Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 population estimates and 2024 Gazetteer. Rankings among the 50 states.
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Population
1810–2024U.S. Census (decennial), 1810–2020 + estimates.
Population pyramid
Louisiana's civilian population by sex and five-year age group. Choose a year to see how the age structure has changed.
Tap an age group in the pyramid to see its detail.
Under 15
874,236 (19.1%)
15 to 64
2,894,382 (63.2%)
65 and older
814,527 (17.8%)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, SC-EST2020 and SC-EST2024 age and sex estimates (civilian population, July 1).
Age, sex and longevity
The main indicators describing Louisiana's age structure, sex distribution and life expectancy.
| Median age | 37.8 years | |
| Female | 51.3% | |
| Male | 48.7% | |
| Under 18 | 22.9% | |
| 65 and older | 16.8% | |
| Life expectancy | 74.0 years | Among the lowest in the U.S. |
Population, households and density
How many people and households live in Louisiana, how concentrated they are and how the population is changing.
| Total population | 4.57 M | 25th in the U.S. |
| Density | 34 /km² | |
| Households | 1.77 M | |
| Urban population | 73.2% | |
| Largest metro | New Orleans–Metairie (≈ 1.27 M) | |
| Growth | -0.3%/yr | 2020–2024 |
Race, ethnicity and origin
Louisiana has one of the highest shares of Black residents in the country and a distinctive Creole and Cajun French heritage, alongside a growing Hispanic and Vietnamese population near New Orleans.
| White (non-Hispanic) | 57.5% | |
| Black or African American | 32.2% | 2nd highest share in the U.S. |
| Hispanic or Latino | 6.2% | |
| Asian | 1.9% | |
| Two or more races | 2.3% | |
| Native American | 0.7% | |
| Vietnamese community | ≈ 30,000 | New Orleans area |
| French/Cajun/Creole ancestry | ≈ 15% |