Arkansas Population 2019

3,026,412

Our estimate for the 2019 population of Arkansas is 3.03 million. Its 2016 growth rate of 0.38% makes it the 29th fastest growing state in the USA.

The last official census in the United States of America was carried out in 2010, when the population was calculated as 2,915,918, making Arkansas the 32nd largest state in the US. When the official Census estimates were released for 2015, Arkansas' total had grown by just over 60,000 people to 2,978,204.

The population of Arkansas will have surpassed the 3 million mark in late 2016 or early 2017 if it continued to grow at a similar rate.

Arkansas Area and Population Density

Arkansas’ population provides some fairly unremarkable figures in terms of population density, in keeping with its status as one of the middle ranked states in terms of population numbers.

The surface area of the state is 53,179 square miles (137,733 square kilometers), and based on the 2010 Census population, that equated to 56 people in every square mile of Arkansas land. Overall, this would mean that the state is the 34th highest in terms of population density.

A population estimate in 2006 showed that there had been a net gain in numbers of 52,214 from the 2000 Census due to natural growth. This took into account the birth rate against the death rate and a further rise in numbers due to net migration.

The largest city is Little Rock located in the county of Pulaski, Arkansas.

Arkansas Gender and Religion Statistics

The median age is 36 in Arkansas. Nearly 75% of the population is over eighteen years of age. Approximately 51% of the Arkansas population is female, with 49% male population.

The religions within Arkansas stand at 79% Christian based faiths, 3% non-Christian faith, and 18% unaffiliated.

Arkansas Boundary, Census, and Statehood History

Arkansas was acquired as part of the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 and was included in Louisiana Territory, established in 1805 and comprising the whole of the Louisiana Purchase north of present-day Louisiana. Arkansas (then spelled Arkansaw) became a territory in 1819 and at first included most of present-day Oklahoma; in 1828 it reached essentially its present boundaries, although the boundary with Texas was incorrectly interpreted at that time. Arkansas was admitted as a State on June 15, 1836.

In 1810, census coverage of Louisiana Territory was limited to portions of present-day Arkansas and Missouri, mainly close to the Mississippi River. The 1810 census was reported by districts; the total for 1810 is for Arkansas District, which was entirely within present-day Arkansas. New Madrid District, which included the northern part of present-day Arkansas, was mainly in Missouri. In 1820 census coverage included much of the present State and a small number of people in present-day Oklahoma and Texas. By 1830 census coverage included the whole of Arkansas, and also included (in old Miller County) a portion of today's Texas.

Arkansas Demographics

According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Arkansas was:

  • White: 77.31%
  • Black or African American: 15.45%
  • Other race: 2.52%
  • Two or more races: 2.41%
  • Asian: 1.42%
  • Native American: 0.65%
  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.24%

Arkansas Population Chart

Arkansas Population History

The census history of the United States as a whole reflects the huge rise in population since the beginning of the 19th century. Arkansas is certainly no exception to this rule.

In 1810, the population in the state was a mere 1,062, but by the next census in 1820, things were starting to move considerably. The final numbers were declared at 14,273 -- an incredible rise of 1,244% in just ten years. From this point until 1940, the population grew consistently as net immigration played a huge part in the growth of the state.

Arkansas Population Growth

From 1940 to 1960, Arkansas saw consecutive declines in their Census counts, due mostly to World War II, and post-war migration. After 1960, Arkansas resumed it's relatively high level of growth until 2010. During this 50 year period, Arkansas saw an annualized growth rate of just over 1%. The most recent estimates suggest this pace has slowed since 2012.

Arkansas Population Projections

If the state maintains its current growth rate, it should comfortably exceed 3 million residents by the time the 2020 Census is held. According to estimates, the 2020 population could grow as high as 3.2 million, although an estimate of 3.03 million is more in line with the current growth rate.

Population Data via US Census

Arkansas Growth Rate

Arkansas Population Rank

Year Pop % Change
20203,038,9990.42%
20193,026,4120.42%
20183,013,8250.36%
20173,002,9970.42%
20162,990,4100.40%
20152,978,4070.36%
20142,967,7260.28%
20132,959,5490.25%
20122,952,1090.40%
20112,940,4070.63%
20102,921,9780.89%
20002,673,4001.29%
19902,350,7250.28%
19802,286,4351.74%
19701,923,2950.74%
19601,786,272-0.66%
19501,909,511-0.21%
19401,949,3870.50%
19301,854,4820.57%
19201,752,2041.08%
19101,574,4491.84%
19001,311,5641.52%
18901,128,2113.46%
1880802,5255.18%
1870484,4711.07%
1860435,4507.57%
1850209,8977.96%
184097,57412.37%
183030,3887.85%
182014,27329.67%
18101,0620.00%

Arkansas Population Data

Arkansas Population in 2018Source: By Brandonrush [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons

  • The first "diamond rush" of North America began when two diamonds were found in 1906. The property was purchased and made into the "Crater of Diamonds State Park," the only active diamond mine in the US.
  • The first Wal-Mart store was opened in Rogers, Arkansas, in 1962. Today, the corporation's headquarters is located in Bentonville.
  • Over 23 million travelers visit the state of Arkansas each year, leading to travel and tourism revenues of over $5.7 billion annually.
  • The first woman elected to the Senate, Hattie Ophelia Wyatt Caraway, was from Arkansas.
  • A law was created in 1947 that officially discourages the mispronunciation of "Arkansas" while in the state.
  • The state has over 600,000 acres of lakes, as well as 9,700 miles of rivers and streams.
  • Arkansas Post, located near the mouth of the Arkansas River, was the first permanent white settlement in the state in 1686.
  • The entirety of Eureka Springs' city limits are designated as a Historic District.

Arkansas Facts

Pulaski County

  • Population392,680
  • Density517.70 per sq km
  • Growth Since 20102.37%
  • State Rank1
  • % of State13.03%

Arkansas Population Density by County

Arkansas has seen both increases and decreases across its counties from the time of the 2010 Census until the US Census Bureau's estimates in 2015. Four counties saw significant increases, with the northeastern county of Benton seeing the highest increase in population by 11.96%. Washington County, located directly south of Benton County, posted growth of 10.51%. In the center of the state, Saline County had 9.09% growth during the 5-year period, while Craighead County in the northeastern region of Arkansas had growth of 7.89%. Faulkner County and Lonoke County saw smaller, yet still respectable growth, while other counties that grew include White County and Greene County.

Just as there has been population growth, some Arkansas counties have seen decreases in population between 2010 and 2015. All but two counties located along the eastern border have seen declines in population. This includes Phillips County (9.95% decrease), Desha County (7.71% decrease), and Lee County (6.98% decrease.) Sevier County and Scott County along the western border saw negative growth, as well as Lafayette County to the south, amongst others.

Arkansas Population Growth Rate by County

Population by Race

Race Population
White2,302,141
Black or African American459,969
Some Other Race75,106
Two or More Races71,822
Asian42,368
American Indian and Alaska Native19,476
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander7,062

Arkansas Population by Race

Arkansas Population Pyramid 2019

Arkansas Median Age

37.9


Total

36.5


Male

39.3


Female

Arkansas Adults

There are 2,272,226 adults, (476,167 of whom are seniors) in Arkansas.

Arkansas Age Dependency

65.8

Age Dependency Ratio

26.5

Old Age Dependency Ratio

39.3

Child Dependency Ratio

Arkansas Sex Ratio

Female

1,516,293

50.92%

Male

1,461,651

49.08%

Arkansas Population by Age

Arkansas Households and Families

Arkansas Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

Arkansas Household Types

Type Owner Renter
Married81.2%18.8%
All65.6%34.4%
Male54.9%45.1%
Non Family52.6%47.4%
Female44.8%55.2%

65.6%

Rate of Home Ownership

Arkansas Households and Families

Type Count Average Size Owned
All1,147,2912.5265.6
Married558,3043.1181.2
Non Family386,9911.2352.6
Female150,2813.3944.8
Male51,7153.3354.9

3.1

Average Family Size

2.52

Average Household Size

4.9%

Unmarried (Opposite Sex)

0.2%

Unmarried (Same Sex)

Arkansas Households by Type

Arkansas Education

Education Attained Count Percentage
Less Than 9th Grade103,4585.21%
9th to 12th Grade182,6599.20%
High School Graduate681,48634.32%
Some College448,51822.59%
Associates Degree132,2216.66%
Bachelors Degree280,67714.13%
Graduate Degree156,7517.89%

Arkansas Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)

Arkansas Educational Attainment by Race

Name Total High School Bachelors
White1,533,1041,354,397364,441
Black277,145227,53240,910
Hispanic104,30557,3239,525
Other Race37,18517,3362,790
Multiple Races30,85126,5196,783
Asian27,30723,43013,529
Native American12,93510,3961,903
Islander3,7022,338194

The highest rate of high school graduation is among white people with a rate of 88.34%.

The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among white people with a rate of 49.54%.

Arkansas Educational Attainment by Race

Name Average Male Female
Overall$32,004$37,241$27,041
Less Than High School$22,169$25,336$16,987
High School Grad$26,941$31,983$21,739
Some College$30,813$38,006$25,698
Bachelors Degree$45,805$55,628$39,662
Graduate Degree$57,728$72,882$50,966

$32,004

Average Earnings

$37,241

Average Male

$27,041

Average Female

Arkansas Earnings by Educational Attainment

Arkansas Language

Arkansas Language by Age

Arkansas Language

92.76% of Arkansas residents speak only English, while 7.24% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 5.26% of the population.

Arkansas Language

Arkansas Poverty

Arkansas Poverty by Race

Name Total In Poverty Poverty Rate
White2,115,730297,35514.05%
Black437,236139,40631.88%
Hispanic209,47361,99129.59%
Other73,89122,85330.93%
Multiple70,27417,11624.36%
Asian41,5695,90914.21%
Native18,9144,44723.51%
Islander6,9752,03129.12%

18.14%

Overall Poverty Rate

16.69%

Male Poverty Rate

19.51%

Female Poverty Rate

Poverty in Arkansas

The race most likely to be in poverty in Arkansas is Black, with 31.88% below the poverty level.

The race least likely to be in poverty in Arkansas is White, with 14.05% below the poverty level.

The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 3.93%. Among those working part-time, it was 22.36%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 25.22%.

Arkansas Poverty

Name Poverty
Less Than High School28.16%
High School16.09%
Some College12.28%
Bachelors or Greater4.52%

Arkansas Poverty Rate by Education

Name Poverty
Female Unemployed45.12%
Male Unemployed34.21%
Female Employed10.02%
Male Employed7.45%

Arkansas Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

Arkansas Income

Arkansas Income by Household Type

Name Median Mean
Households$43,813$61,330
Families$54,923$72,907
Married Families$66,356$85,038
Non Families$25,095$36,349

Income by Household Type

Arkansas Marital Status

Arkansas Marital Status

Marriage Rates

50.1%

Overall Marriage Rate

51.9%

Male Marriage Rate

48.3%

Female Marriage Rate

Arkansas Married by Age and Sex

Arkansas Marriage

The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 45-54.

Arkansas Marital Status by Race

Arkansas Marital Status

Arkansas Veterans

206,796

Number of Veterans

191,109

Male Veterans

15,687

Female Veterans

War Veterans
Vietnam79,074
First Gulf War41,187
Second Gulf War33,759
Korea19,018
World War II8,603

Arkansas Veterans by War

Age Group Veterans
65 to 7453,911
35 to 5449,253
75+45,093
55 to 6441,086
18 to 3417,453

Arkansas Veterans by Age

Arkansas Veterans by Race

Name Veterans % of Total
White176,8839.83%
Black22,8266.88%
Hispanic3,9633.06%
2 or More3,6499.37%
Indian1,4229.62%
Other1,0122.17%
Asian8302.57%
Hawaiian1744.10%

Arkansas Veterans by Race

Arkansas Veterans by Education

9.22%

Veteran Poverty Rate

34.36%

Veteran Disability Rate

Arkansas Veterans by Education

Arkansas Employment Status

58.1%

Labor Force Participation

54.3%

Employment Rate

6.3%

Unemployment Rate

Arkansas Employment by Age

Arkansas Employment by Race

Arkansas Employment by Education

  1. Arkansas Census State Data Center
  2. US Census State Population Estimates - Most recent state estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program
  3. US Census County Population Estimates - Most recent county estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program
  4. American Community Survey (2009 - 2013)
  5. Census QuickFacts
  6. Historical Populations of States and Counties (1790 - 1990)

Sources