State bird
Eastern brown pelican
Sources: Designation & background
Local timeBaton Rouge ·
U.S. States / South · Card 018
Louisiana
The Pelican State
Louisiana is a U.S. state in the South. Its capital is Baton Rouge.
Find Louisiana
● State capital · Gold highlights Louisiana.
Map: Natural Earth. Neighboring states use postal abbreviations.
Map: Natural Earth. Neighboring states use postal abbreviations.
At a glance
- Capital
- Baton Rouge
- Postal abbreviation
- LA
- Population
- 4,618,189July 1, 2025 · Census estimate
- Total area
- 135,659 km²52,378 square miles · land and water
- Statehood
- April 30, 1812State number 18
- Region
- South
Sources: Census · population · Census · area
Louisiana in context
Gold shows Louisiana. The dot marks Baton Rouge.
State symbols & traditions
State song
You Are My Sunshine
Sources: Designation & background
State cuisine
Gumbo
Sources: Designation & background
Geography & flag
01
Location
Neighboring states: Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas.
02
Landscape & places
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve includes Louisiana wetlands and places connected with the region's cultural history.
03
Land and water
The total area includes 111,898 km² of land and 23,761 km² of water, according to Census area measurements.
State flag
A pelican feeding its young on a blue field, above a white ribbon bearing the state motto.
Sources: Census · geographic reference · Census · area measurements · National Park Service · Jean Lafitte
History & statehood
Most of present-day Louisiana became part of the United States through the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Orleans Territory was organized in 1804. It became the state of Louisiana in 1812; the earlier Louisiana Territory was a different, much larger area farther north.
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Louisiana Purchase
-
Orleans Territory organized
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Statehood · State number 18
Sources: Congressional Research Service · statehood · U.S. Census Bureau · historical geography · National Park Service
Economy
Main activities
In 2025, manufacturing was the largest of the broad industry groups compared here by current-dollar output. Other major groups included real estate and rental and leasing, government and government enterprises, and educational services, health care, and social assistance.
Total economic output was $340.1 billion in current dollars in 2025.
Largest industry groups · 2025
- Manufacturing: 17.3%
- Real estate and rental and leasing: 11.6%
- Government and government enterprises: 10.6%
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance: 9.3%
Share of total current-dollar GDP. These figures measure output, not employment.
Sources: BEA · annual GDP by state, SAGDP2
Population & economic trends
Population, 2020–2025
Millions of people4.622025 · millions of people
July 1 resident population estimates, using the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 series.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau
View data table
| Year | People |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 4,652,145 |
| 2021 | 4,628,595 |
| 2022 | 4,600,892 |
| 2023 | 4,598,777 |
| 2024 | 4,614,878 |
| 2025 | 4,618,189 |
Real GDP, 2010–2025
Billions of chained 2017 dollars259.932025 · billions of chained 2017 dollars
Real GDP measures economic output adjusted for inflation. The chart uses BEA’s chained 2017 dollars.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
View data table
| Year | Millions of chained 2017 dollars |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 253,466.9 |
| 2011 | 241,235.9 |
| 2012 | 242,416.8 |
| 2013 | 236,482.3 |
| 2014 | 243,042.9 |
| 2015 | 239,584.1 |
| 2016 | 235,554.2 |
| 2017 | 239,830.7 |
| 2018 | 245,220.3 |
| 2019 | 246,674.4 |
| 2020 | 225,636.0 |
| 2021 | 242,582.1 |
| 2022 | 240,043.0 |
| 2023 | 248,949.4 |
| 2024 | 257,055.9 |
| 2025 | 259,927.1 |
Representation
- Electoral votes
- 82024 & 2028 elections
- Voting U.S. House seats
- 62020 Census allocation
- U.S. Senate seats
- 2
Electoral votes equal the state’s U.S. House seats plus its two U.S. Senate seats. These allocations apply to the 2024 and 2028 presidential elections.
Knowledge check
Three questions about Louisiana.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
What is the capital of Louisiana?
Sources & notes
Prepared 27 September 2026. Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025, July 1 estimates for 2020–2025. Real GDP: BEA annual state accounts, SAGDP9, millions of chained 2017 dollars; industry shares: SAGDP2, current dollars. Data downloaded 27 September 2026. Area measurements include land and water.
Sources: Census · population estimates · BEA · state GDP · Census · area measurements · Natural Earth · map data
The capital clock shows current local time. Statistical figures are dated estimates and may be revised.