Poverty Rate in Arkansas

ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

Poverty Rate
16.0% +26.9% vs nat'l
Rank #46 of 52
12th %ile

How Arkansas Compares

Arkansas
16.0%
National
12.6%
26.9% above

State Ranking

Rank State Value
#43 Oklahoma 15.3%
#44 District of Columbia 15.4%
#45 Alabama 15.6%
#46 Arkansas 16.0%
#47 Kentucky 16.1%
#48 West Virginia 16.7%
#49 New Mexico 17.8%
View full state ranking →

Highest Poverty Counties in Arkansas

# County Poverty
1 Benton County 7.6%
2 Saline County 8.8%
3 Calhoun County 10.2%
4 Lonoke County 10.4%
5 Boone County 11.7%
6 Prairie County 11.8%
7 Grant County 13.1%
8 Cleburne County 13.9%
9 Dallas County 13.9%
10 Logan County 13.9%

Lowest Poverty Counties in Arkansas

# County Poverty
75 Lee County 39.4%
74 Phillips County 29.3%
73 St. Francis County 28.5%
72 Desha County 28.3%
71 Miller County 24.6%
70 Woodruff County 24.1%
69 Searcy County 23.0%
68 Chicot County 22.6%
67 Howard County 22.5%
66 Drew County 22.4%

Poverty Rate in Arkansas

Arkansas has a poverty rate of 16.0%, ranking #46 of 52 among all 52 states and territories. This is 26.9% above the national value of 12.6%.

Across Arkansas's 75 counties, poverty rate ranges from 39.4% to 7.6%. The county with the highest value is Benton County at 7.6%.

Percentage of the population living below the federal poverty line.

About this data

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024). All values are estimates derived from survey samples and are subject to margin of error. For more information, see our methodology.