8th most populous of 64
With 157,874 residents in 2024, Ouachita Parish ranks 8th by population among Louisiana's 64 counties and is home to 3.4% of the state's residents.
Ouachita Parish is home to 157,874 people (2024 estimate) on 610 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
157,874
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
160,366
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
−1.6%
2020–2024
Land area
610 mi²
1,581 km²
Population density
258.7 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
1,915
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
1,808
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
+107
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
+51
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$51,953
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$9.3 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$54,688
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
23.2%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
28.6%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
2.2%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$194,400
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
4.5%
BLS annual average, 2024
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Population
2000–2024157,874▲ 7%
U.S. Census Bureau: intercensal estimates 2000–2009, Vintage 2020 (2010–2019) and Vintage 2024 (2020–2024), July 1.
Data summary
| Indicator | Value | Year and source |
|---|---|---|
| Population estimate | 157,874 | 2024 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2010 Census | 153,720 | 2010 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2000 | 147,271 | July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal |
| Change since 2000 | +7.2% | 2000–2024 · Census |
| International migration | +405 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Domestic migration | −354 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate | 12.1 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Death rate | 11.5 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Population rank in Louisiana | 8th of 64 | 2024 · calculated |
| Per capita personal income | $51,953 | BEA, 2024 · official |
| Gross domestic product | $9.3 billion | BEA, current dollars, 2024 · official |
| Median household income | $54,688 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Poverty rate | 23.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 28.6% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Foreign-born residents | 2.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median home value | $194,400 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median gross rent | $959/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median age | 36.6 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Households | 61,489 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Owner-occupied homes | 61.0% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
Ouachita Parish in context
Comparable indicators for Ouachita Parish, Louisiana and the United States.
| Indicator | County | Louisiana | U.S. | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population change 2020–2024 | −1.6% | −1.3% | +2.6% | Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 12.1 | 11.7 | 10.6 | 2024 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 11.5 | 10.8 | 9.1 | 2024 |
| Net migration rate (per 1,000) | 0.3 | 1.2 | 8.2 | 2024 |
| Population density (/mi²) | 258.7 | 106.4 | 96.3 | 2024 |
| Per capita personal income | $51,953 | $61,897 | $73,204 | BEA, 2024 |
| Median household income | $54,688 | $60,756 | $80,734 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Poverty rate | 23.2% | 18.9% | 12.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 28.6% | 27.0% | 35.7% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Foreign-born residents | 2.2% | 4.9% | 14.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median home value | $194,400 | $216,500 | $332,700 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median gross rent | $959/month | $1,064/month | $1,413/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median age | 36.6 years | 38.0 years | 38.9 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Owner-occupied homes | 61.0% | 67.4% | 65.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
Did you know? Ouachita Parish
A quarter century of change
Its population went from 147,271 in 2000 to 157,874 in 2024, a change of +7.2%, compared with +2.8% for Louisiana as a whole.
Births and deaths
In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 1,915 births and 1,808 deaths, so births outnumbered deaths by 107.
Peak population in 2020
Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population at 160,114 in 2020. The 2024 figure is 2,240 lower.
7th in density
Ouachita Parish has about 258.7 residents per square mile of land, ranking 7th of 64 counties; Louisiana averages 106.4.
Household income rank
With a median household income of $54,688 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 32nd of 64 Louisiana counties; the state median is $60,756.
Size of the economy
Its economy produced $9.3 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 10th largest among 64 Louisiana counties.
Latest economic growth
Real GDP grew 2.4% in 2024, adjusted for inflation (BEA, chained 2017 dollars).
Sources and methodology
- U.S. Census Bureau — County population totals and components, Vintage 2024
- U.S. Census Bureau — County estimates 2010–2020
- U.S. Census Bureau — Intercensal estimates 2000–2010
- U.S. Census Bureau — Gazetteer files (land area)
- U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional economic accounts
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — LAUS