Arkansas’ population is growing, aging, and becoming slightly more diverse in terms of race and ethnic background.

Arkansas’ population increased by 4.4% from 2010 to 2022, in comparison to 8% growth for the nation as a whole.  Arkansas ranked 32nd in the U.S. for its population growth from 2010 to 2022. This growth has been unevenly distributed across counties within the state, with the majority of counties losing population over this time period.

Though still majority white, Arkansas is becoming slightly more diverse in terms of race and ethnicity. In 2018-22, Arkansans identified as 72% white, 15% Black, 8% Hispanic or Latino, 2% Asian, 3% some other race, 0.5% Native American, and 0.4% (11,100 individuals) Pacific Islander.  Though they remained a tiny fraction of the population, Pacific Islanders had the largest growth from 2008-12 to 2018-22 (102%).  Counties vary widely in their racial and ethnic diversity, ranging from Phillips County, which has the largest non-white population, with only 35% of residents identifying as white, to Fulton and Clay Counties (among others) which has 98% of residents identifying as white.

Arkansas is getting older, with increases in both its 60-84 and its 85+ age categories from 2008-12 to 2018-22.  In 2018-22, 24% of its population was over age 60 (in contrast to 20% in 2008-12). Within the state, only 34% of counties saw increases in their shares of the young working population ages 20-39.