Situated on the Gulf of Mexico at the base of the Mississippi River Delta, the Cotton Belt state of Louisiana is home to approximately 4,695,071 people as of 2023, or 1.39% of the U.S. population. The "Pelican State" ranks 25th in the United States in terms of population and 31st in area, for a 26th-place population density of 109 people per square mile (mi²), a bit higher than the national average of 96 people/mi².
Louisiana's population has grown by 3.57% since the 2010 nationwide census, a percentage increase lower than that of 40 other states. Louisiana was one of 11 regions (of 52 total: the 50 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico) whose population decreased from 2018 to 2019, though all but three (West Virginia, Mississippi, and Illinois) have since returned to positive growth.
New Orleans is Louisiana's largest city, home to roughly 396,048 residents. The second-largest city is Baton Rouge, the state capital, with 226,864 residents. A Bible Belt state and the namesake of the Louisiana Purchase, Louisiana is also one of the thirteen states that seceded during the buildup to the American Civil War.
Louisiana, created chiefly, but not entirely, from land bought from France in the Louisiana Purchase, became a state in April 1812. Louisiana seceded from the Union during the Civil War and did not participate in the 1864 election. The state's electoral votes were rejected in 1872 due to irregularities. Due to outward migration after Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana lost one electoral vote after the 2010 Census. Like many southern states, Louisiana voted Democratic from Reconstruction through World War II. Although perceived as solidly Republican today (Donald Trump won by nearly 20% over Joe Biden in 2020), Louisiana has voted Democratic three times since 1976 when the nominee of that party was a Southern governor. Jimmy Carter won there in 1976, as did Bill Clinton in 1992 and 1996.
The Louisiana population comprises a wide and diverse mix of people. By the end of 2016, it had grown to 4,670,724, a modest rise over the previous year. Louisiana currently has a population growth rate of 0.75% annually, which ranks 27th in the country.
According to a 2022 study from the U.S. Census Bureau, this state's local governments consist of 60 counties, 304 cities, towns, and villages, and 101 special districts.[1]
Four parishes—Orleans, Terrebonne, East Baton Rouge, and Lafayette—operate as a consolidated government with municipalities.
Louisiana's median age is 36.2, and the state has a majority of females, 51.1% of the population, and 48.9% of males.
In terms of religious preferences, Louisiana strongly leans towards Christianity. 84% of the population is affiliated with a Christian-based faith, while 2% are affiliated with non-Christian faiths. This leaves 13% of the population unaffiliated with any particular religion.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Louisiana was:
White: 60.25%
Black or African American: 31.91%
Two or more races: 3.81%
Asian: 1.73%
Other race: 1.71%
Native American: 0.55%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.05%
Muslims are under 35,000 or 0.5%
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