French Quarter balconies and St. Louis Cathedral
County in Louisiana

Orleans Parish

Orleans Parish has the most expensive homes in Louisiana (median value $315,700) and the highest share of college graduates (42.4% of adults).

Orleans Parish is home to 362,701 people (2024 estimate) on 170 square miles of land. This page brings together official U.S. Census Bureau population estimates since 2000, the components of change—births, deaths and migration—American Community Survey indicators on income, housing, poverty and education, BEA economic accounts and BLS unemployment.

Key indicators

Population
362,701
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
384,130
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
−5.6%
2020–2024
Land area
170 mi²
439 km²
Population density
2,139.8 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
3,809
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
3,610
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
+199
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
−2,678
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$71,513
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$30.8 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$56,631
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
22.6%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
42.4%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
6.6%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$315,700
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
4.9%
BLS annual average, 2024

Historical data

Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.

Population

2000–2024
362,701▼ 25%

U.S. Census Bureau: intercensal estimates 2000–2009, Vintage 2020 (2010–2019) and Vintage 2024 (2020–2024), July 1.

Data summary

IndicatorValueYear and source
Population estimate362,7012024 · U.S. Census Bureau
Population, 2010 Census343,8292010 · U.S. Census Bureau
Population, 2000485,610July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal
Change since 2000−25.3%2000–2024 · Census
International migration+2,2722024 · Census Vintage 2024
Domestic migration−4,9502024 · Census Vintage 2024
Birth rate10.5 per 1,0002024 · calculated
Death rate10.0 per 1,0002024 · calculated
Population rank in Louisiana3rd of 642024 · calculated
Per capita personal income$71,513BEA, 2024 · official
Gross domestic product$30.8 billionBEA, current dollars, 2024 · official
Median household income$56,631ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Poverty rate22.6%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Bachelor’s degree or higher42.4%Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Foreign-born residents6.6%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median home value$315,700ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median gross rent$1,251/monthACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median age38.8 yearsACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Households155,821ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Owner-occupied homes51.2%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official

Orleans Parish in context

Comparable indicators for Orleans Parish, Louisiana and the United States.

IndicatorCountyLouisianaU.S.Reference
Population change 2020–2024−5.6%−1.3%+2.6%Census Vintage 2024
Birth rate (per 1,000)10.511.710.62024
Death rate (per 1,000)10.010.89.12024
Net migration rate (per 1,000)-7.41.28.22024
Population density (/mi²)2139.8106.496.32024
Per capita personal income$71,513$61,897$73,204BEA, 2024
Median household income$56,631$60,756$80,734ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate22.6%18.9%12.5%ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher42.4%27.0%35.7%Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents6.6%4.9%14.1%ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value$315,700$216,500$332,700ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median gross rent$1,251/month$1,064/month$1,413/monthACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median age38.8 years38.0 years38.9 yearsACS 2020–2024 5-year
Owner-occupied homes51.2%67.4%65.2%ACS 2020–2024 5-year

Cities & towns

1 city · choose how to order them

Did you know? Orleans Parish

3rd most populous of 64

With 362,701 residents in 2024, Orleans Parish ranks 3rd by population among Louisiana's 64 counties and is home to 7.9% of the state's residents.

A quarter century of change

Its population went from 485,610 in 2000 to 362,701 in 2024, a change of −25.3%, compared with +2.8% for Louisiana as a whole.

Births and deaths

In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 3,809 births and 3,610 deaths, so births outnumbered deaths by 199.

Peak population in 2005

Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population at 494,294 in 2005. The 2024 figure is 131,593 lower.

1st in density

Orleans Parish has about 2139.8 residents per square mile of land, ranking 1st of 64 counties; Louisiana averages 106.4.

Household income rank

With a median household income of $56,631 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 28th of 64 Louisiana counties; the state median is $60,756.

Size of the economy

Its economy produced $30.8 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 3rd largest among 64 Louisiana counties.

Latest economic growth

Real GDP grew 0.9% in 2024, adjusted for inflation (BEA, chained 2017 dollars).

Sources and methodology