Louisiana Financial Distress Profile
Composite distress data for 64 counties, updated quarterly from federal sources. Household debt, delinquency, foreclosure law, and county-level distress scores compared to national averages.
· Data from NY Fed, CFPB, BLS, US Courts, Q4 2025
Behind on your mortgage in Louisiana? See your options under Louisiana law →
Louisiana ranks #2 nationally for household financial distress. County Distress Index details are listed separately for its 64 counties. The national State Distress Index average is 50.0.
How Does Louisiana Compare to the National Average?
Louisiana is above the national average on 3 of 5 key household distress metrics. Credit card delinquency stands at 14.2% (above the 12.4% national rate), auto loan delinquency at 6.5%, and total debt per capita at $48,250.
Since 2019, credit card delinquency in Louisiana has risen 5.6pp and total household debt has grown 21.4%. The state shows a mixed distress picture across different debt categories.
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 composite State Distress Index score rose from 71.2 to 89.1 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 43.8 (Typical). On average, its inputs sit higher than in 44% of their own quarterly histories. Louisiana's State Distress Index of 84.7 (very high state distress) is computed from 4 equal-weighted domains covering delinquency, default and legal signals, housing-basis debt burden, and labor.
Louisiana vs. National Average
Delinquency rates measure the share of loan accounts 30 or more days past due. Higher rates signal greater household financial stress. Debt and balance figures are per capita, adjusted for state population.
Download all states (CSV)Louisiana vs. National: 5 Key Metrics (Q4 2025)
Source: NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax, Q4 2025.
Similar States by Distress Level
States ranked closest to Louisiana (#2) on the State Distress Index. Peer comparison reveals whether distress patterns are regional or structural.
| State | SDI Score | Score Label | Highest Domain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 84.7 | very high state distress | Delinquency |
| Nevada | 91.3 | extreme state distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Florida | 80.1 | very high state distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| South Carolina | 74.9 | high state distress | Delinquency |
Change Since 2019
Pre-pandemic 2019 values provide a baseline for how distress has evolved. Credit card and auto loan delinquency have risen sharply in most states since pandemic-era forbearance protections expired.
| Metric | 2019 | 2025 | Change | Nat'l 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Card Delinquency | 8.6% | 14.2% | +5.6pp | 12.4% |
| Auto Loan Delinquency | 6.9% | 6.5% | -0.4pp | 5.2% |
| Mortgage Delinquency | 1.50% | 1.83% | +0.3pp | 0.94% |
| Total Debt per Capita | $39,740 | $48,250 | +21.4% | $63,200 |
| CC Balance per Capita | $2,690 | $3,610 | +34.2% | $4,350 |
Louisiana Foreclosure Law Summary
Understanding your state's foreclosure process is critical if you fall behind on mortgage payments. Louisiana primarily uses judicial foreclosure.
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 →Court Oversight, but Rising Pressure
Despite 3 metrics exceeding national averages, Louisiana's judicial foreclosure requirement provides court oversight that slows the process and gives homeowners more time to respond. But judicial protection doesn't prevent distress — it extends the timeline. With a credit card delinquency rate of 14.2% (#3 nationally) and a Distress Index score of 84.7 (very high state distress), Louisiana ranks #2 of 51 jurisdictions for household financial distress.
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 73.5 — above the national county mean of 50.0.
Score Label Distribution
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Most Distressed Counties
| County | Score | Score Label | Top Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Carroll Parish | 90.9 | extreme county distress | Labor |
| Morehouse Parish | 89.9 | very high county distress | Labor |
| Concordia Parish | 87.8 | very high county distress | Labor |
| Madison Parish | 86.6 | very high county distress | Labor |
| Caddo Parish | 86.4 | very high county distress | Default & Legal |
East Carroll Parish ranks #10 most distressed nationally out of 3,144 counties.
Least Distressed Counties
| County | Score | Score Label | Top Domain |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Feliciana Parish | 48.0 | moderate-low county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Ascension Parish | 49.2 | moderate-low county distress | Delinquency |
| Cameron Parish | 49.4 | moderate-low county distress | Labor |
| St. Tammany Parish | 59.2 | moderate county distress | Default & Legal |
| Jefferson Davis Parish | 59.7 | moderate county distress | Labor |
The gap between Louisiana's most and least distressed counties is 42.9 points — East Carroll Parish (90.9, extreme county distress) vs. West Feliciana Parish (48.0, moderate-low county distress). That spread reveals two very different economic realities within the same state.
Explore all 64 Louisiana counties →CFPB Mortgage Complaints in Louisiana
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has received 4,802 mortgage complaints from Louisiana since 2012 — 105.0 per 100,000 residents, below the national rate of 133.2 per 100K. Louisiana ranks #26 of 51 jurisdictions for complaint density.
| 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 Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts filing rate reports annual cases per resident. It does not identify household causes, motives, assets, income, or case outcomes. Louisiana's filing rate exceeds the national average.
Source: U.S. Courts, Administrative Office. Table F-2: Cases Commenced by Chapter. Per-capita rates use 2024 Census population estimates.
Credit Distress: Louisiana
The Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer tracks credit health metrics from Equifax data. 21.5% of Louisiana residents have debt in collections — above the national rate 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. 2025 Q1.
Economic Context: Louisiana
SNAP enrollment and unemployment rates provide upstream context for household debt distress. Higher food assistance enrollment signals that more families are struggling with basic expenses, while elevated unemployment directly reduces income available for debt service.
Sources: USDA 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 49.7 out of 100 (Weak), ranking #24 of 51 jurisdictions.
Component Breakdown
Sources: Kaiser Family Foundation (Medicaid, 2024), USDA FNS (SNAP, 2025), U.S. Treasury HAF program status, 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 all states and DC. The national average is 12.4%. This rate has risen from 8.6% in 2019.
How does Louisiana's household debt compare to the national average?
Louisiana residents carry $48,250 in total debt per capita, below the national average of $63,200. Debt per capita has grown 21.4% since 2019. Louisiana ranks #42 nationally for total household debt per capita.
What is the auto loan delinquency rate in Louisiana?
Auto loan delinquency in Louisiana stands at 6.5% as of Q4 2025, above the national rate of 5.2%. This ranks #5 nationally. The rate was 6.9% in 2019.
What type of foreclosure process does Louisiana use?
Louisiana primarily uses judicial foreclosure. This means foreclosures must go through the court system, giving homeowners more time and procedural protections. See our full Louisiana foreclosure law guide for timelines, protections, and legal resources.
Is Louisiana above or below the national average for financial distress?
Louisiana scores 84.7 on the State Distress Index (very high state distress), ranking #2 of 51 jurisdictions. That is 34.7 points above the national state average of 50.0. This composite score is built from 4 domains: delinquency, default and legal, debt burden on a housing basis, and labor. Separately, the national American Distress Index reads 43.8 (Typical) for the country over time. On average, its inputs sit higher than in 44% of their own quarterly histories.
How many CFPB mortgage complaints have been filed in Louisiana?
The CFPB has received 4,802 mortgage complaints from Louisiana since 2012, a rate of 105.0 per 100,000 residents. This ranks #26 of 51 jurisdictions. The national average is 133.2 per 100K. Companies responded to 97.8% of Louisiana complaints within the required timeframe.
What is the bankruptcy filing rate in Louisiana?
Louisiana had 10,231 bankruptcy filings in the 12-month period ending Dec 2025, a rate of 223.7 per 100,000 residents — above the national rate of 169.1 per 100K. This ranks #11 of 51 jurisdictions. Chapter 7 filings account for 24.1% and Chapter 13 for 73.2%. Filings changed +11.5% year-over-year.
What percentage of people in Louisiana have debt in collections?
21.5% of individuals in Louisiana have debt in collections, above the national rate of 13.9%. This ranks #1 of 51 jurisdictions. Additionally, 24.4% of Louisiana residents have subprime credit scores (below 620), compared to 16.9% nationally. Data from the Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer (NY Fed / Equifax).
What is the SNAP enrollment rate in Louisiana?
632,015 residents of Louisiana receive SNAP benefits, an enrollment rate of 13.8% — above the national rate of 10.9%. This ranks #7 of 51 jurisdictions. SNAP participation has changed -22.0% year-over-year. The pre-pandemic rate was 17.3%.
How strong is Louisiana's financial safety net?
Louisiana scores 49.7 out of 100 on the Safety Net Index, ranking #24 of 51 jurisdictions (Weak). The score combines Medicaid coverage (29.6% enrollment rate, expansion state), SNAP enrollment (13.8%), Homeowner Assistance Fund status (exhausted), and foreclosure legal protections. The national average is 47.8.
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 90.9 · extreme county distress, ranking #10 nationally out of 3,144 counties. Morehouse Parish (89.9 · very high county distress), Concordia Parish (87.8 · very high county distress), Madison Parish (86.6 · very high county distress) round out the top distressed counties. West Feliciana Parish is the least distressed at 48.0 · moderate-low county distress. See all 64 counties at /counties/louisiana/.
How long can foreclosure take in Louisiana?
Louisiana uses judicial foreclosure, meaning every foreclosure goes through the court system. In Louisiana, the bank can foreclose in roughly 60–240 days from first missed payment to sale — though individual cases vary with cure periods, mediation, postponements, court backlogs, and bankruptcy filings. Homeowners have a right to cure: Borrower may cure the default at any time before the sheriff's sale by paying al…. The homestead exemption is $35,000. Full details at /help/foreclosure/louisiana/.
Where does Louisiana rank for financial distress?
Louisiana scores 84.7 on the State Distress Index (very high state distress), ranking #2 of 51 jurisdictions. 3 of 5 key metrics exceed national averages. The highest SDI domain is Delinquency. County Distress Index details are listed separately by county. The safety net ranks #24 (Weak).
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. Updated quarterly.
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 (2025), U.S. Treasury HAF program status, and state foreclosure legal protections.