Red River Parish has been ranked No. 5 among the Louisiana parishes experiencing the least population growth, according to recently published data from World Population Review. The ranking places Red River Parish among a small group of parishes where population numbers have remained flat or continued to decline rather than grow.

World Population Review estimates Red River Parish’s 2026 population at 7,083, with an annual growth rate of -1.14%. The site also reports the parish has declined by more than 22% since 2010, a sign of the long-term population loss that has affected many rural areas in Louisiana.

Federal census figures point in the same direction. The U.S. Census Bureau lists Red River Parish’s 2020 Census population at 7,620, with a July 1, 2025 estimate of 7,238. That amounts to about a 6% drop since the 2020 count.

For Red River Parish, the ranking reflects a challenge many small rural communities are facing. Fewer residents can mean a smaller workforce, fewer students in local schools, and added pressure on businesses and services that depend on stable population numbers. At the same time, parish leaders and residents continue to point to the strengths that keep people rooted here — a close-knit community, local schools, family ties, and the slower pace of parish life.

Coushatta, the parish seat and largest town in Red River Parish, is also seeing a decline. World Population Review estimates Coushatta’s 2026 population at 1,586, down from 1,747 in 2020.

While rankings like this can raise concern, they also highlight an important conversation about the future of rural Louisiana. For Red River Parish, being listed at No. 5 is more than just a statistic — it is a reminder of the need to keep building opportunities, supporting local business, and creating reasons for families to stay and invest in the parish’s future.