Louisiana Ranks 3rd Most Sinful State in New Study

WalletHub analysis finds high rates of white-collar crime, mass shootings, and other immoral behavior in the state.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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A new study by WalletHub has ranked Louisiana as the third most sinful state in the United States. The analysis compared states across 54 key indicators of immoral or illicit behavior, with Nevada ranking first and California second. Louisiana's high ranking was driven by its high rates of white-collar crimes like identity theft and fraud, as well as violent crimes fueled by anger and hatred, including having the seventh-highest number of mass shootings in the country.

Why it matters

Louisiana's ranking as one of the most sinful states in the nation raises concerns about the prevalence of unethical and criminal behavior in the state, which can have wide-ranging impacts on public safety, economic stability, and the overall well-being of residents.

The details

According to the WalletHub study, Louisiana ranked highly for greed, with the eighth-highest number of identity theft and ninth-highest number of fraud complaints per capita. The state also ranked fifth for anger and hatred, and seventh for lust and jealousy. Additionally, Louisiana had the seventh-highest number of mass shootings, indicating high levels of violent crime fueled by these negative emotions.

  • The WalletHub study was released on February 23, 2026.

The players

WalletHub

A personal finance website that conducted the study comparing the sinfulness of U.S. states.

Louisiana

The state that ranked third in the WalletHub study for having the highest levels of immoral and illicit behavior.

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What they’re saying

“Greed rears its ugly head in the state, as it ranks eighth when it comes to the number of identity theft and ninth for fraud complaints per capita. Violent crimes fueled by anger and hatred are also a problem, as Louisiana has the seventh-highest number of mass shootings.”

— WalletHub (cenlanow.com)

The takeaway

The findings of this study highlight the need for Louisiana to address the underlying social, economic, and cultural factors that contribute to high levels of unethical and criminal behavior in the state. Policymakers and community leaders will need to work together to implement comprehensive solutions that promote greater ethics, safety, and well-being for all Louisiana residents.