E.g., 06/28/2023
E.g., 06/28/2023
State Demographics Data - LA
 

Louisiana

Demographics & Social
2021
2000
1990
Demographics

Note: The term "foreign born" refers to people residing in the United States at the time of the population survey who were not U.S. citizens at birth. The foreign-born population includes naturalized U.S. citizens, lawful permanent immigrants (or green-card holders), refugees and asylees, certain legal nonimmigrants (including those on student, work, or some other temporary visas), and persons residing in the country without authorization.

Foreign Born
Number 199,915
% Foreign Born 4.3%
Population Change over Time  
% change: 2000-2021 72.5%
% change: 1990-2000 32.6%
Race (%)  
One race 73.9%
White
20.3%
Black or African American
8.1%
American Indian and Alaska Native
2.0%
Asian
24.7%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander
0.0%
Other race
18.7%
Two or more races 26.1%
Latino Origin (of any race)  
Number 94,502
% Latino 47.3%
Age Groups (%)  
Under 5 1.1%
5-17 7.9%
18-64 77.1%
65 and older 13.9%
Median Age

Note: 1) Data for Alaska, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming are from the Census Bureau’s pooled 2017-2021 American Community Survey (ACS). Data for the United States overall and for the remaining states are from the 2021 ACS. 2) The letter N indicates that a number could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.

40.8
Gender (% female) 49.9%
Marital Status (15 and older) (%)  
Never married 30.8%
Married 55.4%
Separated, divorced, or widowed 13.8%

Note: The term "U.S. born" refers to people residing in the United States who were U.S. citizens in one of three categories: people born in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia; people born in U.S. Insular Areas such as Puerto Rico or Guam; or people who were born abroad to at least one U.S. citizen parent.

U.S. Born
Number 4,424,132
% Foreign Born  
Population Change over Time  
% change: 2000-2011 1.6%
% change: 1990-2000 5.3%
Race (%)  
One race 94.1%
White 59.6%
Black or African American 32.2%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.4%
Asian 0.7%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander 0.0%
Other race 1.1%
Two or more races 5.9%
Latino Origin (of any race)  
Number 161,584
% Latino 3.7%
Age Groups (%)  
Under 5 6.3%
5-17 17.7%
18-64 59.3%
65 and older 16.7%
Median Age 37.8
Gender (% female) 51.2%
Marital Status (15 and older) (%)  
Never married 36.6%
Married 42.9%
Separated, divorced, or widowed 20.5%
Foreign Born
Number 115,885
% Foreign Born 2.6%
Population Change over Time  
% change: 2000-2011  
 
Race (%)  
Latino Origin (of any race)  
Age Groups (%)  
Marital Status (15 and older) (%)  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
U.S. Born
Number 4,353,091
Population Change over Time  
% change: 2000-2011  
1990-2000  
Race (%)  
Latino Origin (of any race)  
Age Groups (%)  
Marital Status (15 and older) (%)  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Custom text  
Foreign Born
Number 87,407
% Foreign Born 2.1%
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
U.S. Born
Number 4,132,566
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
Foreign Born
Foreign Born
Foreign Born
Place of Birth Number
Region of Birth (excluding born at sea)

Note: For 1990, 2000, and current ACS year, the total for the region of birth of the foreign born is different from the total foreign born. This is because the 1990 total excludes those who did not report a country of birth and those born at sea, while the 2000 and the current ACS year totals exclude those born at sea.

199,915
Born in Africa 9,452
Born in Asia 64,126
Born in Europe 15,359
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 107,636
Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon) 3,044
Born in Oceania 298
Top 3 Countries of Birth

Note: These are the largest countries of birth reported by the Census Bureau. Some countries are only listed as part of a larger geographic region. For example, those born in Somalia are included only among those born in Eastern Africa. Therefore, a few states may have larger populations of foreign-born persons born in countries not listed individually in census data. For each of the three years, countries of birth reflect geographic boundaries as of that year.

 
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
Detailed Region/Country of Birth

Note: These are the largest countries of birth reported by the Census Bureau. Some countries are only listed as part of a larger geographic region. For example, those born in Somalia are included only among those born in Eastern Africa. Therefore, a few states may have larger populations of foreign-born persons born in countries not listed individually in census data. For each of the three years, countries of birth reflect geographic boundaries as of that year.

199,915
Europe 15,359
Northern Europe 2,888
United Kingdom
2,130
Ireland
416
Other Northern Europe
342
Western Europe 6,344
France
1,780
Germany
3,477
Other Western Europe
1,087
Southern Europe 2,124
Italy
875
Portugal
N
Other Southern Europe
1,249
Eastern Europe 3,923
Poland
59
Russia
505
Other Eastern Europe
3,359
Other Europe (no country specified) 80
Asia 64,126
Eastern Asia 8,881
China
5,948

China, excluding Taiwan

5,514

Taiwan

434
Japan
813
Korea
2,120
Other Eastern Asia
N
South Central Asia 17,992
India
5,821
Iran
2,507
Other South Central Asia
9,664
Southeastern Asia 27,232
Philippines
4,668
Vietnam
17,892
Other Southeastern Asia
4,672
Western Asia 9,078
Israel
1,475
Lebanon
834
Other Western Asia
6,769
Other Asia (no country specified) 943
Africa 9,452
Eastern Africa 2,152
Northern Africa
2,657
Western Africa
3,082
Middle and Southern Africa
1,248
Other Africa (no country specified)
313
Oceania 298
Australia and New Zealand subregion 261
Oceania (no country specified) 37
Americas 110,680
Latin America 107,636
Caribbean
16,442

Cuba

4,003

Jamaica

2,713

Other Caribbean

9,726
Central America
77,789

Mexico

19,712

El Salvador

4,968

Other Central America

53,109
South America
13,405

Brazil

3,501

Colombia

3,274

Other South America

6,630
Northern America 3,044
Canada
3,044
Other Northern America
N
Period of Entry into U.S.  
Before 1990 42,565
1990-1999 27,100
2000-2009 45,375
Since 2010 84,875
%
Region of Birth (excluding born at the sea)* 100%
Born in Africa 4.7%
Born in Asia 32.1%
Born in Europe 7.7%
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 53.8%
Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon) 1.5%
Born in Oceania 0.1%
Top 3 Countries of Birth*  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
Detailed Region/Country of Birth* 100%
Europe 7.7%
Northern Europe 1.4%
United Kingdom 1.1%
Ireland 0.2%
Other Northern Europe 0.2%
Western Europe 3.2%
France 0.9%
Germany 1.7%
Other Western Europe 0.5%
Southern Europe 1.1%
Italy 0.4%
Portugal N
Other Southern Europe 0.6%
Eastern Europe 2.0%
Poland N
Russia 0.3%
Other Eastern Europe 1.7%
Other Europe (no country specified) N
Asia 32.1%
Eastern Asia 4.4%
China 3.0%
China, excluding Taiwan 2.8%
Taiwan 0.2%
Japan 0.4%
Korea 1.1%
Other Eastern Asia N
South Central Asia 9.0%
India 2.9%
Iran 1.3%
Other South Central Asia 4.8%
Southeastern Asia 13.6%
Philippines 2.3%
Vietnam 8.9%
Other Southeastern Asia 2.3%
Western Asia 4.5%
Israel 0.7%
Lebanon 0.4%
Other Western Asia 3.4%
Other Asia (no country specified) 0.5%
Africa 4.7%
Eastern Africa 1.1%
Northern Africa 1.3%
Western Africa 1.5%
Middle and Southern Africa 0.6%
Other Africa (no country specified) 0.2%
Oceania 0.1%
Australia and New Zealand subregion 0.1%
Oceania (no country specified) N
Americas 55.4%
Latin America 53.8%
Caribbean 8.2%
Cuba 2.0%
Jamaica 1.4%
Other Caribbean 4.9%
Central America 38.9%
Mexico 9.9%
El Salvador 2.5%
Other Central America 26.6%
South America 6.7%
Brazil 1.8%
Colombia 1.6%
Other South America 3.3%
Northern America 1.5%
Canada 1.5%
Other Northern America N
Period of Entry into U.S.  
Before 1980 21.3%
1980-1989 13.6%
1990-1999 22.7%
Since 2000 42.5%
Number
Region of Birth (excluding born at the sea)* 115,885
Born in Africa 4,016
Born in Asia 43,464
Born in Europe 18,062
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 46,561
Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon) 3,200
Cat28 577
Top 3 Countries of Birth*  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
%
Region of birth 100%
Born in Africa 3.5%
Born in Asia 37.5%
Born in Europe 15.6%
Born in Latin America 40.2%
Born in Northern America 2.8%
Born in Oceania 0.5%
Top 3 Countries of Birth*  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Number
Region of Birth (excluding born at the sea)* 83,680
Born in Africa 2,215
Born in Asia 29,750
Born in Europe 16,323
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 32,707
Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon) 2,310
Cat21 375
Top 3 Countries of Birth*  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
%
Region of birth 100%
Born in Africa 2.6%
Born in Asia 35.6%
Born in Europe 19.5%
Born in Latin America 39.1%
Born in Northern America 2.8%
Born in Oceania 0.4%
Top 3 Countries of Birth*  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
Foreign Born
Foreign Born
Foreign Born
Naturalization Number
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 199,915
Naturalized citizens 82,738
Noncitizens 117,177
Naturalized Citizens by Period of Naturalization 82,738
Before 1990 15,868
1990-1999 13,488
2000-2009 17,710
2010-2014 13,063
Since 2015 22,609
%
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 100%
Naturalized citizens 41.4%
Noncitizens 58.6%
Naturalized Citizens by Period of Naturalization 100%
Before 1980 19.2%
1980-1989 16.3%
1990-1999 21.4%
2000-2009 15.8%
Since 2010 27.3%
Number
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 115,885
Naturalized citizens 56,102
Noncitizens 59,783
   
   
   
   
   
   
%
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 100%
Naturalized citizens 48.4%
Noncitizens 51.6%
   
   
   
   
   
   
Number
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 87,407
Naturalized citizens 38,082
Noncitizens 49,325
   
   
   
   
   
   
%
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 100%
Naturalized citizens 43.6%
Noncitizens 56.4%
   
   
   
   
   
   
Fertility Foreign Born
Female Population (ages 15-50) 59,183
Women (ages 15-50) who gave birth in the last 12 months 4,712
% married among women who gave birth
79.4%
% unmarried (never married, divorced, or widowed) among women who gave birth
20.6%
U.S. Born
Female Population (ages 15-50) 1,023,206
Women (ages 15-50) who gave birth in the last 12 months 55,048
% married among women who gave birth 51.4%
% unmarried (never married, divorced, or widowed) among women who gave birth 48.6%
Foreign Born
   
   
   
   
U.S. Born
   
   
   
   
Foreign Born
   
   
   
   
U.S. Born
   
   
   
   
Household and Family Size

Note: Data for Alaska, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming are from the U.S Census Bureau’s pooled 2017-2021 American Community Survey (ACS). Data for the United States overall and for the remaining states are from the 2021 ACS. 2) The letter N indicates that a number could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.

Foreign Born
Average household size 3.00
Average family size 3.60
U.S. Born
Average household size 2.50
Average family size 3.16
Foreign Born
   
   
U.S. Born
   
   
Foreign Born
   
   
U.S. Born
   
   
 
Population
Population
Population
Children under 18 Number
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents

Note: Refers to children between ages 0 and 17 (regardless of their nativity) who reside with at least one parent. This means that the number of children shown here is smaller than the overall number of U.S. children under 18. Since 2013, the U.S. Census Bureau includes children of same-sex married couples in its count of children in families and subfamilies.

 
Children under age 18 with 1,018,038
Only native parent(s)
935,972
One or more foreign-born parents
82,066

Child is native

65,542

Child is foreign born

16,524
Children under age 6 with 328,860
Only native parent(s)
296,598
One or more foreign-born parents
32,262

Child is native

29,149

Child is foreign born

3,113
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 689,178
Only native parent(s)
639,374
One or more foreign-born parents
49,804

Child is native

36,393

Child is foreign born

13,411
Children in Low-Income Families

Note: Refers to children between ages 0 and 17 (regardless of their nativity) who reside with at least one parent. This means that the number of children shown here is smaller than the overall number of U.S. children under 18. Since 2013, the U.S. Census Bureau includes children of same-sex married couples in its count of children in families and subfamilies. The term "low-income families" refers to families with annual incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty threshold.

479,591
Only native parents 433,220
One or more foreign-born parents 46,371
%
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents*  
Children under age 18 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 91.9%
One or more foreign-born parents 8.1%
Child is native 6.4%
Child is foreign born 1.6%
Children under age 6 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 90.2%
One or more foreign-born parents 9.8%
Child is native 8.9%
Child is foreign born 0.9%
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 92.8%
One or more foreign-born parents 7.2%
Child is native 5.3%
Child is foreign born 1.9%
Children in Low-Income Families* 100%
Only native parents 90.3%
One or more foreign-born parents 9.7%
Number
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents  
Children under age 18 with 1,134,024
Only native parent(s) 1,082,650
One or more foreign-born parents 51,374
Child is native 43,408
Child is foreign born 7,966
Children under age 6 with 354,374
Only native parent(s) 338,099
One or more foreign-born parents 16,275
Child is native 15,047
Child is foreign born 1,228
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 779,650
Only native parent(s) 744,551
One or more foreign-born parents 35,099
Child is native 28,361
Child is foreign born 6,738
Children in Low-Income Families* 550,092
Only native parents 526,369
One or more foreign-born parents 23,723
%
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents  
Children under age 18 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 95.5%
One or more foreign-born parents 4.5%
Child is native 3.8%
Child is foreign born 0.7%
Children under age 6 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 95.4%
One or more foreign-born parents 4.6%
Child is native 4.2%
Child is foreign born 0.3%
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 95.5%
One or more foreign-born parents 4.5%
Child is native 3.6%
Child is foreign born 0.9%
Children in Low-Income Families* 100%
Only native parents 95.7%
One or more foreign-born parents 4.3%
Number
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents  
Children under age 18 with 1,160,658
Only native parent(s) 1,119,615
One or more foreign-born parents 41,043
Child is native 33,249
Child is foreign born 7,794
Children under age 6 with 385,398
Only native parent(s) 371,706
One or more foreign-born parents 13,692
Child is native 12,903
Child is foreign born 789
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 775,260
Only native parent(s) 747,909
One or more foreign-born parents 27,351
Child is native 20,346
Child is foreign born 7,005
Children in Low-Income Families* 623,571
Only native parents 602,718
One or more foreign-born parents 20,853
%
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents  
Children under age 18 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 96.5%
One or more foreign-born parents 3.5%
Child is native 2.9%
Child is foreign born 0.7%
Children under age 6 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 96.4%
One or more foreign-born parents 3.6%
Child is native 3.3%
Child is foreign born 0.2%
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 96.5%
One or more foreign-born parents 3.5%
Child is native 2.6%
Child is foreign born 0.9%
Children in Low-Income Families* 100%
Only native parents 96.7%
One or more foreign-born parents 3.3%

Sources: Migration Policy Institute tabulations of the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) and Decennial Census. Unless stated otherwise, 2021 data are from the one-year ACS file. For information about ACS definitions, click here. For ACS methodology, sampling error, and nonsampling error, click here. Estimates from 1990 and 2000 Decennial Census data as well as ACS microdata are from Steven Ruggles, Sarah Flood, Ronald Goeken, Megan Schouweiler and Matthew Sobek. IPUMS USA: Version 12.0 [dataset]. Minneapolis, MN: IPUMS, 2022. https://doi.org/10.18128/D010.V12.0.

Definitions

  • The term "foreign born" refers to people residing in the United States at the time of the population survey who were not U.S. citizens at birth. The foreign-born population includes naturalized U.S. citizens, lawful permanent immigrants (or green-card holders), refugees and asylees, certain legal nonimmigrants (including those on student, work, or some other temporary visas), and persons residing in the country without authorization.
  • The term "U.S. born" refers to people residing in the United States who were U.S. citizens in one of three categories: people born in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia; people born in U.S. Insular Areas such as Puerto Rico or Guam; or people who were born abroad to at least one U.S. citizen parent.
  • The term "low-income families" refers to families with annual incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty threshold.

Data-related notes

  • The letter N indicates that an estimate could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.
  • Race and Hispanic origin: The Census Bureau made some improvements and changes in how respondents were asked about their race and Hispanic origin on the 2020 decennial Census form. The goal was to achieve a more accurate portrait of how U.S. residents self-identify. The same changes were implemented in the subsequent ACS as well. Note that the racial composition of the U.S. population in the 2021 ACS looks different from prior ACS years. For instance, the proportion reporting “two or more races” has increased, while the proportion of “white alone” decreased, reflecting both the growth of a more racially diverse population and the changes in questionnaire design. Race and Hispanic origin comparisons between the 2021 ACS and earlier ACS years or pre-2020 decennial Censuses should be made with caution. For more details, visit the Census Bureau’s Resource Library.
  • For “Median Age” and “Household Size”: Data for Alaska, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming are from the U.S. Census Bureau's pooled 2017-2021 American Community Survey (ACS). Data for the United States overall and for the remaining states are from the 2021 ACS.
  • Region of birth: For 1990, 2000, and current ACS year, the total for the region of birth of the foreign born is different from the total foreign born. This is because the 1990 total excludes those who did not report a country of birth and those born at sea, while the 2000 census and the current ACS year totals exclude those born at sea.
  • Countries of birth: These are the largest countries of birth reported by the Census Bureau. Some countries are only listed as part of a larger geographic region. For example, those born in Somalia are included only among those born in Eastern Africa. Therefore, a few states may have larger populations of foreign-born persons born in countries not listed individually in census data. For each of the three years, countries of birth reflect geographic boundaries as of that year.
  • Children: The data here include children between ages 0 and 17 (regardless of their nativity) who reside with at least one parent. This means that the number of children shown here is smaller than the overall number of U.S. children under 18. Since 2013, the U.S. Census Bureau has included children of same-sex married couples in its count of children in families and subfamilies.