Latest New Orleans Population Figures

A new survey conducted by the Louisiana Public Health Institute announced that 187,525 people currently live in New Orleans. That is 41% shy of the the city's pre-Katrina population of 454,000 people. The survey was done for the Louisiana Recovery Authority and involved survey takers going door to door in neighbrohoods throughout the city. Louisiana Recovery Authority spokeswoman Natalie Wyeth stated that the results are "the definitive, most precise set of numbers we've seen." The population figure greatly differs with Mayor Ray Nagin's estimate. He has concluded that the city will have 300,000 people by year's end.

The figure is significantly less than the pre-Katrina population of the city. It is an indication that New Orleanians scattered throughout the country do not believe that the quality of life situation in the city merits a return. Moreover, the neighborhoods in which the 187,525 people reside is significant for the determination of where and what to rebuild in New Orleans. It will determine where to build new homes, schools, hospitals, etc. Next session, Congress must immediately take up greater hurricane and flood protection because with every day that passes with no action New Orleans' future is thrown deeper into doubt.