Why have six of the eight parishes around New Orleans seen shrinking population?
The Data Center blames the death rate, anemic employment growth and other factors.
"This is not surprising given that the state has the 8th highest age-adjusted death rate in the nation. Also, in the decade between the post-financial crisis low point in 2010 and the pandemic job loss of 2020, U.S. employment grew by 17 percent, but Louisiana added only 6 percent to employment over that same period," the fully independent and neutral nonprofit reported today.
This comes amid population estimates showing the New Orleans eight-parish metro region’s population shrank by 34,000 residents from 2020 to 2023.
"Net out-migration totaled 38,000 people, 43,000 people died, and 47,000 babies were born."
Two parishes did grow.
St. Tammany's population increased by more than 2,000 from 2022 to 2023.
St. Bernard saw a net growth of 44 people.
The state as a whole is also shrinking.
"To be sure, Louisiana as a whole is losing population. The state’s population shrank by 89,000 since 2020, and nearly every parish experienced population loss," according to the data center.
Click here for more information...