Fewer people leaving Louisiana drove the state's first population gain in years, new data shows

Fewer people leaving Louisiana drove the state's first population gain in years, new data showsBATON ROUGE — Louisiana's population grew in 2024 for the first time since 2017, reversing a six-year trend of decreasing population, a new migration analysis from Leaders for a Better Louisiana shows. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, the state gained almost 24,000 residents in 2024. Louisiana recorded net in-migration of 12,060 residents in 2024, the first year the state posted a net gain from migration since 2016. An estimated 96,254 people moved into Louisiana during the year, while 84,194 moved out. Louisiana posted small net gains from higher cost-of-living states, led by California, New Jersey and New York.