Key Details

  • Arkansas features diverse landscapes, including the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains, dense forests, and fertile plains.
  • As of 2023, Arkansas has a population of approximately 3,067,732.
  • The current Governor of Arkansas is Sarah Huckabee Sanders of the Republican Party.
  • The life expectancy in Arkansas is 73.6 years as of 2020.
  • The average household size is 2.53, with around 1,346,000 housing units and a vacancy rate of 11.1% as of 2023.
  • In 2019, about 34.9 percent of Arkansas residents aged 25 years and older had a high school degree or equivalency as their highest level of education.
  • The 2021 median household income in Arkansas is $56,335.

Arkansas Population Demographics

Arkansas has a population of over 3 million people. Its racial composition is white, with 72.4% of the population, followed by Black or African American at about 15.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents account for approximately 8%, while Asians represent only 1.7% and Native Americans 0.58% of the population. Arkansas is less racially diverse than states like California, with a diversity index of around 50.3%.

The gender distribution is approximately 49.41% male (1.49 million)and 50.59% female (1.53 million). This means that there are over 30,000 more females than males in Arkansas. This balance shifts towards a higher female population in older age groups.

Arkansas has a small but growing immigrant community. The immigrant population is quite diverse and contributes significantly to the community and economy. As of 2018, Arkansas had about 143,709 "foreign-born residents", constituting about 5% of the total population. 96.8% of residents in the states are citizens of the United States.

Elections and Voting

Arkansas is predominantly a Republican state. The last Democratic Governor, Mike Beebe (Arkansas's forty-fifth governor), left office in 2015. Arkansas has consistently voted Republican in the last five presidential elections. Arkansas recognizes absentee voting for residents who will be unavoidably absent on Election Day, making the Republican margin of victory increasing in each of the last five elections.

In the 2020 election, 62.4% of voters chose the Republican candidate. The Republican Party controls the offices of the Governor, Secretary of State, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and both chambers of the state legislature. On the national level, Arkansas's political representation is primarily Republican, with both U.S. Senators John Boozman and Tom Cotton and three out of four U.S. House members being Republicans.

The next general election in Arkansas is scheduled for Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

Housing, Income, and Employment

The housing market in Arkansas is more affordable than in many other states, as the real estate market offers a variety of options. The median home price is around $199,900, and the household income required to qualify for a median home mortgage is approximately $56,340. There are about 1,346,000 housing units in Arkansas, with over 130,000 reported vacancies.

Arkansas' median household income is $56,335, below the US national average of $74,606. As of 2021, the per capita income for Arkansas was $29,252.

Arkansas' unemployment rate is about 3.6%, which is lower than the national average. There are about 11,000 jobs in Arkansas spread across various industries.

Arkansas Crime Rates

The crime rate in the state is about 49.40 per 1000 residents yearly. Residents who live in the northwestern part of the state are considered to be the safest, with 1 in 23 cases, unlike the Southeast part of the state, where the chance of being a victim is as high as 1 in 15 cases. In every 100,000 residents in Arkansas, only 672 violent crimes are found. The breakdown of violent crime is as follows:

  • Aggravated Assault – 65%
  • Robberies – 20%
  • Rape – 12%
  • Homicide – 3%

Compared to the average American, Arkansas has a higher report of violent and property crime, making it the second-highest violent crime rate (6.9 per 1,000 people) and the sixth-highest property crime rate (25.5) in the United States.

How to Find People in Arkansas

Similar to other states, finding people in Arkansas can be accomplished through various methods.

Interesting Facts About Arkansas

  • Arkansas is home to "natural resources", including petroleum, natural gas, bromine, and silica stone.
  • Arkansas is the 33rd most populous and the 29th most extensive of the 50 states of the United States.
  • The state attained statehood on June 15, 1836, becoming the 25th state to join the union.
  • Arkansas is the largest producer of rice among the 50 states
  • The name "Arkansas" means "people who live downstream"
  • Arkansas is home to the only active diamond mine in the U.S., located at Crater of Diamonds State Park.

Popular names in Arkansas

Table of Contents

Counties in Arkansas