The population of Washington Parish will be smaller and older by 2040, projections show.

The 2012 state profile, recently released by the independent, Washington, D.C.-based firm of Woods & Poole Economics, Inc., provides projections about the population of each Louisiana parish for the year 2040.

In 2010, the population of Washington Parish was 47,090. Woods & Poole projects that number will drop to 44,090 by 2040. The number of parish citizens age 65 and older totaled 6,830 in 2010, and the population in that age group is forecast to rise to 8,890 in 2040.

In neighboring St. Tammany Parish, the population was 234,570 in 2010 and is projected to grow to 536,770 by 2040.

While there were 29,720 residents age 65 and older in 2010, the number is expected to more than quadruple by 2040, increasing to 123,870.

Statewide, the population was 4,544,210 in 2010 and is projected to grow to 5632,550 by 2040. It is anticipated the 65-and-older population will almost double. It was 558,930 in 2010, and the 2040 projection is 1,051,800.

Woods & Poole specializes in long-term, county-by-county economic and demographic projections.

The data provided by the firm is used by various agencies for planning purposes.