(The Center Square) — After years of population decline, Louisiana is projected to see an increase in its population for the first time since 2020, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data.
The state’s population has grown by estimates to nearly 4.6 million in 2024, up from 4.59 million in 2023.
The projected growth offers a reprieve following a significant downward trend, with the state losing more than 84,000 residents since 2020. Louisiana’s population reached a high of 4.65 million in 2020 but steadily declined over the following years.
Population since 2020
2020: 4,652,301
2021: 4,627,971
2022: 4,593,687
2023: 4,588,071
2024: 4,597,740
While the state’s population saw growth in six of the 12 years between 2010 and 2022, its largest annual decline occurred between 2021 and 2022, when it fell by 0.8%. Overall, Louisiana’s population grew by an average of 0.1% annually during that timeframe.
The recent population decline was felt statewide, with central and northeast Louisiana experiencing notable losses.
Caddo Parish alone saw its population drop by more than 11,000 people in the past three years. Plaquemines Parish suffered the largest decline in migration, losing 2.39% of its population and $16 million in adjusted gross income.
However, some southeastern parishes, including East Baton Rouge, Ascension, and Livingston, bucked the trend and experienced growth.
A 2021-2022 migration study by the Tax Foundation ranked Louisiana 44th worst in the nation for population changes attributable to interstate migration.
The state saw a net loss of 26,000 residents, or 0.57% of its population, during that time. The exodus resulted in a loss of $880 million in adjusted gross income, significantly impacting the state’s economy.
For comparison, other Southeastern states experienced gains during the same period. Florida and Texas were among the biggest winners, while Louisiana joined Mississippi as one of the region’s few states to lose residents.