Louisiana posted a sluggish 2.7% growth in population over the last ten years according to US Census Bureau, far below the national average which was over 7%.
Demographer Greg Rigamer parsed the numbers and found the decades-long depopulation of rural parishes continued over the last ten years. He said over the last ten years 45 of the state’s 64 parishes lost population with 12 of them losing over 10%.
Tensas, Cameron, Claiborne, Madison, Red River, West Carroll, Catahoula, Allen, and Webster were hit hardest.
Rigamer says 35% of all Louisianans now live in one of four southeastern parishes; Orleans, Jefferson, St. Tammany, and East Baton Rouge.
“In the top eight parishes 52% of all Louisianans live in eight of 64 parishes,” said Rigamer.
St. Bernard had the highest population growth of the decade, up 22% since 2010, but still down 35% from 2000 largely due to Hurricane Katrina. Orleans was also up 12% but still down 21% from 2000.
Nationwide population growth was over 7%. Rigamer said not only did Louisiana underperform the national average, but we’re even further behind the regional average.
“People follow the money and we just don’t have many good, high paying jobs. That’s the bottom line,” said Rigamer.
The share of the population describing themselves as white fell 5% to 55% while the share of the population calling themselves Hispanic rose 3% to 7%. Black population share remained steady at 31%.
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