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. Its 2016 growth rate of 0.38% makes it the 29th fastest growing state in the USA.
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:
Arkansas ranks 12th among all states in terms of the size of its African American population. According to the 2010 US Census, the total population identifying as Black or Native American was rising close to half a million residents. This portion of the population primary resides in the southern and eastern regions of the state, while European Americans comprise the majority of the central region, as well as the northwestern Ozarks.
Arkansas has seen stready population growth among other races through the years, recording a 114% increase in the Hispanic and Latino population and a 251% increase in the population of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander residents between the census held in 2000 and one held in 2010. According to data from 2011, 39% of children under the age of 1 were classified as minorities.
The largest ancestry groups in the state include African American, Irish, German, English, anf French. There are many descendents from Europeans that settled in Arkansas before it became a state that reside in Arkansas.
50K
100K
150K
200K
250K
300K
350K
400K
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
---|---|---|
White | 2,193,344 | 72.66% |
Black or African American | 456,693 | 15.13% |
Two or more races | 203,476 | 6.74% |
Other race | 89,782 | 2.97% |
Asian | 47,413 | 1.57% |
Native American | 16,840 | 0.56% |
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 11,117 | 0.37% |
White
Black or African American
Two or more races
Other race
Asian
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
---|---|---|---|---|
All | 1,171,690 | 2.51 | 66.2 | 33.8 |
Married | 556,967 | 3.13 | 82.3 | 17.7 |
Non Family | 408,249 | 1.22 | 52.6 | 47.4 |
Female | 151,520 | 3.41 | 47.2 | 52.8 |
Male | 54,958 | 3.23 | 57.2 | 42.8 |
3.11
Average Family Size
2.51
Average Household Size
66.2%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
---|---|---|
9th to 12th Grade | 149,362 | 7.35% |
Associates Degree | 159,514 | 7.85% |
Bachelors Degree | 317,437 | 15.62% |
Graduate Degree | 184,542 | 9.08% |
High School Graduate | 693,875 | 34.15% |
Less Than 9th Grade | 90,293 | 4.44% |
Some College | 436,824 | 21.5% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
---|---|---|---|
White | 1,503,370 | 1,363,250 | 399,340 |
Black | 283,570 | 246,298 | 51,284 |
Hispanic | 123,184 | 76,673 | 15,366 |
2+ Races | 105,675 | 87,221 | 22,232 |
Other Race | 47,712 | 27,339 | 5,185 |
Asian | 31,668 | 27,541 | 15,892 |
Native American | 10,850 | 8,926 | 1,718 |
Islander | 5,615 | 3,389 | 402 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among white people with a rate of 90.68%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 50.18%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
---|---|---|---|
Bachelors Degree | $54,457 | $67,911 | $46,770 |
Graduate Degree | $70,376 | $85,515 | $62,077 |
High School Graduate | $34,070 | $39,803 | $27,664 |
Less Than 9th Grade | $29,018 | $33,633 | $23,185 |
Overall | $41,013 | $46,892 | $34,755 |
Some College | $38,116 | $46,465 | $32,247 |
$41,013
Average Earnings
$46,892
Average Male
$34,755
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
92.23% of Arkansas residents speak only English, while 7.77% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 5.6% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
---|---|---|---|
White | 2,048,800 | 264,581 | 12.91% |
Black | 434,523 | 125,658 | 28.92% |
Hispanic | 238,706 | 49,925 | 20.91% |
Multiple | 199,116 | 34,644 | 17.4% |
Other | 87,802 | 19,368 | 22.06% |
Asian | 46,172 | 5,535 | 11.99% |
Islander | 10,802 | 3,492 | 32.33% |
Native | 16,206 | 3,293 | 20.32% |
16.23%
Overall Poverty Rate
14.49%
Male Poverty Rate
17.91%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Arkansas is Islander, with 32.33% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Arkansas is Asian, with 11.99% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 3.48%. Among those working part-time, it was 19.94%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 24.1%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Less Than 9th Grade | 26.04% |
High School | 16.32% |
Some College | 11.77% |
Bachelors or Greater | 4.72% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Female Unemployed | 39.34% |
Male Unemployed | 29.14% |
Female Employed | 8.76% |
Male Employed | 5.76% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
---|---|---|
Families | $71,437 | $95,550 |
Households | $56,335 | $79,592 |
Married Families | $85,584 | $111,030 |
Non Families | $31,985 | $46,415 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
48.8%
Overall Marriage Rate
50.8%
Male Marriage Rate
46.9%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
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.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
182,399
Number of Veterans
166,726
Male Veterans
15,673
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
---|---|
Vietnam | 66,090 |
First Gulf War | 41,397 |
Second Gulf War | 40,920 |
Korea | 10,989 |
World War II | 2,460 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
---|---|
65 to 74 | 47,703 |
35 to 54 | 43,643 |
75+ | 42,263 |
55 to 64 | 34,510 |
18 to 34 | 14,280 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
---|---|---|
White | 149,222 | 8.6% |
Black | 21,681 | 6.46% |
2+ Races | 7,555 | 5.89% |
Hispanic | 4,356 | 2.84% |
Other Race | 1,898 | 3.19% |
Native American | 1,159 | 9.07% |
Asian | 630 | 1.72% |
Islander | 254 | 3.61% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
8.85%
Veteran Poverty Rate
37.68%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
58.2%
Labor Force Participation
54.9%
Employment Rate
5.1%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
61.06%
Born in Arkansas
94.97%
Native Born
5.03%
Foreign Born
3.24%
Non Citizen
1.78%
Naturalized
94.97% of Arkansas residents were born in the United States, with 61.06% 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.