Louisiana Birth Records Search
Louisiana’s Department of Health, Vital Records Office collects and issues all birth records for the state. They have been keeping LA birth records since 1918, but they have some records dating back further.
The State considers birth records to be “closed” therefore only the following people can obtain a copy of your Louisiana birth record: You, if you are 18 or older, your current spouse, mother or father, your adult child, adult siblings., grandparents, grandchildren and your attorney with legal authorization.
Table of Contents
You will also need your name and address information along with information about the person on record including:
Full name of the person on record, mother’s maiden name, date of birth, father’s full name, city of birth and gender.
You will also need to sign the application and prove your identity with a valid, photo ID like driver’s license, passport or military ID.
Types of LA Birth Records
The State offers two types of birth records that you can choose between.
- Standard Certified Copy - this copy is $15 and is legal to use to verify your identity when applying for school, the military or getting a passport or driver’s license.
- Birth Certificate & Card - this package includes the standard certified birth certificate along with a wallet-sized card you can carry around with you to prove your identity when needed.
You can also be supplied with Apostille copies of your birth record if needed.
State Population
The State has a population of 4.68 million people. Located in the Deep South, it is best known for its highly cultural city of New Orleans. It ranks 27th overall in the country regarding population with an annual growth rate of 0.75%.
Regarding landmass, it has an area of 51,839 square miles, making it the 31st largest state in the U.S. In terms of population density, there are approximately 105 people per square mile. The state was initially part of the Louisiana Territory until 1812 when it became a U.S. state.
Population change from 2010-2016
Population by Gender
There are more women than men in Louisiana. The total population of Louisiana is estimated at 4,686,157 people with 2,292,208 male and 2,393,949 female. There are 101,741 more more women than men in the state, which is 51.09% of the total population.
The Louisiana Gender Ratio is 96 men to 100 women (99:100) or 0.96. State’s gender ratio is lower than the national average of 97 men to 100 women (97:100) or 0.97.
Gender ratio in 2016
Total population in 2016
Timeline of male/female population from 2010-2016
Louisiana Birth Statistics
The state's birth rate decreased to 13.78 births per 1,000 population in 2016 with 63,178 total births making it higher than the national birth rate - 11.95 births per 1000 women. The total number of births for 2016 was 63,178, 1.60% of the number of nationwide registered births.
State Birth Rate
Top 5 States with Lower/Higher Birth Rates than Louisiana
| Top 5 states with a lower birth rate than Louisiana | Top 5 states with a higher birth rate than Louisiana |
|---|---|
| Maryland - 11.73 | Texas - 14.03 |
| Indiana - 12.17 | South Dakota - 14.32 |
| Tennessee - 12.07 | Nebraska - 13.93 |
| Georgia - 12.63 | District Of Columbia - 14.47 |
| Oregon - 11.05 | Utah - 16.47 |
Top 5 Counties in Louisiana with the lowest/highest Birth Rate
| Top 5 counties in Louisiana with the lowest birth rate | Top 5 counties in Louisiana with the highest birth rate |
|---|---|
| St. Tammany Parish - 12.18 | Tangipahoa Parish - 15.18 |
| Orleans Parish - 12.35 | Calcasieu Parish - 15.12 |
| Jefferson Parish - 13.49 | Ascension Parish - 14.40 |
| Caddo Parish - 13.52 | Ouachita Parish - 14.17 |
| East Baton Rouge Parish - 13.70 | Lafayette Parish - 13.96 |
Fertility Rate in LA
In Louisiana the fertility rate based on historical data went from 66.81 to 67.69 from 2010-2016, and currently is higher than the crude fertility rate of the US - 67.18 births per 1000 women. The state reproductive age of the mother has seen an increase during the last 6 years, going from 26.18 to 27.45.
State fertility rate timeline with the average age of mother
Fertility Rate By County
The top reproductive counties of Louisiana are Calcasieu Parish - 75.34, Tangipahoa Parish - 72.16 and Rapides Parish - 71.96. For the fertility rates of the rest of the counties, please see the table below:
| County | Fertility rate |
|---|---|
| Terrebonne Parish | 70.57 |
| Ascension Parish | 69.99 |
| Jefferson Parish | 69.87 |
| Bossier Parish | 68.29 |
| Caddo Parish | 67.54 |
| Ouachita Parish | 67.42 |
| Livingston Parish | 66.43 |
| St. Tammany Parish | 66.26 |
| Lafayette Parish | 64.48 |
| East Baton Rouge Parish | 60.39 |
| Orleans Parish | 53.67 |
State Average Birth Weight and LMP Gestational Age
Where to Obtain a Louisiana Birth Certificate
If you want to order by mail, send all your paperwork and fee to:
Vital Records Registry PO Box 60630, New Orleans, LA 70160. Processing will take 8-10 weeks.
You can also visit their office any weekday between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at: 1450 Poydras Street, Suite 400, New Orleans, LA 70112. You must pay with cash, check or money order when visiting in person.
The cost of a regular certified birth certificate is $15 each. Louisiana also offers a combo package where you get an extra wallet-sized card as well for $24. All checks, and money orders must be made payable to Louisiana Vital Records.
Louisiana Department of Public Health
Short form: $9.00* Fees for mail-in services are payable by check or money order. Checks and money orders should be made payable to Louisiana Vital Records. A copy of a valid photo ID for the applicant is required. * A $0.50 s