun) | 8,212 | 0.19% |
| 4 | Arabic | 4,869 | 0.11% |
| 5 | Chinese (incl. Mandarin, Cantonese) | 4,320 | 0.10% |
| 6 | Tagalog (incl. Filipino) | 1,495 | 0.03% |
| 7 | Portuguese | 1,316 | 0.03% |
| 8 | Thai, Lao, or other Tai-Kadai | 1,308 | 0.03% |
| 9 | Haitian | 1,059 | 0.02% |
| 10 | Urdu | 1,015 | 0.02% |
Commute
0.9%
Drive Alone
1.9%
Carpool
7.2%
Work From Home
25.8 min
Avg Commute
Largest Cities in Louisiana
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Orleans | 376,035 |
| 2 | Baton Rouge | 223,699 |
| 3 | Shreveport | 183,483 |
| 4 | Metairie | 138,995 |
| 5 | Lafayette | 121,537 |
| 6 | Lake Charles | 81,679 |
| 7 | Kenner | 65,113 |
| 8 | Bossier City | 62,832 |
| 9 | Monroe | 47,241 |
| 10 | Alexandria | 44,566 |
| 11 | Prairieville | 35,010 |
| 12 | Houma | 32,760 |
| 13 | Marrero | 31,866 |
| 14 | Central | 29,603 |
| 15 | Slidell | 28,664 |
| 16 | Laplace | 28,480 |
| 17 | New Iberia | 27,926 |
| 18 | Terrytown | 25,844 |
| 19 | Chalmette | 22,447 |
| 20 | Ruston | 22,224 |
Counties in Louisiana
| # | County | Population | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Baton Rouge Parish | 452,821 | $63,075 |
| 2 | Jefferson Parish | 432,484 | $65,246 |
| 3 | Orleans Parish | 376,035 | $55,339 |
| 4 | St. Tammany Parish | 269,331 | $79,277 |
| 5 | Lafayette Parish | 245,075 | $67,660 |
| 6 | Caddo Parish | 232,973 | $50,067 |
| 7 | Calcasieu Parish | 208,668 | $67,849 |
| 8 | Ouachita Parish | 158,916 | $51,241 |
| 9 | Livingston Parish | 145,583 | $78,617 |
| 10 | Tangipahoa Parish | 135,218 | $57,256 |
| 11 | Bossier Parish | 129,134 | $66,336 |
| 12 | Ascension Parish | 128,593 | $92,266 |
| 13 | Rapides Parish | 128,470 | $55,946 |
| 14 | Terrebonne Parish | 107,362 | $64,819 |
| 15 | Lafourche Parish | 96,670 | $63,439 |
| 16 | St. Landry Parish | 82,128 | $45,637 |
| 17 | Iberia Parish | 69,194 | $57,811 |
| 18 | Acadia Parish | 57,218 | $45,266 |
| 19 | Vermilion Parish | 57,031 | $57,537 |
| 20 | St. Charles Parish | 51,863 | $82,172 |
Compare Louisiana
Rankings for Louisiana
Read more about Louisiana
A complete guide to Louisiana demographics — population, race & ethnicity breakdown, income, age, growth trends, and how the state compares nationally.
Louisiana Demographics 2026: Population, Income, Race & Trends Explained →Metro areas in Louisiana
Congressional districts in Louisiana
Largest school districts in Louisiana
Other states
State rankings
Common questions about Louisiana
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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, making it the 25th-most populous state in the United States.
Louisiana is gaining population, with a +177.6% change over the available historical Census record. Louisiana's population has grown 177.6% since 1910 (1,656,388 → 4,597,740).
The median household income in Louisiana is $60,023, with a per capita income of $34,211. 14.2% of the population lives below the federal poverty level.
58.0% of Louisiana's population identifies as White (Census ACS 2023). 31.1% is Black or African American, 0.0% is Asian, and 1.8% is Hispanic or Latino (any race, counted separately under Census methodology).
Louisiana is 58.0% White, 31.1% Black or African American, 0.0% Asian, and 1.8% Hispanic or Latino (any race). Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals may exceed 100% in some breakdowns.
The median age in Louisiana is 37.8 years. The population is 49.0% male and 51.0% female.
Louisiana's population has grown 177.6% since 1910 (1,656,388 → 4,597,740).
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.
Demographic data from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates. Birth statistics from the CDC National Vital Statistics System via Data Commons. California does not report marital status on birth certificates. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.