NEWS
Louisiana ranked worst state by U.S. News as poverty, pollution surge
Greg HilburnShreveport Times
July 28, 2026, 8:27 a.m. CT
- Louisiana has been ranked last in the U.S. News and World Report’s Best States report for the fourth consecutive year.
- The state ranked poorly in categories such as crime and corrections, economy and the natural environment.
- High rates of poverty, industrial pollution and obesity were cited as significant challenges for Louisiana.
- Despite the low overall ranking, the state was recognized for its affordability and low cost of living.
Louisiana is again ranked last in the U.S. News and World Report’s 2026 Best States report, which cites poverty, poisonous industrial pollution and obesity among the among the state’s hardships
It’s the fourth straight year Louisiana has ranked 50th
The U.S. News report ranked Louisiana in the following categories: education (46th); healthcare (45); economy (49); opportunity (45th); fiscal stability (43rd); natural environment (49th); and crime and corrections (50th)
The report doesn’t yet reflect recent gains Louisiana has made with job growth during an ongoing industrial boom driven by data centers and other projects, leading the nation in academic growth for reading and second in math improvement in 2026 or stemming its longstanding population decline
Utah was ranked the top state for the fourth straight year, while among Louisiana’s border neighbors Arkansas ranked 45th, Mississippi ranked 48th and Texas ranked 26th
Among the most alarming metrics for Louisiana in the U.S. News report:
- Industrial toxins of 2,944 pounds per square mile, triple the national average of 930 pounds per square mile;
- More than a quarter of roads 26.6% in poor condition compared to the national average of 18.9%;
- A poverty rate of 18.7% compared to the national average of 12.1%;
- An obesity rate of 39.5% compared to the national average of 34.2%;
- Double the national incarceration rate for both adults (617 per 100,000) and juveniles (85 per 100,000);
- And 3,691 preventable hospital admissions per 100,000 Medicare patients compared to the national average of 2,726.
Among the few bright spots in the report is Louisiana’s No. 5 ranking for affordability with a low cost of living index
“The U.S. News & World Report Best States rankings serve as a critical tool for understanding what drives long-term success in states across the country,” said U.S. News CEO Eric Gertler in a statement. “These rankings objectively evaluate performance, identify opportunities for improvement and ways to learn from the successes of other states. By translating data into actionable insights, the rankings help policymakers, business leaders and residents make informed decisions to improve their lives.”
For the full report go to https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states?src=usn_pr
Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1
