2019 Population Rank
2019 Growth Rate
Arkansas Square Miles
State Capital
Statehood Year
Red/Blue
Abbreviation
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’ 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.
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 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.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Arkansas was:
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.
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.
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
Year | Pop | % Change |
2020 | 3,038,999 | 0.42% |
2019 | 3,026,412 | 0.42% |
2018 | 3,013,825 | 0.36% |
2017 | 3,002,997 | 0.42% |
2016 | 2,990,410 | 0.40% |
2015 | 2,978,407 | 0.36% |
2014 | 2,967,726 | 0.28% |
2013 | 2,959,549 | 0.25% |
2012 | 2,952,109 | 0.40% |
2011 | 2,940,407 | 0.63% |
2010 | 2,921,978 | 0.89% |
2000 | 2,673,400 | 1.29% |
1990 | 2,350,725 | 0.28% |
1980 | 2,286,435 | 1.74% |
1970 | 1,923,295 | 0.74% |
1960 | 1,786,272 | -0.66% |
1950 | 1,909,511 | -0.21% |
1940 | 1,949,387 | 0.50% |
1930 | 1,854,482 | 0.57% |
1920 | 1,752,204 | 1.08% |
1910 | 1,574,449 | 1.84% |
1900 | 1,311,564 | 1.52% |
1890 | 1,128,211 | 3.46% |
1880 | 802,525 | 5.18% |
1870 | 484,471 | 1.07% |
1860 | 435,450 | 7.57% |
1850 | 209,897 | 7.96% |
1840 | 97,574 | 12.37% |
1830 | 30,388 | 7.85% |
1820 | 14,273 | 29.67% |
1810 | 1,062 | 0.00% |
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.
Race | Population | Percentage |
White | 2,302,141 | 77.31% |
Black or African American | 459,969 | 15.45% |
Some Other Race | 75,106 | 2.52% |
Two or More Races | 71,822 | 2.41% |
Asian | 42,368 | 1.42% |
American Indian and Alaska Native | 19,476 | 0.65% |
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 7,062 | 0.24% |
Type | Count | Average Size | Owned |
All | 1,147,291 | 2.52 | 65.6 |
Married | 558,304 | 3.11 | 81.2 |
Non Family | 386,991 | 1.23 | 52.6 |
Female | 150,281 | 3.39 | 44.8 |
Male | 51,715 | 3.33 | 54.9 |
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
Less Than 9th Grade | 103,458 | 5.21% |
9th to 12th Grade | 182,659 | 9.20% |
High School Graduate | 681,486 | 34.32% |
Some College | 448,518 | 22.59% |
Associates Degree | 132,221 | 6.66% |
Bachelors Degree | 280,677 | 14.13% |
Graduate Degree | 156,751 | 7.89% |
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 asian people with a rate of 49.54%.
$32,004
Average Earnings
$37,241
Average Male
$27,041
Average Female
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.
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
White | 2,115,730 | 297,355 | 14.05% |
Black | 437,236 | 139,406 | 31.88% |
Hispanic | 209,473 | 61,991 | 29.59% |
Other | 73,891 | 22,853 | 30.93% |
Multiple | 70,274 | 17,116 | 24.36% |
Asian | 41,569 | 5,909 | 14.21% |
Native | 18,914 | 4,447 | 23.51% |
Islander | 6,975 | 2,031 | 29.12% |
18.14%
Overall Poverty Rate
16.69%
Male Poverty Rate
19.51%
Female Poverty Rate
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%.
50.1%
Overall Marriage Rate
51.9%
Male Marriage Rate
48.3%
Female Marriage Rate
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.
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
White | 176,883 | 9.83% |
Black | 22,826 | 6.88% |
Hispanic | 3,963 | 3.06% |
2 or More | 3,649 | 9.37% |
Indian | 1,422 | 9.62% |
Other | 1,012 | 2.17% |
Asian | 830 | 2.57% |
Hawaiian | 174 | 4.10% |
9.22%
Veteran Poverty Rate
34.36%
Veteran Disability Rate
58.1%
Labor Force Participation
54.3%
Employment Rate
6.3%
Unemployment Rate
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
95.26%
Native Born
4.74%
Foreign Born
3.24%
Non Citizen
95.26% of Arkansas residents were born in the United States, with 61.30% having been born in Arkansas. 3.24% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.