Louisiana Financial Distress Profile
Household debt and delinquency, bankruptcy filings, unemployment, foreclosure law and county distress scores for Louisiana and its 64 counties, from federal sources, each shown beside the U.S. figure.
· Data from Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Q4 2025
Behind on your mortgage in Louisiana? See your options under Louisiana law →
Louisiana ranks #2 of 51 jurisdictions on the State Distress Index, in the most distressed fifth: its score of 98 means it is more distressed than 98% of the 50 states and D.C.. County Distress Index details are listed separately for its 64 counties.
How Does Louisiana Compare With the U.S.?
Louisiana is above the U.S. figure on 3 of 5 household debt measures from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for Q4 2025: credit card delinquency (14.2%), auto loan delinquency (6.5%) and mortgage delinquency (1.83%). Credit card delinquency is 14.2%, 1.8 percentage points above the U.S. 12.4%; total debt per adult with a credit file is $48,250, $14,950 below the U.S. $63,200.
Credit card delinquency in Louisiana is up 5.6 percentage points from 8.6% in Q4 2019, and total debt per adult with a credit file is 21.4% higher than in Q4 2019.
Key Statistics at a Glance
State Distress Index: Louisiana
Movement since 2006
Since 2006, Louisiana has climbed from the 9th-most distressed jurisdiction to the 2nd-most distressed, as of 2025 Q1. Its State Distress Index score rose from 84 to 98 over the same span.
Quarter-aligned back-series. Each quarter re-ranks all 51 jurisdictions on that quarter's own data, so a state's position here can sit several spots from the current reading above, which uses each input's latest value.
Domain Breakdown
The national American Distress Index reads 47.0 (Typical). The composite itself sits higher than 44% of all published quarters since 2005. Louisiana's State Distress Index of 98 (extreme state distress) is computed from 4 equal-weighted domains covering delinquency, default and legal signals, housing-basis debt burden, and labor.
Louisiana and the U.S.
Delinquency rates measure balances 90 or more days past due as a share of total balances in each loan category. Higher rates signal greater household financial stress. Debt and balance figures are per adult with a credit file, not per resident.
Download all states (CSV)Louisiana and the U.S.: 5 Household Debt Measures (Q4 2025)
Source: NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax, Q4 2025.
Similar States by Distress Level
The states ranked closest to Louisiana (#2) on the State Distress Index, with the domain that scores highest in each.
Change Since 2019
Q4 2019, the last fourth quarter before the pandemic, is the baseline. Credit card delinquency is higher than in Q4 2019 in 51 of 51 jurisdictions, and auto loan delinquency is higher in 33.
| Metric | Q4 2019 | Q4 2025 | Change | U.S. Q4 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Card Delinquency | 8.6% | 14.2% | +5.6 percentage points | 12.4% |
| Auto Loan Delinquency | 6.9% | 6.5% | −0.3 percentage points | 5.2% |
| Mortgage Delinquency | 1.50% | 1.83% | +0.33 percentage points | 0.94% |
| Total Debt per Adult With a Credit File | $39,740 | $48,250 | +21.4% | $63,200 |
| Card Balance per Adult With a Credit File | $2,690 | $3,610 | +34.2% | $4,350 |
Louisiana Foreclosure Law Summary
If you fall behind on mortgage payments, the steps and deadlines depend on state law. Louisiana mainly uses judicial foreclosure, which goes through the courts.
Louisiana uses executory process as the primary method -- technically judicial, but it is a summary ex parte procedure where the court issues a writ of seizure and sale without a full hearing.
Full Louisiana foreclosure law guide →Judicial Foreclosure and Above-U.S. Delinquency
3 of 5 NY Fed household debt measures in Louisiana are above the U.S. figure. Louisiana mainly uses judicial foreclosure, which goes through the courts, so a lender needs a court order before a sale. Credit card delinquency is 14.2% (#3 of 51), and Louisiana ranks #2 of 51 on the State Distress Index, in the most distressed fifth.
Distress by County
The County Distress Index scores every county in Louisiana on a 0-100 scale using five equal-weighted domains: delinquency, default and legal, debt burden, labor, and safety net and buffer. Louisiana's 64 counties average 83.7: on average, Louisiana's counties are more distressed than 83% of U.S. counties. Across all 3,144 counties the average is 50.0, the middle of the scale.
Score Label Distribution
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Most Distressed Counties
| County | Score | Score Label | Top Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Carroll Parish | 99 | extreme county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Concordia Parish | 99 | extreme county distress | Delinquency |
| Madison Parish | 99 | extreme county distress | Labor |
| St. John the Baptist Parish | 99 | extreme county distress | Delinquency |
| Morehouse Parish | 98 | extreme county distress | Default & Legal |
East Carroll Parish ranks #13 most distressed nationally out of 3,144 counties.
Least Distressed Counties
| County | Score | Score Label | Top Domain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ascension Parish | 37 | low-moderate county distress | Delinquency |
| Cameron Parish | 37 | low-moderate county distress | Default & Legal |
| LaSalle Parish | 52 | moderate county distress | Delinquency |
| St. Tammany Parish | 53 | moderate county distress | Default & Legal |
| West Feliciana Parish | 53 | moderate county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
The most distressed county in Louisiana is East Carroll Parish (99, extreme county distress); the least distressed is Ascension Parish (37, low-moderate county distress).
Explore all 64 Louisiana counties →CFPB Mortgage Complaints in Louisiana
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has received 4,896 mortgage complaints from Louisiana since 2012, 107.0 per 100,000 residents, 28 below the U.S. rate of 135. Louisiana ranks #26 of 51 on complaints per resident.
| Year | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complaints | 206 | 235 | 355 | 319 | 365 | 409 |
Source: CFPB Consumer Complaint Database. Filed a mortgage complaint? Search the complaint database.
Bankruptcy Filings: Louisiana
The filing rate is bankruptcy cases filed in a year, from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, per 100,000 residents. It does not identify household causes, motives, assets, income, or case outcomes. Louisiana's rate of 223.7 is 54.6 above the U.S. rate of 169.1.
Source: U.S. Courts, Administrative Office. Table F-2: Cases Commenced by Chapter. Per-capita rates use 2024 U.S. Census Bureau population estimates.
Credit Distress: Louisiana
The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia's Consumer Credit Explorer reports credit health from NY Fed / Equifax credit records. 21.5% of people with a credit file in Louisiana have debt in collections, 7.6 percentage points above the U.S. average of 13.9%. 24.4% have subprime credit scores (below 620), and 49.7% are credit-constrained.
Source: Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer. Data from NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax. Q1 2025. The U.S. average is weighted by state population (our calculation).
Economic Context: Louisiana
SNAP enrollment and unemployment give context for the debt figures above. The unemployment rate measures joblessness among people in the labor force. SNAP enrollment reflects each state's program rules and reach as well as need, which is why it is not part of the State Distress Index.
Sources: U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics. Population: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 estimates.
Safety Net Strength: Louisiana
The Safety Net Index measures how much support infrastructure is available to households in financial distress — combining healthcare coverage, food assistance, emergency housing funds, and legal protections. Louisiana scores 54.7 out of 100 (Moderate), ranking #10 of 51 jurisdictions.
Component Breakdown
Sources: Kaiser Family Foundation (Medicaid, 2024), USDA FNS (SNAP, June 2026), state foreclosure statutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the credit card delinquency rate in Louisiana?
The credit card delinquency rate in Louisiana is 14.2% as of Q4 2025, ranking #3 among the 51 states and DC, 1.8 percentage points above the U.S. 12.4%. It is up 5.6 percentage points from 8.6% in Q4 2019.
How does Louisiana's household debt compare with the U.S.?
The NY Fed reports a $48,250 total debt balance per adult with a credit file in Louisiana, $14,950 below the U.S. $63,200 on the same basis. That is 21.4% higher than in Q4 2019. Louisiana ranks #42 on that basis.
What is the auto loan delinquency rate in Louisiana?
Auto loan delinquency in Louisiana is 6.5% as of Q4 2025, 1.4 percentage points above the U.S. 5.2%. This ranks #4 of 51. The rate is down from 6.9% in Q4 2019.
What type of foreclosure process does Louisiana use?
Louisiana mainly uses judicial foreclosure, which goes through the courts. See our Louisiana foreclosure guide for the timeline, homeowner protections and where to get free help.
What is Louisiana's State Distress Index score?
Louisiana scores 98 on the State Distress Index (extreme state distress), which means it is more distressed than 98% of the 50 states and D.C.. It ranks #2 of 51 jurisdictions, in the most distressed fifth. The score is built from 4 equal-weighted domains: delinquency, default and legal, debt burden on a housing basis, and labor. It ranks states against each other at one time. Separately, the national American Distress Index reads 47.0 (Typical) for the country over time. The composite itself sits higher than 44% of all published quarters since 2005.
How many CFPB mortgage complaints have been filed in Louisiana?
The CFPB has received 4,896 mortgage complaints from Louisiana since 2012, 107.0 per 100,000 residents, 28 below the U.S. rate of 135. That ranks #26 of 51. Companies responded to 97.8% of Louisiana complaints on time.
What is the bankruptcy filing rate in Louisiana?
Louisiana had 10,231 bankruptcy filings in the 12-month period ending Dec 2025, 223.7 per 100,000 residents, 54.6 above the U.S. rate of 169.1. This ranks #11 of 51. Chapter 7 filings account for 24.1% and Chapter 13 for 73.2%. That is 11.5% more filings than in 2024.
What percentage of people in Louisiana have debt in collections?
21.5% of people with a credit file in Louisiana have debt in collections, 7.6 percentage points above the U.S. average of 13.9%. This ranks #1 of 51. 24.4% have subprime credit scores (below 620), 7.5 percentage points above the U.S. average of 16.9%. Data from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Consumer Credit Explorer (NY Fed / Equifax), Q1 2025.
What is the SNAP enrollment rate in Louisiana?
626,575 residents of Louisiana received SNAP benefits in June 2026, an enrollment rate of 13.7%, 2.9 percentage points above the U.S. rate of 10.8%. This ranks #6 of 51. That is 20.8% fewer people than in June 2025. The rate is 3.6 percentage points below the October 2019 to February 2020 average.
How strong is Louisiana's financial safety net?
Louisiana scores 54.7 out of 100 on the Safety Net Index, ranking #10 of 51 (Moderate). The score combines Medicaid coverage (29.6% enrollment rate, expansion state), SNAP enrollment (13.7%), and foreclosure legal protections. That is above the state average of 43.6.
Which Louisiana counties have the highest financial distress?
East Carroll Parish is the most distressed county in Louisiana with a County Distress Index score of 99 · extreme county distress, ranking #13 nationally out of 3,144 counties. Concordia Parish (99 · extreme county distress), Madison Parish (99 · extreme county distress), St. John the Baptist Parish (99 · extreme county distress) are next. Ascension Parish is the least distressed at 37 · low-moderate county distress. See all 64 counties at /counties/louisiana/.
How long can foreclosure take in Louisiana?
Louisiana mainly uses judicial foreclosure, which goes through the courts. In Louisiana, foreclosures that finished in the second quarter of 2026 took an average of 3,491 days from the start of the foreclosure process to completion, according to ATTOM. Individual cases vary with cure periods, mediation, postponements, court backlogs and bankruptcy filings. Homestead exemption: $35,000 in value of a home the owner occupies (La. R.S. 20:1), or the full value for debts arising directly from a catastrophic or terminal illness or injury. The exemption does not apply to money advanced on the security of a mortgage on the home, so it does not stop a mortgage foreclosure; if the owner was married when granting the mortgage, the spouse must have consented. Other listed debts, such as the purchase price and taxes, are also excluded. Full details at /help/foreclosure/louisiana/.
Where does Louisiana rank for financial distress?
Louisiana scores 98 on the State Distress Index (extreme state distress), which means it is more distressed than 98% of the 50 states and D.C.. It ranks #2 of 51 jurisdictions, in the most distressed fifth. 3 of 5 NY Fed household debt measures are above the U.S. figure. The State Distress Index domain with the highest score is Delinquency. County Distress Index details are listed separately by county. The safety net ranks #10 (Moderate).
Data Sources
NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel
State-level household debt and delinquency statistics from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, based on Equifax credit bureau data. Published once a year with fourth-quarter figures.
American Distress Index
Composite index tracking U.S. household financial distress across five equal-weighted domains. National score as of the latest available quarter.
Louisiana Foreclosure Statutes
State foreclosure law data compiled from primary statutory sources and validated against legal databases. Last verified 2026-03-10.
CFPB Complaint Database
Mortgage complaints filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 2012–present. Density calculated using 2024 Census population estimates.
USDA SNAP State Activity
Monthly SNAP participation by state from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. Enrollment rates computed against 2024 Census population estimates.
U.S. Bankruptcy Courts
Annual bankruptcy filings by chapter and district from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Per-capita rates computed against 2024 Census population estimates.
Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer
Quarterly credit health metrics (collections, subprime share, delinquency, credit-constrained rates) from Equifax via the NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel.
Safety Net Index
Composite score from KFF Medicaid enrollment (2024), USDA SNAP participation (latest month), and state foreclosure legal protections.