Louisiana quality of life and nutrition rankings

Louisiana continues to face low national rankings regarding quality of life, economic opportunity, and childhood nutrition.

According to U.S. News and World Report, the state ranked last in metrics including population health, women’s health outcomes, and social determinants of health such as education, housing, and healthcare. Local commentary has called for consequences for state officials due to a lack of progress over four consecutive years.

Childhood well-being remains a critical concern. The Juice Plus+ Childhood Nutrition Index ranks Louisiana 49th out of 50 states for early childhood nutrition among children aged 1 to 5, with a score of 26 out of 100. This is approximately 51% below the national average. Contributing factors include a 27.3% child poverty rate—the highest in the nation—and a 16.2% household food insecurity rate. Nutritional data indicates only 51% of toddlers eat fruit daily and 40% consume vegetables daily, while over 68% consume sugary drinks weekly. The index noted that Southern states occupy all 10 of the lowest-ranking positions in the country.

Further analysis by WalletHub ranks Louisiana as the third state with the most underprivileged children in the U.S., noting it has the second-highest share of children living below the poverty line and the highest share of low-income households without a working adult. Additionally, the Tulane University Murphy Institute’s ‘State of the States’ report provides a bipartisan analysis of 37 well-being measures, contributing to a broader view of the state’s standing across environmental, educational, and economic metrics.