Arkansas Demographics 2026: Population, Income, Race & Trends Explained, Population Review

Population & Growth

Arkansas's 3,032,651 residents make it the 33rd-most populous US state. Over the long term, the state has been gaining population — +96.2% from 1910 to 2024.

Population density: 58 people per square mile. By comparison, the US national average is roughly 94/sq mi, while New Jersey leads with ~1,260/sq mi and Alaska is the lowest at ~1.3/sq mi.

Race & Ethnicity

By Census ACS classification, Arkansas is:

70.9% White (alone)
14.9% Black or African American
0.0% Asian
2.4% Hispanic or Latino (any race)
0.0% two or more races

Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals can exceed 100% in some breakdowns. The full racial composition (including Native Hawaiian, American Indian, etc.) is available on the Arkansas state page.

Income & Economy

Median household income in Arkansas is $58,773, with per-capita income at $33,147. 11.5% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Unemployment rate: 3.0%.

Income is concentrated in metro counties — see the county-level rankings on the cities ranking page and counties ranking page for sub-state variation.

Age & Households

Median age in Arkansas: 38.4 years (US median ~39). The population is 49.3% male and 50.7% female.

Largest Cities in Arkansas

Little Rock city — population 202,739
Fayetteville city — population 97,227
Fort Smith city — population 89,496
Springdale city — population 87,388
Jonesboro city — population 79,187

Largest Counties in Arkansas

Pulaski County — population 398,949
Benton County — population 294,541
Washington County — population 251,863
Sebastian County — population 128,448
Faulkner County — population 126,001

How Arkansas Compares Nationally

By population: ranked 33rd of 50 states. By median household income: see the richest states ranking. By population growth: see fastest growing states. By cost of living: see cheapest states to live.

See the complete Arkansas state page with full demographic breakdown, age pyramid, languages, education, housing, and commute data →

Frequently Asked Questions

Arkansas has a population of 3,032,651 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, ranking 33rd among the 50 states. Population density is 58 people per square mile.

Arkansas is gaining population, with a +96.2% change since 1910 (1,574,449 → 3,032,651). This is reported via Census ACS rolling 5-year estimates; for monthly/annual estimates between Census years, see the Census Population Estimates Program.

70.9% of Arkansas's population identifies as White, 14.9% as Black or African American, 0.0% as Asian, and 2.4% as Hispanic or Latino (any race). Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals may exceed 100%.

Median household income in Arkansas is $58,773 per the 2023 ACS. Per-capita income: $33,147. 11.5% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

The median age in Arkansas is 38.4 years. The population is 49.3% male and 50.7% female. Age distribution and population pyramids by 5-year age bands are visible on the Arkansas state page.

The largest cities in Arkansas by population: Little Rock city (202,739), Fayetteville city (97,227), Fort Smith city (89,496), Springdale city (87,388), Jonesboro city (79,187).

California is the most populous US state at roughly 39 million, followed by Texas (~30M), Florida (~22M), New York (~20M), and Pennsylvania (~13M). Arkansas ranks 33rd. Detailed rankings update each ACS release cycle.

Across recent Census Population Estimates, West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Illinois have shown the largest sustained population declines. Arkansas's own trend is gaining. National state-by-state rankings are published annually by the Census Population Estimates Program.

All demographic data on this page comes from the US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, currently the 2023 release. Historical population figures use Census Population Estimates Program annual estimates. Data is public domain and freely available at census.gov.