Louisiana ranks dead last for the second year in a row in US News and World Report’s 2024 Best States report. The Managing Editor for Government Rankings Gary Emerling puts the rankings in perspective: “Number 48 for obesity rate, number 47 for adults who’ve experienced poor mental health recently, 49 for preventable hospital admissions among Medicare beneficiaries.”
Some factors contributing to the poor ranking include the fact Louisiana factories release more than 3,000 lbs. pounds of industrial toxins per square mile, more than triple the national average of just over 900.
Emerling also mentioned that Nearly one-third of Louisiana roads are in poor condition, along with a high crime rate. “Relatively high crime rates. We look at both property and violent crime and then it also has a high incarceration rate, juvenile incarceration.”
But there were some bright spots. The state has climbed another spot to Number 40 in pre-k through 12th grade education and up from Number 46 since 2019.
U.S. News & World Report measures 71 metrics across eight categories to rank the states. Categories include health care; education; economy; infrastructure; opportunity; fiscal stability; crime & corrections; and natural environment.
By comparison, Texas ranked 29 for best states overall, with a ranking of 6 for economy, and 8 for stability, yet ranked 48 for opportunities. Arkansas, meanwhile, ranked 47 overall, with a ranking of 27 for fiscal stability, and 29 for opportunities, while ranking 49 in crime and corrections, and 47 in Health Care.
The Reasons Why Louisiana Ranks Dead Last for Best State (Again)
Photo courtesy of ExxonMobil
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Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
