'2019's Most Sinful States' List Includes Virginia

VIRGINIA — Mardi Gras is coming up, which traditionally offers an excuse for vices drinking an other overindulgences. However, you don't have to be in New Orleans or other popular Mardi Gras party locations to see some eyebrow-raising celebrating, as every state is known for its own virtues and vices, from gambling to smoking to drug use. Personal-finance website WalletHub recently released its report on 2019's Most Sinful States, and Virginia just so happens to be ranked No. 21.

WalletHub set out to determine the areas in which the country has the most moral growing to do, therefore the report highlights the results of comparing the 50 states based on seven sinful behaviors: Anger and hatred, jealousy, excesses and vices, greed, lust, vanity and laziness.

Virginia: Number 21

• WalletHub Vice Index: 44.44
• Anger and Hatred: 41
• Jealousy: 29
• Excesses and Vices: 38
• Greed: 6
• Lust: 26
• Vanity: 9
• Laziness: 34

In addition to Mardi Gras, harmful behavior on the individual level can result in staggering economic costs, according to WalletHub, considering that gambling addiction costs the U.S. $5 billion per year and smoking costs the U.S. 60 times that, with over $300 billion per year.

Most Sinful States

• 1) Nevada
• 2) Florida
• 3) California
• 4) Texas
• 5) Tennessee
• 6) Louisiana
• 7) Georgia
• 8) Illinois
• 9) Michigan
• 10) Arizona

Least Sinful States

• 41) South Dakota
• 42) New Hampshire
• 43) Utah
• 44) Wyoming
• 45) Iowa
• 46) Idaho
• 47) Nebraska
• 48) North Dakota
• 49) Maine
• 50) Vermont

Mardi Gras Key Stats

• $1+ Billion: The economic impact of Mardi Gras on New Orleans.
• $600 Million: The economic impact of Mardi Gras on Alabama's Mobile.
• 25+ Million Pounds: Beads thrown during Mardi Gras in New Orleans each year.
• 164,000: Number of people who flew to New Orleans for Mardi Gras in 2018, the most since 2010.

Methodology: WalletHub examined each of the seven sinful behaviors using 43 relevant metrics, which are listed in the report with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest level of sinfulness, according to the report, adding that metrics marked with an asterisk (*) had the square root of the population used to calculate the population size in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across states. Each state's WalletHub Vice Index is based on its weighted average across all metrics and used the resulting scores to rank-order the cities.

Full report and more information: 2019's Most Sinful States; Mardi Gras Facts - Booze, Floats, Money & More infographic