Orleans County Demographics

A map of Orleans County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
Black	200,368	205,876	53.9%	53.6%
White	111,770	121,385	30.1%	31.6%
Hispanic	30,425	31,017	8.2%	8.1%
Multiracial	14,851	12,185	4.0%	3.2%
Asian	10,356	10,573	2.8%	2.8%
Native American/Other	4,083	2,961	1.1%	0.8%

Orleans County, Louisiana has an estimated population of 371,853, a decrease from the 383,997 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 53.9% Black, 30.1% White, 8.2% Hispanic, 4.0% Multiracial, 2.8% Asian, and 1.1% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Orleans County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Orleans has become slightly more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is more diverse than Louisiana overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Orleans County, that probability was 60.4% in 2020 and 61.0% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Orleans County is ranked the 3rd most populous county in Louisiana, out of 64 counties. Orleans County was ranked the 3rd most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Orleans County's White Population

111,770 residents of Orleans County, or 30.1% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Orleans County is significantly lower than in Louisiana overall, where 55.7% of the population is White. Orleans County ranks 62nd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 64 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Orleans County's White population has declined by an estimated 7.9%. White residents' share of Orleans County's population has decreased from 31.6% to 30.1%.

Orleans County is more White than neighboring St. John the Baptist County (29.5% White). Orleans County is less White than neighboring St. Tammany County (72.4% White), Jefferson County (47.2% White), St. Charles County (62.5% White), and Hancock County (83.4% White).

Orleans County's Black Population

200,368 residents of Orleans County, or 53.9% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Orleans County is significantly higher than in Louisiana overall, where 30.5% of the population is Black. Orleans County ranks 5th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 64 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Orleans County's Black population has declined by an estimated 2.7%. Black residents' share of Orleans County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 53.9%.

Orleans County is more Black than neighboring St. Tammany County (12% Black), Jefferson County (25.1% Black), St. Charles County (22.1% Black), and Hancock County (7.1% Black). Orleans County is less Black than neighboring St. John the Baptist County (56.8% Black).

Orleans County's Asian Population

10,356 residents of Orleans County, or 2.8% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Orleans County is comparable to the share in Louisiana overall, where 1.7% of the population is Asian. Orleans County ranks 5th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 64 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Orleans County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 2.1%. Asian residents' share of Orleans County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.8%.

Orleans County is more Asian than neighboring St. Tammany County (1.3% Asian), St. Charles County (0.8% Asian), St. John the Baptist County (0.9% Asian), and Hancock County (1% Asian). Orleans County is less Asian than neighboring Jefferson County (4.2% Asian).

Orleans County's Hispanic Population

30,425 residents of Orleans County, or 8.2% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Orleans County is comparable to the share in Louisiana overall, where 7.2% of the population is Hispanic. Orleans County ranks 9th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 64 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Orleans County's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 1.9%. Hispanic residents' share of Orleans County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 8.2%.

Orleans County is more Hispanic than neighboring Hancock County (4.2% Hispanic). Orleans County is less Hispanic than neighboring Jefferson County (18.9% Hispanic), and St. John the Baptist County (8.9% Hispanic).

Orleans County's Native American/Other Population

4,083 residents of Orleans County, or 1.1% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Orleans County is comparable to the share in Louisiana overall, where 1% of the population is Native American/Other. Orleans County ranks 26th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 64 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Orleans County's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 37.9%. Native American/Other residents' share of Orleans County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.1%.

Orleans County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Jefferson County (0.9% Native American/Other), St. John the Baptist County (0.5% Native American/Other), and Hancock County (1% Native American/Other). Orleans County is less Native American/Other than neighboring St. Tammany County (1.4% Native American/Other), and St. Charles County (1.9% Native American/Other).

Orleans County's Multiracial Population

14,851 residents of Orleans County, or 4.0% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Orleans County is comparable to the share in Louisiana overall, where 3.8% of the population is Multiracial. Orleans County ranks 31st statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 64 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Orleans County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 21.9%. Multiracial residents' share of Orleans County's population has increased from 3.2% to 4.0%.

Orleans County is more Multiracial than neighboring Jefferson County (3.7% Multiracial), St. John the Baptist County (3.3% Multiracial), and Hancock County (3.3% Multiracial). Orleans County is less Multiracial than neighboring St. Tammany County (4.6% Multiracial), and St. Charles County (4.4% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.