# Louisiana statistical areas

The U.S. State of Louisiana currently has 25 statistical areas that have been delineated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). On July 21, 2023, the OMB delineated six combined statistical areas, ten metropolitan statistical areas, and nine micropolitan statistical areas in Louisiana. As of 2023, the largest of these is the New Orleans-Metairie-Slidell, LA-MS CSA, comprising the area around New Orleans in the southeast region of the state.

## Background

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has designated more than 1,000 statistical areas for the United States and Puerto Rico. These statistical areas are important geographic delineations of population clusters used by the OMB, the United States Census Bureau, planning organizations, and federal, state, and local government entities.
The OMB defines a core-based statistical area (commonly referred to as a CBSA) as the county or counties (or county-equivalents) surrounding at least one densely-settled core of at least 10,000 population, "plus adjacent counties having a high degree of social and economic integration with the core as measured through commuting ties with the counties containing the core". The OMB further divides core-based statistical areas based on population into metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) for those with at least 50,000 and micropolitan statistical areas (μSAs) for those with 10,000 to 49,999 people.
The OMB defines a combined statistical area (CSA) as two or more adjacent core-based statistical areas where the employment interchange rate (% commuting from A to B plus % commuting from B to A) is at least 15%. The primary statistical areas (PSAs) include all combined statistical areas and any core-based statistical area that is not a constituent of a combined statistical area.

## Table

The 25 United States statistical areas and 64 parishes of the State of Louisiana :
| Combined statistical area | 2023 population (est.) | Core-based statistical area | 2023 population (est.) | County | 2023 population (est.) |
| New Orleans–Metairie–Slidell, LA–MS CSA | 1,340,591 1,282,613 (LA) | New Orleans–Metairie, LA MSA | 962,165 | Jefferson Parish, Louisiana | 421,777 |
| New Orleans–Metairie–Slidell, LA–MS CSA | 1,340,591 1,282,613 (LA) | New Orleans–Metairie, LA MSA | 962,165 | Orleans Parish, Louisiana | 364,136 |
| New Orleans–Metairie–Slidell, LA–MS CSA | 1,340,591 1,282,613 (LA) | New Orleans–Metairie, LA MSA | 962,165 | St. Charles Parish, Louisiana | 50,620 |
| New Orleans–Metairie–Slidell, LA–MS CSA | 1,340,591 1,282,613 (LA) | New Orleans–Metairie, LA MSA | 962,165 | St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana | 44,463 |
| New Orleans–Metairie–Slidell, LA–MS CSA | 1,340,591 1,282,613 (LA) | New Orleans–Metairie, LA MSA | 962,165 | St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana | 39,592 |
| New Orleans–Metairie–Slidell, LA–MS CSA | 1,340,591 1,282,613 (LA) | New Orleans–Metairie, LA MSA | 962,165 | Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana | 22,386 |
| New Orleans–Metairie–Slidell, LA–MS CSA | 1,340,591 1,282,613 (LA) | New Orleans–Metairie, LA MSA | 962,165 | St. James Parish, Louisiana | 19,191 |
| New Orleans–Metairie–Slidell, LA–MS CSA | 1,340,591 1,282,613 (LA) | Slidell–Mandeville–Covington, LA MSA | 275,583 | St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana | 275,583 |
| New Orleans–Metairie–Slidell, LA–MS CSA | 1,340,591 1,282,613 (LA) | Picayune, MS μSA | 57,978 | Pearl River County, Mississippi | 57,978 |
| New Orleans–Metairie–Slidell, LA–MS CSA | 1,340,591 1,282,613 (LA) | Bogalusa, LA μSA | 44,865 | Washington Parish, Louisiana | 44,865 |
| Baton Rouge–Hammond, LA CSA | 1,011,725 | Baton Rouge, LA MSA | 873,661 | East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana | 448,467 |
| Baton Rouge–Hammond, LA CSA | 1,011,725 | Baton Rouge, LA MSA | 873,661 | Livingston Parish, Louisiana | 150,145 |
| Baton Rouge–Hammond, LA CSA | 1,011,725 | Baton Rouge, LA MSA | 873,661 | Ascension Parish, Louisiana | 131,632 |
| Baton Rouge–Hammond, LA CSA | 1,011,725 | Baton Rouge, LA MSA | 873,661 | Iberville Parish, Louisiana | 29,617 |
| Baton Rouge–Hammond, LA CSA | 1,011,725 | Baton Rouge, LA MSA | 873,661 | West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana | 28,266 |
| Baton Rouge–Hammond, LA CSA | 1,011,725 | Baton Rouge, LA MSA | 873,661 | Assumption Parish, Louisiana | 20,160 |
| Baton Rouge–Hammond, LA CSA | 1,011,725 | Baton Rouge, LA MSA | 873,661 | Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana | 20,000 |
| Baton Rouge–Hammond, LA CSA | 1,011,725 | Baton Rouge, LA MSA | 873,661 | East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana | 19,229 |
| Baton Rouge–Hammond, LA CSA | 1,011,725 | Baton Rouge, LA MSA | 873,661 | West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana | 15,371 |
| Baton Rouge–Hammond, LA CSA | 1,011,725 | Baton Rouge, LA MSA | 873,661 | St. Helena Parish, Louisiana | 10,774 |
| Baton Rouge–Hammond, LA CSA | 1,011,725 | Hammond, LA MSA | 138,064 | Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana | 138,064 |
| Lafayette–New Iberia–Opelousas, LA CSA | 563,411 | Lafayette, LA MSA | 414,288 | Lafayette Parish, Louisiana | 249,750 |
| Lafayette–New Iberia–Opelousas, LA CSA | 563,411 | Lafayette, LA MSA | 414,288 | Vermilion Parish, Louisiana | 56,992 |
| Lafayette–New Iberia–Opelousas, LA CSA | 563,411 | Lafayette, LA MSA | 414,288 | Acadia Parish, Louisiana | 56,489 |
| Lafayette–New Iberia–Opelousas, LA CSA | 563,411 | Lafayette, LA MSA | 414,288 | St. Martin Parish, Louisiana | 51,057 |
| Lafayette–New Iberia–Opelousas, LA CSA | 563,411 | Opelousas, LA μSA | 81,464 | St. Landry Parish, Louisiana | 81,464 |
| Lafayette–New Iberia–Opelousas, LA CSA | 563,411 | New Iberia, LA μSA | 67,659 | Iberia Parish, Louisiana | 67,659 |
| Shreveport–Bossier City–Minden, LA CSA | 418,533 | Shreveport–Bossier City, LA MSA | 383,295 | Caddo Parish, Louisiana | 226,386 |
| Shreveport–Bossier City–Minden, LA CSA | 418,533 | Shreveport–Bossier City, LA MSA | 383,295 | Bossier Parish, Louisiana | 129,795 |
| Shreveport–Bossier City–Minden, LA CSA | 418,533 | Shreveport–Bossier City, LA MSA | 383,295 | De Soto Parish, Louisiana | 27,114 |
| Shreveport–Bossier City–Minden, LA CSA | 418,533 | Minden, LA μSA | 35,238 | Webster Parish, Louisiana | 35,238 |
| Lake Charles–DeRidder, LA CSA | 276,909 | Lake Charles, LA MSA | 240,082 | Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana | 203,761 |
| Lake Charles–DeRidder, LA CSA | 276,909 | Lake Charles, LA MSA | 240,082 | Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana | 31,553 |
| Lake Charles–DeRidder, LA CSA | 276,909 | Lake Charles, LA MSA | 240,082 | Cameron Parish, Louisiana | 4,768 |
| Lake Charles–DeRidder, LA CSA | 276,909 | DeRidder, LA μSA | 36,827 | Beauregard Parish, Louisiana | 36,827 |
| Monroe–Ruston, LA CSA | 269,847 | Monroe, LA MSA | 221,885 | Ouachita Parish, Louisiana | 157,568 |
| Monroe–Ruston, LA CSA | 269,847 | Monroe, LA MSA | 221,885 | Morehouse Parish, Louisiana | 23,955 |
| Monroe–Ruston, LA CSA | 269,847 | Monroe, LA MSA | 221,885 | Union Parish, Louisiana | 20,650 |
| Monroe–Ruston, LA CSA | 269,847 | Monroe, LA MSA | 221,885 | Richland Parish, Louisiana | 19,712 |
| Monroe–Ruston, LA CSA | 269,847 | Ruston, LA μSA | 47,962 | Lincoln Parish, Louisiana | 47,962 |
| none | none | Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux, LA MSA | 198,672 | Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana | 103,616 |
| none | none | Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux, LA MSA | 198,672 | Lafourche Parish, Louisiana | 95,056 |
| none | none | Alexandria, LA MSA | 148,171 | Rapides Parish, Louisiana | 126,260 |
| none | none | Alexandria, LA MSA | 148,171 | Grant Parish, Louisiana | 21,911 |
| none | none | Morgan City, LA μSA | 47,005 | St. Mary Parish, Louisiana | 47,005 |
| none | none | Natchitoches, LA μSA | 36,291 | Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana | 36,291 |
| none | none | Natchez, MS-LA μSA | 53,375 17,688 (LA) | Adams County, Mississippi | 28,746 |
| none | none | Natchez, MS-LA μSA | 53,375 17,688 (LA) | Concordia Parish, Louisiana | 17,688 |
| none | none | Natchez, MS-LA μSA | 53,375 17,688 (LA) | Jefferson County, Mississippi | 6,941 |
| none | none | none | none | Vernon Parish, Louisiana | 46,250 |
| none | none | none | none | Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana | 38,408 |
| none | none | none | none | Evangeline Parish, Louisiana | 31,754 |
| none | none | none | none | Allen Parish, Louisiana | 22,112 |
| none | none | none | none | Sabine Parish, Louisiana | 21,906 |
| none | none | none | none | Franklin Parish, Louisiana | 19,285 |
| none | none | none | none | La Salle Parish, Louisiana | 14,800 |
| none | none | none | none | Jackson Parish, Louisiana | 14,746 |
| none | none | none | none | Claiborne Parish, Louisiana | 13,670 |
| none | none | none | none | Winn Parish, Louisiana | 13,216 |
| none | none | none | none | Bienville Parish, Louisiana | 12,366 |
| none | none | none | none | Madison Parish, Louisiana | 9,389 |
| none | none | none | none | West Carroll Parish, Louisiana | 9,323 |
| none | none | none | none | Caldwell Parish, Louisiana | 9,246 |
| none | none | none | none | Catahoula Parish, Louisiana | 8,414 |
| none | none | none | none | Red River Parish, Louisiana | 7,356 |
| none | none | none | none | East Carroll Parish, Louisiana | 6,829 |
| none | none | none | none | Tensas Parish, Louisiana | 3,764 |
| State of Louisiana | State of Louisiana | State of Louisiana | State of Louisiana | State of Louisiana | 4,573,749 |

## Combined statistical areas

The following table provides the in-state population ranking of each CSA along with its rate of population change over time.
The six combined statistical areas of the State of Louisiana :
| 2023 rank | Combined statistical area | Population | Population | Population | Population | Population |
| 2023 rank | Combined statistical area | 2023 estimate | Change | 2020 Census | Change | 2010 Census |
| 1 | New Orleans-Metairie-Slidell, LA-MS CSA (LA) | 1,282,613 | −2.63% | 1,317,308 | +6.49% | 1,237,034 |
| 2 | Baton Rouge–Hammond, LA CSA | 1,011,725 | +0.80% | 1,003,726 | +5.99% | 947,002 |
| 3 | Lafayette–New Iberia–Opelousas, LA CSA | 563,411 | +0.44% | 560,924 | +1.96% | 550,134 |
| 4 | Shreveport–Bossier City–Minden, LA CSA | 418,533 | −2.75% | 430,373 | −2.15% | 439,811 |
| 5 | Lake Charles–DeRidder, LA CSA | 276,909 | −4.91% | 291,201 | +9.12% | 266,855 |
| 6 | Monroe–Ruston, LA CSA | 269,847 | −2.07% | 275,543 | +1.35% | 271,880 |
| | New Orleans-Metairie-Slidell, LA-MS CSA | 1,340,591 | −2.39% | 1,373,453 | +6.23% | 1,292,868 |

## Core-based statistical areas

The following table provides the in-state population ranking of each CBSA along with its rate of population change over time.
The 19 core-based statistical areas of the State of Louisiana :
| 2023 rank | Core-based statistical area | Population | Population | Population | Population | Population |
| 2023 rank | Core-based statistical area | 2023 estimate | Change | 2020 Census | Change | 2010 Census |
| 1 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA MSA | 962,165 | −4.48% | 1,007,275 | +5.35% | 956,126 |
| 2 | Baton Rouge, LA MSA | 873,661 | +0.36% | 870,569 | +5.41% | 825,905 |
| 3 | Lafayette, LA MSA | 414,288 | +1.43% | 408,455 | +3.80% | 393,510 |
| 4 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA MSA | 383,295 | −2.57% | 393,406 | −1.30% | 398,604 |
| 5 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA MSA | 275,583 | +4.16% | 264,570 | +13.19% | 233,740 |
| 6 | Lake Charles, LA MSA | 240,082 | −5.72% | 254,652 | +10.14% | 231,201 |
| 7 | Monroe, LA MSA | 221,885 | −2.32% | 227,147 | +0.89% | 225,145 |
| 8 | Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux, LA MSA | 198,672 | −4.09% | 207,137 | −0.50% | 208,178 |
| 9 | Alexandria, LA MSA | 148,171 | −2.64% | 152,192 | −1.12% | 153,922 |
| 10 | Hammond, LA MSA | 138,064 | +3.69% | 133,157 | +9.96% | 121,097 |
| 11 | Opelousas, LA μSA | 81,464 | −1.30% | 82,540 | −1.01% | 83,384 |
| 12 | New Iberia, LA μSA | 67,659 | −3.25% | 69,929 | −4.52% | 73,240 |
| 13 | Ruston, LA μSA | 47,962 | −0.90% | 48,396 | +3.55% | 46,735 |
| 14 | Morgan City, LA μSA | 47,055 | −4.76% | 49,406 | −9.60% | 54,650 |
| 15 | Bogalusa, LA μSA | 44,865 | −1.32% | 45,463 | −3.61% | 47,168 |
| 16 | DeRidder, LA μSA | 36,827 | +0.76% | 36,549 | +2.51% | 35,654 |
| 17 | Natchitoches, LA μSA | 36,291 | −3.26% | 37,515 | −5.18% | 39,566 |
| 18 | Minden, LA μSA | 35,238 | −4.68% | 36,967 | −10.29% | 41,207 |
| 19 | Natchez, MS-LA μSA (LA) | 17,688 | −5.35% | 18,687 | −10.25% | 20,822 |
| | Natchez, MS-LA μSA | 53,375 | −3.80% | 55,485 | −8.81% | 60,845 |