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Arkansas population: low prices, low incomes and growth from other states

Arkansas had a population of 3,114,791 on July 1, 2025, the 19th smallest of the 50 states and DC, according to the Census Bureau's latest official estimates (Vintage 2025). Between July 2024 and July 2025 the population grew by 18,711 people (+0.60%), and the state now has 103,261 more residents than in April 2020 (+3.43%).1

South region, West South Central division

In 2025 the population was 66.1% white, 14.5% Black, 9.8% Hispanic or Latino, 6.3% two or more races and 2.0% Asian (all groups other than Hispanic are non-Hispanic).2 The median age is 39.3 years3, the median household income $65,5884 and the poverty rate 15.0%5.

Other official counts of Arkansas's population
Official population figures for Arkansas
MeasurePeople
Population estimate, July 1, 2025 (headline)3,114,791
Population estimate, July 1, 20243,096,080
2020 Census count, April 1, 20203,011,524
Estimates base, April 1, 20203,011,530
American Community Survey, 2025 1-year3,114,791
American Community Survey, 2020–2024 5-year average3,049,391

Source: Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025; Census Bureau, 2020 Census apportionment results and historical resident population 1910-2020; Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B01003; Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, table B01003. The July 2025 estimate is the official current figure. The census is a count at one date; the estimates carry it forward with births, deaths and migration; the ACS is a survey weighted to the estimates, so its total is shown with a margin of error (±, 90% confidence) or controlled to the estimate.

Arkansas has the lowest price level of any state and one of the lowest median household incomes. Its population keeps growing because more people move in from other states than leave, while deaths slightly outnumber births. It is also home to more Marshallese residents than any other state.

Data as of October 29, 2026 (newest release used on this page).

3.1 million residents, and a mid-century dip

Arkansas reached its highest population on record in 2025, at 3,114,7911. The road there was not a straight line. The census counted 1,949,387 residents in 1940, then fewer in 1950 (1,909,511) and fewer again in 1960 (1,786,272). The state did not pass its 1940 count until the 1980 Census, which found 2,286,4359.

Arkansas also slipped in the national order. It ranked 24th of 51 in 1940 and 33rd of 519 in 1980, and it has stayed close to that position since: 33rd of 516 in 2020. Today's population is 1.6 times the 1950 count and 1.2 times1 the count of 2000.

Population of Arkansas, 1810–2025
Population of Arkansas, 1810–2025. Arkansas: 1,062 in 1810 to 3.1M in 202501.0M2.0M3.0M1810188019502025

Source: Census Bureau, Historical Census Statistics on Population Totals by Race, 1790 to 1990; Census Bureau, 2020 Census apportionment results and historical resident population 1910-2020; Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025. Census counts every ten years (April 1); estimates for July 1 after 2020.

Show the numbers
YearArkansas
18101,062
182014,273
183030,388
184097,574
1850209,897
1860435,450
1870484,471
1880802,525
18901,128,211
19001,311,564
19101,574,449
19201,752,204
19301,854,482
19401,949,387
19501,909,511
19601,786,272
19701,923,295
19802,286,435
19902,350,725
20002,673,400
20102,915,918
20203,011,524
20213,027,127
20223,047,429
20233,069,856
20243,096,080
20253,114,791

The lowest price level of any state

The Bureau of Economic Analysis compares prices across states with an index called regional price parity, where the US average is 100. Arkansas scored 86.9 in 2024, the least expensive in the nation and less expensive than every bordering state (Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas). The margin over Mississippi (87.0) is small, but goods prices alone are also the least expensive in the nation, at 93.610.

Rent is where the gap is widest. The BEA price level for housing rents was 58.2, 42% below the US figure (100.6) and the 3rd least expensive10 in the country. The American Community Survey (ACS) tells the same story in dollars: the median gross rent was $1,055 a month in 2025, $502 (32%) below the US figure ($1,557)11, and the median value of an owner-occupied home was $228,400, $142,700 (38%) below the US figure ($371,100)12.

Regional price parity, all items, 2024 (US = 100): the ten least expensive states

Source: BEA, SARPP Regional Price Parities by state. Period: 2024.

Show the numbers
StatePrice level (US = 100)
Kansas90.1
West Virginia89.5
North Dakota89.0
Alabama88.8
South Dakota88.6
Louisiana88.2
Oklahoma87.8
Iowa87.8
Mississippi87.0
Arkansas86.9

Low incomes, partly offset by low prices

Half of Arkansas households had income above $65,588 in 2025 and half below (±$976). That is $19,192 (23%) below the US figure ($84,780), and up from $63,740 in 2024 (in 2025 dollars). Within the margins of error, Arkansas ranks between 47th and 49th among the states and DC; the two lowest medians are in Mississippi ($59,346) and West Virginia ($61,340). The Arkansas figure is higher than Mississippi; lower than Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas; not statistically different from Louisiana4. Median family income, $81,450, is the 3rd lowest13.

Prices change the comparison. BEA personal income per person was $61,697 in 2025, $15,331 (20%) below the US figure ($77,028). Adjusted for state price levels, the 2024 figure was $55,219, $3,976 (7%) below the US figure ($59,195). A gap of a fifth in dollars becomes a gap of less than a tenth in purchasing power, and the rank moves from 5th lowest14 to 14th lowest10.

Household income in Arkansas compared with United States, 2025
Under $25,00018.2% 14.0%
$25,000–$49,99920.4% 15.4%
$50,000–$99,99930.8% 27.8%
$100,000–$199,99922.5% 28.0%
$200,000 or more8.1% 14.8%

Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B19001. Share of households in each band of income in the past 12 months, in 2025 dollars.

Show the numbers
Household incomeArkansasMOEUnited States
Under $25,00018.2%±0.714.0%
$25,000–$49,99920.4%±0.815.4%
$50,000–$99,99930.8%±0.927.8%
$100,000–$199,99922.5%±0.828.0%
$200,000 or more8.1%±0.414.8%

The income distribution sits lower than the nation's at both ends. Households under $25,000 make up 18.2%, 4.2 percentage points above the US figure (14.0%); households at $200,000 or more make up 8.1%, the 3rd lowest15. Tax data add a detail the survey cannot show. Only 2.6 per 1,000 tax returns reported income of $1 million or more in 2023, 48% below the US figure (5.0 per 1,000 tax returns). Yet those returns accounted for 17.2% of all income on Arkansas returns, the 10th highest share and 0.6 percentage points above the US figure (16.6%)16: few very high earners, holding a large slice of the total.

Poverty, SNAP and Medicaid: what share of Arkansas gets help

The official poverty rate was 15.0% in 2025 (±0.7 percentage points), 3.2 percentage points above the US figure (11.8%) and not statistically different from 15.5% in 2024. The margins of error place the state between 4th and 9th among the states and DC. Children are the most affected group: 20.1% of Arkansans under 18 lived below the poverty line, the 4th highest5 rate. Counting everyone with income below twice the poverty line, the share is 34.8%, the 4th highest17.

Poverty has eased over two decades. The 2025 rate is down from 17.2% in 2005; in between, the ACS rate reached 19.8%18 in 2012. The Census Bureau's Supplemental Poverty Measure, which counts taxes and benefits and adjusts the poverty line for local housing costs, averaged 12.8% over 2023 to 2025, not statistically different from the US figure (13.0%)19. On that measure, Arkansas's poverty rate is in line with the nation's.

Poverty rate, Arkansas and the US, 2005–2025 (ACS 1-year)
Poverty rate, Arkansas and the US, 2005–2025 (ACS 1-year). Arkansas: 17.2% in 2005 to 15.0% in 2025; United States: 13.3% in 2005 to 11.8% in 202510.0%12.5%15.0%17.5%20.0%20052010201520212025

Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2005-2019 and 2021-2025. ACS 1-year estimates; no standard 1-year release for 2020. Shaded band: 90% margin of error.

Show the numbers
YearArkansasUnited States
200517.2% ±0.613.3% ±0.1
200617.3% ±0.613.3% ±0.1
200717.9% ±0.613.0% ±0.1
200817.3% ±0.713.2% ±0.1
200918.8% ±0.614.3% ±0.1
201018.8% ±0.615.3% ±0.1
201119.5% ±0.615.9% ±0.1
201219.8% ±0.615.9% ±0.1
201319.7% ±0.615.8% ±0.1
201418.9% ±0.515.5% ±0.1
201519.1% ±0.614.7% ±0.1
201617.2% ±0.614.0% ±0.1
201716.4% ±0.613.4% ±0.1
201817.2% ±0.713.1% ±0.1
201916.2% ±0.612.3% ±0.1
202116.3% ±0.712.8% ±0.1
202216.8% ±0.712.6% ±0.1
202315.7% ±0.612.5% ±0.1
202415.5% ±0.612.1% ±0.1
202515.0% ±0.711.8% ±0.1

There is no official count of people "on welfare"; each program counts its own participants. The two largest are SNAP food benefits and Medicaid.

  • SNAP, program records. The US Department of Agriculture counted 240,378 participants in an average month of fiscal year 2025, in 126,916 households. That is 7.7% of the population, 4.6 percentage points below the US figure (12.3%) and lower than every bordering state (Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas). The average benefit was $175.15 per person a month, lower than every bordering state (Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas)20.
  • SNAP, survey answers. In the 2025 ACS, 8.5% of households said they had received SNAP at some point in the past 12 months, 3.0 percentage points below the US figure (11.5%). Among households below the poverty line, though, 54.9% received it, 12.9 percentage points above the US figure (42.0%). Of the households receiving SNAP, 46.5% included children under 18 (4.2 percentage points above the US figure (42.3%)) and 39.0% included someone 60 or older (6.1 percentage points below the US figure (45.1%)21).
  • Medicaid and CHIP, program records. In June 2026, 779,417 people were enrolled, 25.0% of residents and 3.5 percentage points above the US figure (21.5%). Children accounted for 400,518 of them. Since June 2025, when enrollment stood at 821,198, it has changed by −5.1%, 0.7 percentage points above the US figure (−5.8%)22.
  • Public coverage, survey answers. In the 2025 ACS, 19.4% of residents reported Medicaid or another means-tested plan, including 43.7% of children under 19. Counting Medicare and VA care as well, 40.0% had public health coverage, the 8th highest23 share.

The program counts and the survey answers measure different things (a monthly average against "at any time in the year"; records against self-reports), so they are listed separately. In the program records, SNAP reaches a smaller share of residents than nationally. In the survey, it reaches a larger share of poor households than nationally. Medicaid and CHIP records cover a quarter of residents.

Arkansas at a glance
MeasureArkansasUSRank of 51
Poverty rate15.0% ±0.711.8%7th (4th–9th)
Child poverty rate20.1% ±1.114.8%4th (4th–8th)
Deep poverty7.1% ±0.45.9%9th (5th–10th)
SPM rate12.8% ±1.413.0%15th (9th–25th)
SNAP participants (% of residents)7.7%12.3%43rd
Poor households receiving SNAP54.9% ±3.042.0%6th (1st–8th)
Medicaid and CHIP enrollees (% of residents)25.0%21.5%13th
Public health coverage40.0% ±0.735.4%8th (7th–11th)

Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B17001; Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table C17002; Census Bureau, Poverty in the United States; USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), SNAP Monthly State Participation and Benefit Summary, Fiscal Year 2025; Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table S2201; CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services), State Medicaid and CHIP Applications, Eligibility Determinations, and Enrollment Data; Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table S2704. Rank 1 is the highest value. Where survey margins of error overlap, the range in brackets shows the ranks the state could hold.

Growth comes from other states

Arkansas had 103,261 more residents on July 1, 2025 than on April 1, 2020. Net moves from other states supplied 83,544 people and net arrivals from abroad 31,766. Births and deaths pulled the other way: 198,335 deaths against 185,644 births, for a natural change of −12,691. Arkansas is one of 20 states that recorded more deaths than births between April 2020 and June 20251.

How Arkansas's population changed, April 2020 to July 2025
Births+185,644
Deaths−198,335
Net domestic migration+83,544
Net international migration+31,766
Residual (estimation adjustment)+642
Total change+103,261

Source: Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025. Each bar starts where the previous one ended. The residual is the part of the change the Census Bureau cannot assign to a component.

Show the numbers
ComponentPeople
Births185,644
Deaths−198,335
Net domestic migration83,544
Net international migration31,766
Residual (estimation adjustment)642
Total change103,261

Deaths outnumber births even though Arkansas has a relatively high birth rate. In the year to June 2025 its birth rate was 11.4 per 1,000 residents, 7% above the US figure (10.6 per 1,000 residents). Its death rate was higher still: 11.8 per 1,000 residents, the 4th highest in the country and 30% above the US figure (9.1 per 1,000 residents). The gap has narrowed since 2021. Births minus deaths came to −5,192 in the year to June 2021 and −1,2241 in the year to June 2025.

Movers from other states accounted for 77% of the growth between July 2024 and July 2025. Net domestic migration was 4.7 per 1,000 residents in the latest year, the 8th highest rate and higher than Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas; lower than Tennessee. Arrivals from abroad are a smaller part of the picture: 1.8 per 1,000 residents, 52% below the US figure (3.7 per 1,000 residents) and lower than every bordering state (Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas)1.

The ACS migration flows for 2024 estimate 62,808 people moving in from other states (±6,425) and 56,414 moving out (±6,786). The net gain of 6,394 carries a margin of error of ±9,34524, so the survey alone cannot confirm it; the population estimates and IRS address changes (11,21125 more people on tax returns moving in than out in 2022–23) both point to a gain. Over a third of residents, 34.8%, were born in another state, 7.8 percentage points above the US figure (27.0%)26.

Top origins and destinations of people moving to and from Arkansas, 2024

Moved to Arkansas from

Texas10,842 ±2,476
Florida4,434 ±1,771
Missouri4,434 ±1,780
New Mexico3,624 ±2,000
Oklahoma3,227 ±1,098
Louisiana3,183 ±1,163
Tennessee2,579 ±1,147
Iowa2,411 ±1,330

Left Arkansas for

Texas9,063 ±3,256
Oklahoma5,998 ±1,642
Missouri5,767 ±1,955
Mississippi5,010 ±2,899
Florida4,633 ±2,564
Tennessee3,503 ±1,498
Louisiana3,011 ±1,213
California2,462 ±1,049

Source: Census Bureau, State-to-State Migration Flows, 2024. People aged 1 and over who lived in another state a year earlier (and the reverse). Survey estimates: whiskers show the 90% margin of error.

Show the numbers
StateMoved in fromMoved out to
Texas10,842 ±2,4769,063 ±3,256
Florida4,434 ±1,7714,633 ±2,564
Missouri4,434 ±1,7805,767 ±1,955
New Mexico3,624 ±2,000–
Oklahoma3,227 ±1,0985,998 ±1,642
Louisiana3,183 ±1,1633,011 ±1,213
Tennessee2,579 ±1,1473,503 ±1,498
Iowa2,411 ±1,330–
Mississippi2,005 ±1,1595,010 ±2,899
California–2,462 ±1,049

What percent of Arkansas is white, Black and Hispanic

Non-Hispanic white residents made up 66.1% of Arkansas in 2025, 11.1 percentage points above the US figure (55.0%). The share is down from 77.0% in 200518 and down from 66.6% in 20242.

Black Arkansans are the second-largest group. Non-Hispanic Black residents were 14.5% of the population, 2.8 percentage points above the US figure (11.7%)2; counting people who report Black with another race, 16.6%27. In the population estimates the Black alone share is the 15th highest among the states and DC, higher than Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas; lower than Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee, and it is down from 15.5% in 202028.

Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 9.8% in the 2025 survey, 10.7 percentage points below the US figure (20.5%)2, and the share is up from 6.0% in 200918. Most have Mexican roots: people of Mexican origin made up 6.3% of all Arkansans in 2020–2024, and Central Americans 1.5%29.

Race and Hispanic origin in Arkansas, 2025
White, not Hispanic66.1% 77.9%
Black, not Hispanic14.5% 16.6%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)9.8%
Two or more races, not Hispanic6.3%
Asian, not Hispanic2.0% 2.8%
American Indian and Alaska Native, not Hispanic0.7% 4.4%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, not Hispanic0.4% 0.5%
Some other race, not Hispanic0.3%

Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B03002; Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B02009. The dark bars are mutually exclusive and add to 100%. The light bars count everyone who reported the race, alone or with another race and of any ethnicity, so they overlap and add to more than 100%.

Show the numbers
GroupShare (single group)MOEAlone or in combination
White, not Hispanic66.1%±0.377.9%
Black, not Hispanic14.5%±0.216.6%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)9.8%±0.1–
Two or more races, not Hispanic6.3%±0.4–
Asian, not Hispanic2.0%±0.12.8%
American Indian and Alaska Native, not Hispanic0.7%±0.14.4%
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, not Hispanic0.4%±0.10.5%
Some other race, not Hispanic0.3%±0.1–

Multiracial identity is common. Non-Hispanic residents of two or more races were 6.3%, 1.3 percentage points above the US figure (5.0%)2. Counting everyone who reports American Indian or Alaska Native race, alone or with another race, gives 4.4%, the 11th highest30 share. In the 2020 Census, the largest tribal groups people named were Cherokee (42,839) and Choctaw (8,14031), counting people who reported them alone or in combination.

The largest Marshallese community in the US

One small group sets Arkansas apart from every other state. The ACS for 2020–2024 counted 9,727 Marshallese residents, people with roots in the Marshall Islands. That is the largest Marshallese population of any state, ahead of Hawaii (8,053) and Washington (5,990). The estimate has high reliability (CV 4%)32.

Residents who report Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander as their only race made up 0.6% of Arkansans in 2025, tied for 6th highest among the states and DC and higher than every bordering state (Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas)28. Oceania, the region that includes the Marshall Islands, was the birthplace of 3.6% of Arkansas's foreign-born residents, 3.0 percentage points above the US figure (0.6%)26.

Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander groups (NHPI alone): Arkansas
GroupPeopleSharePeriodReliability
Marshallese9,727 ±7130.32%2020–2024high
Native Hawaiian621 ±3160.02%2020–2024low
Chuukese262 ±2110.01%2020–2024low
Guamanian160 ±1290.01%2020–2024low
Samoan88 ±87<0.01%2020–2024low

Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, table B02016. Share of the total population. Each row uses the ACS 2025 1-year estimate where it is published with a coefficient of variation of 30% or less, otherwise the 2020–2024 5-year estimate. ± is the 90% margin of error; low reliability means a CV above 30%.

Asian Arkansans are a smaller share than nationally, 2.0%2 non-Hispanic Asian in 2025. The largest groups in 2020–2024 were Asian Indian (13,482), Filipino (6,818), Vietnamese (6,342) and Chinese, except Taiwanese (4,82033) residents.

Nearly half the state lives outside urban areas

The 2020 Census classified 44.5% of Arkansans as rural, the 6th highest share and 24.5 percentage points above the US figure (20.0%)34. Arkansas has 59.9 people per square mile, less dense than every bordering state (Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas)35. (This site covers states only; for county or city figures, see the Census Bureau.)

Housing and travel differ from the national pattern too. Mobile homes make up 10.3% of housing units, 5.0 percentage points above the US figure (5.3%), and single-family detached houses 70.3%36. Only 0.2% of workers took public transportation, a share tied for lowest, while 77.1%37 drove alone.

Arkansas and its neighbors
StateRural population (%)People per sq miPrice level (US = 100)Median household incomePoverty rateNet domestic migration rate per 1,000
Arkansas44.5%59.986.9$65,588 ±$97615.0% ±0.74.7
Louisiana28.5%106.988.2$65,139 ±$1,18318.1% ±0.8−3.1
Mississippi53.7%63.087.0$59,346 ±$1,51018.0% ±0.7−0.3
Missouri30.5%91.290.8$75,485 ±$93711.5% ±0.42.2
Oklahoma35.4%60.187.8$68,441 ±$91114.4% ±0.53.5
Tennessee33.8%177.491.9$75,875 ±$81612.6% ±0.45.8
Texas16.3%121.497.1$82,625 ±$67012.7% ±0.32.1
United States20.0%96.7100.0$84,780 ±$21511.8% ±0.1–

Source: Census Bureau, 2020 Census urban and rural population by state; States Demographics, Computed; BEA, SARPP Regional Price Parities by state; Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B19013; Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B17001; Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025. ± is the 90% margin of error.

Younger mothers, more children

The median age, 39.3 years, is not statistically different from the US figure (39.5 years)3. The age structure differs from the nation's in other ways. Children under 18 are 22.4% of the population, the 12th highest share, though their number is down from 703,152 in 2020. Residents 65 and older number 591,966, up from 530,697 in 202028.

Age and sex structure of Arkansas, July 1, 2025
85+
80–84
75–79
70–74
65–69
60–64
55–59
50–54
45–49
40–44
35–39
30–34
25–29
20–24
15–19
10–14
5–9
0–4

Source: Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025. Share of the total population in each age group. Vertical ticks: the United States.

Show the numbers
AgeMen (%)Women (%)US men (%)US women (%)
0-42.952.822.762.65
5-93.183.042.962.83
10-143.283.113.082.95
15-193.473.353.313.16
20-243.483.273.433.28
25-293.283.293.463.37
30-343.143.163.413.38
35-393.163.213.383.40
40-443.083.173.213.27
45-492.912.982.933.03
50-542.812.922.832.96
55-592.792.932.863.02
60-642.973.242.963.21
65-692.773.102.753.08
70-742.282.672.262.64
75-791.742.121.712.08
80-841.011.361.001.32
85+0.741.210.781.28

Women in Arkansas have children earlier than women nationally. The teen birth rate in 2024 was 22.2 per 1,000 females aged 15 to 19, the 2nd highest after Mississippi and 76% above the US figure (12.6 per 1,000 females aged 15 to 19). The birth rate for women aged 25 to 29 was 27% above the US figure (89.5 per 1,000 women aged 25 to 29), while the rate at ages 30 to 34 was 12% below the US figure (93.7 per 1,000 women aged 30 to 34). The total fertility rate, 1.76 births per woman, is 10% above the US figure (1.60)38.

Marriage is also more common. Only 28.8% of people 15 and older have never married, the 3rd lowest39 share. The marriage rate in 2024 was 7.9 per 1,000 residents, the 7th highest, and the divorce rate was 3.3 per 1,000 residents, tied for 2nd highest behind Nevada40 among the states that report divorces (California, Hawaii, Indiana, Minnesota and New Mexico do not).

More congregations per resident than any other state

Arkansas has 7,428 religious congregations, 24.7 per 10,000 residents, the highest in the nation, according to the 2020 U.S. Religion Census. The Southern Baptist Convention is the largest body, with 20.2% of residents in 1,551 churches, followed by non-denominational churches (8.3%41).

For readers asking what percent of Arkansas is Christian or Catholic: Christian congregations counted 57.3% of the population, the 6th highest share, while Catholic parishes counted 5.1%, 4th lowest among the states. The overall adherence rate, 57.8%, is higher than Missouri, Tennessee and Texas; lower than Louisiana, Mississippi and Oklahoma41. These are membership lists kept by congregations, not survey answers, so they say nothing direct about belief (more on the source).

Shorter lives and the second-highest infant mortality

Life expectancy at birth was 73.9 years in 2022, the 8th shortest of any state and 3.6 years below the US figure (77.5 years). For women it was 76.6 years, the 5th shortest42.

Infant mortality was 8.3 per 1,000 live births in 2024, the 2nd highest rate after Mississippi and 50% above the US figure (5.5 per 1,000 live births). Preterm births were 12.13% of all births and low-birthweight births 9.54%43, both above the US figures.

Other measures point the same way. 18.2% of residents reported a disability in 2025, the 3rd highest44 share. Adult smoking was 16.5%, 4.9 percentage points above the US figure (11.6%)45. One measure runs the other way: the age-adjusted drug overdose death rate was 13.9 per 100,000, age-adjusted, 40% below the US figure (23.1 per 100,000, age-adjusted)43.

Life expectancy: Arkansas, its neighbors and the US
United States77.5
Texas77.1

Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, U.S. State Life Tables, 2022. Period: 2022.

Show the numbers
StateLife expectancy
United States77.5
Texas77.1
Missouri75.2
Arkansas73.9
Louisiana73.8
Oklahoma73.8
Tennessee73.8
Mississippi72.6

The share of residents without health insurance was 9.1% in 2025, 0.7 percentage points above the US figure (8.4%)46. It is down from 18.0% in 200818.

Degrees rising from a low base

Among adults 25 and older, 28.8% held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2025, 8.6 percentage points below the US figure (37.4%). Within the margins of error the state ranks between 45th and 49th. The share is up from 27.1% in 202447 and up from 18.9% in 200518.

High school completion is at the national level: 90.7% of adults had finished high school, not statistically different from the US figure (90.6%)47. The public high school graduation rate for the class of 2022 was 88%, 1.0 percentage points above the US figure (87%)48.

Adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher, Arkansas and the US, 2005–2025
Adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher, Arkansas and the US, 2005–2025. Arkansas: 18.9% in 2005 to 28.8% in 2025; United States: 27.2% in 2005 to 37.4% in 202515.0%20.0%25.0%30.0%35.0%20052010201520212025

Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2005-2019 and 2021-2025. ACS 1-year estimates; no standard 1-year release for 2020. Shaded band: 90% margin of error.

Show the numbers
YearArkansasUnited States
200518.9% ±0.527.2% ±0.1
200618.2% ±0.427.0% ±0.1
200719.3% ±0.527.5% ±0.1
200818.8% ±0.427.7% ±0.1
200918.9% ±0.527.9% ±0.1
201019.5% ±0.528.2% ±0.1
201120.3% ±0.528.5% ±0.1
201221.0% ±0.529.1% ±0.1
201320.6% ±0.529.6% ±0.1
201421.4% ±0.530.1% ±0.1
201521.8% ±0.530.6% ±0.1
201622.4% ±0.531.3% ±0.1
201723.4% ±0.532.0% ±0.1
201823.3% ±0.532.6% ±0.1
201923.3% ±0.533.1% ±0.1
202125.3% ±0.635.0% ±0.1
202225.4% ±0.635.7% ±0.1
202326.2% ±0.636.2% ±0.1
202427.1% ±0.636.8% ±0.1
202528.8% ±0.737.4% ±0.1

Immigrants: few, and few of them naturalized

Arkansas had 177,328 foreign-born residents in 2025, 5.7% of the population and 9.0 percentage points below the US figure (14.7%). Most, 58.2%, were born in Latin America, and 27.0%26 in Asia.

Only 37.7% of the foreign born had become US citizens, 16.2 percentage points below the US figure (53.9%). That is the lowest share of any state in 2025, though the margins of error place Arkansas between 46th and 51st26. New green cards were also fewer: 1.2 per 1,000 residents in fiscal year 2024, 69% below the US figure (4.0 per 1,000 residents)49.

At home, 8.8% of residents 5 and older speak a language other than English, most often Spanish (6.1%50). The largest ancestries people report are English (12.3%), German (9.2%), Irish (8.9%) and American (7.5%51), in 2020–2024.

Work and veterans

Fewer adults are in the labor force than in most states. The Bureau of Labor Statistics put participation at 58.7% for 2025, the 9th lowest rate and 3.7 percentage points below the US figure (62.4%). Unemployment was 4.1%, 0.2 percentage points below the US figure (4.3%); the latest monthly rate, for September 2026, was 3.9%52.

Veterans make up 7.4% of civilian adults, 1.5 percentage points above the US figure (5.9%), or 178,26053 people.

Questions about Arkansas's population

How many people live in Arkansas?

3,114,791 on July 1, 2025, according to the Census Bureau's Vintage 2025 estimates. That makes Arkansas the 19th smallest state, larger than Mississippi; smaller than Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas1. The 2020 Census counted 3,011,5246 on April 1, 2020.

What is the population of Arkansas in 2026?

There is no official 2026 figure yet. The Census Bureau publishes its estimate for July 1, 2026 in December 2026; until then the latest figure is 3,114,7911 for July 1, 2025.

What percent of Arkansas is on welfare?

There is no single count of people on welfare. In an average month of fiscal year 2025, 240,378 Arkansans received SNAP food benefits, 7.7% of the population and 4.6 percentage points below the US figure (12.3%)20. In June 2026, 779,417 were enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, 25.0%22 of residents. Many people are in both programs, so the two shares cannot be added.

Is Arkansas the cheapest state to live in?

On the federal measure of price levels, yes. The Bureau of Economic Analysis put Arkansas's regional price parity for 2024 at 86.9 (US = 100), the least expensive in the nation, just below Mississippi at 87.010.

What percent of Arkansas is Black?

In 2025, 14.5%2 of Arkansans were non-Hispanic Black, according to the American Community Survey. Counting everyone who reports Black alone or with another race, the share is 16.6%, the 14th highest27 among the states and DC.

More on Arkansas

Neighboring states: Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. Put Arkansas side by side with any other state on every measure in the comparison tool, or see where it places in the state rankings.

Arkansas in every state ranking

How Arkansas ranks among the 50 states and DC
RankingValueRank
States by population3,114,79119th smallest
Cost of living by state86.9least expensive
Poverty rate by state15.0%7th highest; could be 4th to 9th highest
Median household income by state$65,5884th lowest; could be 3rd to 5th lowest
Most and least educated states28.8%6th lowest; could be 3rd to 7th lowest
States by land area51,992 square miles25th smallest
GDP by state$196.0 billion17th smallest
Life expectancy by state73.9 years8th shortest
Unemployment rate by state4.1%23rd highest
Population growth by state0.60%19th highest
Population density by state59.9 people per square mile16th least densely populated
Black population by state15.2%15th highest
Hispanic and Latino population by state10.0%23rd lowest
Median age by state39.3 years16th youngest; could be 16th to 22nd youngest
Median home value by state$228,4003rd least expensive; could be 3rd to 4th least expensive
Birth and fertility rates by state11.5 per 1,000 residentstied for 12th highest
Domestic migration by state14,47512th highest
Foreign-born population by state5.7%tied for 12th lowest; could be 10th to 16th lowest
GDP per capita by state$62,9222nd lowest
White population by state67.6%24th highest
Asian population by state2.2%tied for 11th lowest
American Indian and Alaska Native population by state4.4%11th highest; could be 10th to 11th highest
Racial and ethnic diversity by state52.824th least diverse
Population 65 and older by state19.0%24th lowest
Median gross rent by state$1,0554th least expensive; could be 3rd to 8th least expensive
Homeownership rate by state67.2%22nd lowest; could be 17th to 30th lowest
Per capita personal income by state$61,6975th lowest
Income inequality by state0.4838th most unequal; could be 4th to 19th most unequal
Health insurance coverage by state9.1%16th highest; could be 14th to 19th highest
Adult obesity rate by state38.9%tied for 4th highest
Teen birth rate by state22.2 per 1,000 females aged 15 to 192nd highest
Infant mortality by state8.3 per 1,000 live births2nd highest
Languages spoken at home by state8.8%13th lowest; could be 10th to 14th lowest
High school graduation rate by state88%tied for 13th highest
Veterans by state7.4%tied for 14th highest; could be 6th to 19th highest
Children under 18 by state22.4%12th highest
Rural population by state44.5%6th highest
SNAP and Medicaid enrollment by state7.7%9th lowest
Homelessness by state8.8 per 10,000 residentstied for 7th lowest
Religious adherence by state57.8%6th highest
Sex ratio by state96.2tied for 20th lowest
Marriage and divorce rates by state7.9 per 1,000 residents7th highest
Millionaire tax returns by state2.6 per 1,000 tax returns5th lowest
Catholic adherents by state5.1%4th lowest
Latter-day Saints by state1.1%tied for 21st highest

Source: Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025; BEA, SARPP Regional Price Parities by state; Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B17001; Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B19013; Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B15003; Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files; BEA, SAGDP1 State annual GDP summary; CDC National Center for Health Statistics, U.S. State Life Tables, 2022; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; States Demographics, Computed; Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025; Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B01002; Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B25077; CDC National Center for Health Statistics, Births; Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B05002; Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B02010; States Demographics, Computed, table B03002; Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B25064; Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B25003; BEA, SAINC1 State annual personal income summary; Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B19083; Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B27010; CDC (BRFSS), BRFSS Prevalence Data; CDC National Center for Health Statistics, Stats of the States; Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table C16001; Department of Education, NCES, Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46; Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B21001; Census Bureau, 2020 Census urban and rural population by state; USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), SNAP Monthly State Participation and Benefit Summary, Fiscal Year 2025; HUD Office of Policy Development and Research, 2025 AHAR; Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA), U.S. Religion Census; CDC National Center for Health Statistics, Marriage rates by State; IRS Statistics of Income (SOI), SOI Tax Stats - Historic Table 2. For survey measures, the second rank is the range consistent with the 90% margins of error. Each ranking page gives every state, the period and the margins of error.

Sources

  1. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025; released January 27, 2026. www2.census.gov
  2. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B03002; 2025; released October 29, 2026. data.census.gov
  3. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B01002; 2025; released October 29, 2026. data.census.gov
  4. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B19013; 2025; released October 29, 2026. data.census.gov
  5. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B17001; 2025; released October 29, 2026. data.census.gov
  6. Census Bureau, 2020 Census apportionment results and historical resident population 1910-2020; Decennial censuses 1910-2020; released April 26, 2021. www2.census.gov
  7. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B01003; 2025; released October 29, 2026. data.census.gov
  8. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, table B01003; 2020-2024; released January 29, 2026. data.census.gov
  9. Census Bureau, Historical Census Statistics on Population Totals by Race, 1790 to 1990; table Tables 1 and 15-65; 1790-1990 censuses; released September 13, 2002. www2.census.gov
  10. BEA, SARPP Regional Price Parities by state; 2024; released February 19, 2026. apps.bea.gov
  11. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B25064; 2025; released October 29, 2026. data.census.gov
  12. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B25077; 2025; released October 29, 2026. data.census.gov
  13. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B19113; 2025; released October 29, 2026. data.census.gov
  14. BEA, SAINC1 State annual personal income summary; table SAINC1__ALL_AREAS_1929_2025.csv lines 1-3; 2025 (annual); released September 30, 2026. apps.bea.gov
  15. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B19001; 2025; released October 29, 2026. data.census.gov
  16. IRS Statistics of Income (SOI), SOI Tax Stats - Historic Table 2; Tax Year 2023 (individual income tax returns); released August 21, 2026. www.irs.gov
  17. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table C17002; 2025; released October 29, 2026. data.census.gov
  18. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2005-2019 and 2021-2025; 2005-2025 (no standard 2020 1-year release); released October 29, 2026. api.census.gov
  19. Census Bureau, Poverty in the United States; CPS ASEC 2024-2026 (calendar years 2023, 2024, 2025); released September 15, 2026. www2.census.gov
  20. USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), SNAP Monthly State Participation and Benefit Summary, Fiscal Year 2025; FY2025 (Oct 2024-Sep 2025); released October 8, 2026. www.fns.usda.gov
  21. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table S2201; 2025; released October 29, 2026. data.census.gov
  22. CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services), State Medicaid and CHIP Applications, Eligibility Determinations, and Enrollment Data; released October 30, 2026. data.medicaid.gov
  23. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table S2704; 2025; released October 29, 2026. data.census.gov
  24. Census Bureau, State-to-State Migration Flows, 2024; ACS 2024 1-year; released January 21, 2026. www2.census.gov
  25. IRS Statistics of Income (SOI), SOI Tax Stats - Migration Data 2022-2023; released March 20, 2026. www.irs.gov
  26. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B05002; 2025; released October 29, 2026. data.census.gov
  27. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B02009; 2025; released October 29, 2026. data.census.gov
  28. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025; Vintage 2025 (July 1 2020-2025); released June 25, 2026. www2.census.gov
  29. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, table B03001; 2020-2024; released January 29, 2026. data.census.gov
  30. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B02010; 2025; released October 29, 2026. data.census.gov
  31. Census Bureau, 2020 Census Detailed Demographic and Housing Characteristics File A, table T01001; 2020 Census (April 1, 2020); released September 21, 2023. data.census.gov
  32. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, table B02016; 2020-2024; released January 29, 2026. data.census.gov
  33. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, table B02015; 2020-2024; released January 29, 2026. data.census.gov
  34. Census Bureau, 2020 Census urban and rural population by state; 2020 Census and 2010 Census; released December 29, 2022. www2.census.gov
  35. States Demographics, Computed; 2025; released November 12, 2026.
  36. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B25024; 2025; released October 29, 2026. data.census.gov
  37. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B08301; 2025; released October 29, 2026. data.census.gov
  38. CDC National Center for Health Statistics, Births; 2024 final natality; released June 9, 2026. www.cdc.gov
  39. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B12001; 2025; released October 29, 2026. data.census.gov
  40. CDC National Center for Health Statistics, Marriage rates by State; 2024 provisional counts. www.cdc.gov
  41. Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA), U.S. Religion Census; table RCMSST20; 2020; released March 31, 2023. www.thearda.com
  42. CDC National Center for Health Statistics, U.S. State Life Tables, 2022; 2022 final mortality; released December 4, 2025. www.cdc.gov
  43. CDC National Center for Health Statistics, Stats of the States. www.cdc.gov
  44. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B18101; 2025; released October 29, 2026. data.census.gov
  45. CDC (BRFSS), BRFSS Prevalence Data; 2024 survey year. data.cdc.gov
  46. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B27010; 2025; released October 29, 2026. data.census.gov
  47. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B15003; 2025; released October 29, 2026. data.census.gov
  48. Department of Education, NCES, Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46; school year 2021-22. nces.ed.gov
  49. States Demographics, Computed; FY2024; released November 12, 2026.
  50. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table C16001; 2025; released October 29, 2026. data.census.gov
  51. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, table B04006; 2020-2024; released January 29, 2026. data.census.gov
  52. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; 2025 annual averages; September 2026 monthly (preliminary). api.bls.gov
  53. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B21001; 2025; released October 29, 2026. data.census.gov
  54. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files; table 2024_Gaz_state_national; 2024; released September 1, 2024. www2.census.gov
  55. BEA, SAGDP1 State annual GDP summary; table SAGDP1__ALL_AREAS_1997_2025.csv lines 1,3; 2025; released September 30, 2026. apps.bea.gov
  56. States Demographics, Computed, table B03002; 2025; released November 12, 2026.
  57. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B25003; 2025; released October 29, 2026. data.census.gov
  58. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year estimates, 2025, table B19083; 2025; released October 29, 2026. data.census.gov
  59. HUD Office of Policy Development and Research, 2025 AHAR; Point-in-Time count, one night in the last 10 days of January 2025. www.huduser.gov

Citation: Grammich, C. A., Dollhopf, E., Gautier, M., Houseal, R., Jones, D. E., Krindatch, A., ... Thumma, S. (2023, March 31). U.S. Religion Census - Religious Congregations and Membership Study, 2020 (State File). DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/6PGRZ. The data were downloaded from the Association of Religion Data Archives, www.theARDA.com, and were collected by Clifford A. Grammich, Erica Dollhopf, Mary Gautier, Richard Houseal, Dale E. Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Scott Thumma for the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies (ASARB).

Margins of error (±) are at the 90% confidence level. A difference is called significant only when it passes the Census Bureau's test at that level. How every figure is built: methodology. Found an error? Write to [email protected]; corrections are listed on the updates page.