Lake Charles Flag

Lake Charles

County Seat:
Yes
Area (mi²):
47.469
State:
Louisiana

Lake Charles is a city located in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. Lake Charles has a 2026 population of 79,293. It is also the county seat of Calcasieu Parish. Lake Charles is currently declining at a rate of -1.16% annually and its population has decreased by -6.59% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 84,885 in 2020.

The median household income in Lake Charles is $59,235 with a poverty rate of 23.29%. The median age in Lake Charles is 36.6 years: 35.2 years for males, and 37.7 years for females. For every 100 females there are 97.5 males.

79.3K
Total Population
1,670
Density (mi²)
-932 -1.16%
Growth

Lake Charles Population

Lake Charles Population

Data after 2023 is projected based on recent change

Year ↓
Population
Growth
Annual Change
202679,293-932-1.16%
202580,225-932-1.15%
202481,1571,2201.53%
202379,9377010.88%
202279,236-1,233-1.53%
202180,469-4,469-5.26%
202084,8856,3758.12%
201978,5102250.29%
201878,2857270.94%
201777,5581,0961.43%
201676,4628121.07%
201575,6501,1701.57%
201474,4806220.84%
201373,8582220.3%
201273,6367881.08%
201172,8483420.47%
201072,5065130.71%
200071,7571,1771.67%
199070,580-4,646-6.18%
198075,226-2,772-3.55%
197077,99814,60623.04%
196063,39222,12053.6%
195041,27220,06594.61%
194021,2075,41634.3%
193015,7912,70320.65%
192013,0881,63914.32%
191011,4494,76971.39%
19006,6803,23894.07%
18903,44200%

Median Age

Overall: 36.6 years
Female: 37.7 years
Male: 35.2 years

Lake Charles Adults

There are 63,394 adults, (13,747 of whom are seniors) in Lake Charles.

Sex Ratio

Female: 41,081 (50.6%)
Male: 40,062 (49.4%)

Demographics

The racial composition of Lake Charles includes 46.08% White, 42.43% Black or African American, and smaller percentages for Asian, other race, Native American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and multiracial populations.

Population by Race

Race
Population ↓
Percentage (of total)
White37,38846.08%
Black or African American34,42542.43%
Two or more races5,2836.51%
Asian2,2212.74%
Other race1,4691.81%
Native American2810.35%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander760.09%
Race
Population ↓
Percentage (of total)
Two or more races2,5783.18%
Other race1,1241.39%
White6290.78%
Native American1300.16%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander760.09%
Asian580.07%
Black or African American440.05%
Race
Population ↓
Percentage (of total)
White36,75945.3%
Black or African American34,38142.37%
Two or more races2,7053.33%
Asian2,1632.67%
Other race3450.43%
Native American1510.19%

Lake Charles Marital Status

Economics and Income Statistics

Lake Charles ' average per capita income is $41,667. Household income levels show a median of $59,235. The poverty rate stands at 23.29%.

Families: A family includes the owner or renter of the home along with everyone related to them - whether through birth, marriage, or adoption. This includes relatives like spouses, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, and any other family members.
Households: A household includes all the people who occupy a housing unit (such as a house or apartment) as their usual place of residence.
Non Families: A nonfamily household is either someone living alone or when the owner/renter lives with people they aren't related to, like roommates.
Name
Median ↓
Mean
Married Families$107,836-
Families$81,500$118,208
Households$59,235$89,319
Non Families$37,727$47,590

$41,667

Average Income

$59,235

Median Household Income

23.29%

Poverty Rate

Nearby Cities

Sources

  1. US Census State Population Estimates - Most recent state estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program
  2. US Census County Population Estimates - Most recent county estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program
  3. American Community Survey (2009 - 2013)
  4. Census QuickFacts
  5. Historical Populations of States and Counties (1790 - 1990)