E.g., 09/30/2023
E.g., 09/30/2023
State Demographics Data - AR
 

Arkansas

Demographics & Social
2021
2000
1990
Demographics

Note: The term "foreign born" refers to people residing in the United States at the time of the population survey who were not U.S. citizens at birth. The foreign-born population includes naturalized U.S. citizens, lawful permanent immigrants (or green-card holders), refugees and asylees, certain legal nonimmigrants (including those on student, work, or some other temporary visas), and persons residing in the country without authorization.

Foreign Born
Number 142,988
% Foreign Born 4.7%
Population Change over Time  
% change: 2000-2021 94.0%
% change: 1990-2000 196.3%
Race (%)  
One race 73.3%
White
18.9%
Black or African American
2.5%
American Indian and Alaska Native
2.2%
Asian
19.8%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander
4.5%
Other race
25.4%
Two or more races 26.7%
Latino Origin (of any race)  
Number 85,627
% Latino 59.9%
Age Groups (%)  
Under 5 0.5%
5-17 5.9%
18-64 84.4%
65 and older 9.2%
Median Age

Note: 1) Data for Alaska, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming are from the Census Bureau’s pooled 2017-2021 American Community Survey (ACS). Data for the United States overall and for the remaining states are from the 2021 ACS. 2) The letter N indicates that a number could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.

41.8
Gender (% female) 48.8%
Marital Status (15 and older) (%)  
Never married 22.9%
Married 65.5%
Separated, divorced, or widowed 11.5%

Note: The term "U.S. born" refers to people residing in the United States who were U.S. citizens in one of three categories: people born in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia; people born in U.S. Insular Areas such as Puerto Rico or Guam; or people who were born abroad to at least one U.S. citizen parent.

U.S. Born
Number 2,882,903
% Foreign Born  
Population Change over Time  
% change: 2000-2011 10.9%
% change: 1990-2000 11.8%
Race (%)  
One race 90.9%
White 72.5%
Black or African American 15.4%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.5%
Asian 0.5%
Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander 0.2%
Other race 1.9%
Two or more races 9.1%
Latino Origin (of any race)  
Number 162,014
% Latino 5.6%
Age Groups (%)  
Under 5 6.2%
5-17 17.9%
18-64 58.1%
65 and older 17.8%
Median Age 38.2
Gender (% female) 50.7%
Marital Status (15 and older) (%)  
Never married 29.6%
Married 47.9%
Separated, divorced, or widowed 22.5%
Foreign Born
Number 73,690
% Foreign Born 2.8%
Population Change over Time  
% change: 2000-2011  
 
Race (%)  
Latino Origin (of any race)  
Age Groups (%)  
Marital Status (15 and older) (%)  
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U.S. Born
Number 2,599,710
Population Change over Time  
% change: 2000-2011  
1990-2000  
Race (%)  
Latino Origin (of any race)  
Age Groups (%)  
Marital Status (15 and older) (%)  
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Foreign Born
Number 24,867
% Foreign Born 1.1%
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
U.S. Born
Number 2,325,858
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
Foreign Born
Foreign Born
Foreign Born
Place of Birth Number
Region of Birth (excluding born at sea)

Note: For 1990, 2000, and current ACS year, the total for the region of birth of the foreign born is different from the total foreign born. This is because the 1990 total excludes those who did not report a country of birth and those born at sea, while the 2000 and the current ACS year totals exclude those born at sea.

142,988
Born in Africa 4,502
Born in Asia 32,103
Born in Europe 10,555
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 87,023
Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon) 1,460
Born in Oceania 7,345
Top 3 Countries of Birth

Note: These are the largest countries of birth reported by the Census Bureau. Some countries are only listed as part of a larger geographic region. For example, those born in Somalia are included only among those born in Eastern Africa. Therefore, a few states may have larger populations of foreign-born persons born in countries not listed individually in census data. For each of the three years, countries of birth reflect geographic boundaries as of that year.

 
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
Detailed Region/Country of Birth

Note: These are the largest countries of birth reported by the Census Bureau. Some countries are only listed as part of a larger geographic region. For example, those born in Somalia are included only among those born in Eastern Africa. Therefore, a few states may have larger populations of foreign-born persons born in countries not listed individually in census data. For each of the three years, countries of birth reflect geographic boundaries as of that year.

142,988
Europe 10,555
Northern Europe 3,367
United Kingdom
3,090
Ireland
235
Other Northern Europe
42
Western Europe 4,031
France
483
Germany
3,055
Other Western Europe
493
Southern Europe 175
Italy
112
Portugal
N
Other Southern Europe
63
Eastern Europe 2,941
Poland
696
Russia
649
Other Eastern Europe
1,596
Other Europe (no country specified) 41
Asia 32,103
Eastern Asia 4,618
China
3,380

China, excluding Taiwan

2,768

Taiwan

612
Japan
413
Korea
825
Other Eastern Asia
N
South Central Asia 11,753
India
9,775
Iran
124
Other South Central Asia
1,854
Southeastern Asia 13,802
Philippines
4,282
Vietnam
3,315
Other Southeastern Asia
6,205
Western Asia 1,856
Israel
55
Lebanon
N
Other Western Asia
1,801
Other Asia (no country specified) 74
Africa 4,502
Eastern Africa 161
Northern Africa
811
Western Africa
2,341
Middle and Southern Africa
1,189
Other Africa (no country specified)
N
Oceania 7,345
Australia and New Zealand subregion 253
Oceania (no country specified) 7,092
Americas 88,483
Latin America 87,023
Caribbean
1,571

Cuba

607

Jamaica

53

Other Caribbean

911
Central America
82,430

Mexico

56,388

El Salvador

18,245

Other Central America

7,797
South America
3,022

Brazil

906

Colombia

813

Other South America

1,303
Northern America 1,460
Canada
1,460
Other Northern America
N
Period of Entry into U.S.  
Before 1990 29,871
1990-1999 31,281
2000-2009 41,323
Since 2010 40,513
%
Region of Birth (excluding born at the sea)* 100%
Born in Africa 3.1%
Born in Asia 22.5%
Born in Europe 7.4%
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 60.9%
Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon) 1.0%
Born in Oceania 5.1%
Top 3 Countries of Birth*  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
Detailed Region/Country of Birth* 100%
Europe 7.4%
Northern Europe 2.4%
United Kingdom 2.2%
Ireland 0.2%
Other Northern Europe N
Western Europe 2.8%
France 0.3%
Germany 2.1%
Other Western Europe 0.3%
Southern Europe 0.1%
Italy 0.1%
Portugal N
Other Southern Europe N
Eastern Europe 2.1%
Poland 0.5%
Russia 0.5%
Other Eastern Europe 1.1%
Other Europe (no country specified) N
Asia 22.5%
Eastern Asia 3.2%
China 2.4%
China, excluding Taiwan 1.9%
Taiwan 0.4%
Japan 0.3%
Korea 0.6%
Other Eastern Asia N
South Central Asia 8.2%
India 6.8%
Iran 0.1%
Other South Central Asia 1.3%
Southeastern Asia 9.7%
Philippines 3.0%
Vietnam 2.3%
Other Southeastern Asia 4.3%
Western Asia 1.3%
Israel N
Lebanon N
Other Western Asia 1.3%
Other Asia (no country specified) 0.1%
Africa 3.1%
Eastern Africa 0.1%
Northern Africa 0.6%
Western Africa 1.6%
Middle and Southern Africa 0.8%
Other Africa (no country specified) N
Oceania 5.1%
Australia and New Zealand subregion 0.2%
Oceania (no country specified) 5.0%
Americas 61.9%
Latin America 60.9%
Caribbean 1.1%
Cuba 0.4%
Jamaica N
Other Caribbean 0.6%
Central America 57.6%
Mexico 39.4%
El Salvador 12.8%
Other Central America 5.5%
South America 2.1%
Brazil 0.6%
Colombia 0.6%
Other South America 0.9%
Northern America 1.0%
Canada 1.0%
Other Northern America N
Period of Entry into U.S.  
Before 1980 20.9%
1980-1989 21.9%
1990-1999 28.9%
Since 2000 28.3%
Number
Region of Birth (excluding born at the sea)* 73,690
Born in Africa 1,503
Born in Asia 15,846
Born in Europe 10,028
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 43,309
Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon) 1,839
Cat28 1,165
Top 3 Countries of Birth*  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
%
Region of birth 100%
Born in Africa 2.0%
Born in Asia 21.5%
Born in Europe 13.6%
Born in Latin America 58.8%
Born in Northern America 2.5%
Born in Oceania 1.6%
Top 3 Countries of Birth*  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
Number
Region of Birth (excluding born at the sea)* 23,851
Born in Africa 651
Born in Asia 9,035
Born in Europe 7,847
Born in Latin America (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean) 4,571
Born in Northern America (Canada, Bermuda, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon) 1,431
Cat21 316
Top 3 Countries of Birth*  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
%
Region of birth 100%
Born in Africa 2.7%
Born in Asia 37.9%
Born in Europe 32.9%
Born in Latin America 19.2%
Born in Northern America 6.0%
Born in Oceania 1.3%
Top 3 Countries of Birth*  
Country #1
Country #2
Country #3
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
Foreign Born
Foreign Born
Foreign Born
Naturalization Number
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 142,988
Naturalized citizens 50,939
Noncitizens 92,049
Naturalized Citizens by Period of Naturalization 50,939
Before 1990 6,914
1990-1999 8,373
2000-2009 14,194
2010-2014 10,014
Since 2015 11,444
%
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 100%
Naturalized citizens 35.6%
Noncitizens 64.4%
Naturalized Citizens by Period of Naturalization 100%
Before 1980 13.6%
1980-1989 16.4%
1990-1999 27.9%
2000-2009 19.7%
Since 2010 22.5%
Number
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 73,690
Naturalized citizens 22,055
Noncitizens 51,635
   
   
   
   
   
   
%
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 100%
Naturalized citizens 29.9%
Noncitizens 70.1%
   
   
   
   
   
   
Number
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 24,867
Naturalized citizens 12,121
Noncitizens 12,746
   
   
   
   
   
   
%
Foreign Born by U.S. Citizenship Status 100%
Naturalized citizens 48.7%
Noncitizens 51.3%
   
   
   
   
   
   
Fertility Foreign Born
Female Population (ages 15-50) 44,095
Women (ages 15-50) who gave birth in the last 12 months 3,084
% married among women who gave birth
62.2%
% unmarried (never married, divorced, or widowed) among women who gave birth
37.8%
U.S. Born
Female Population (ages 15-50) 646,146
Women (ages 15-50) who gave birth in the last 12 months 33,645
% married among women who gave birth 65.3%
% unmarried (never married, divorced, or widowed) among women who gave birth 34.7%
Foreign Born
   
   
   
   
U.S. Born
   
   
   
   
Foreign Born
   
   
   
   
U.S. Born
   
   
   
   
Household and Family Size

Note: Data for Alaska, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming are from the U.S Census Bureau’s pooled 2017-2021 American Community Survey (ACS). Data for the United States overall and for the remaining states are from the 2021 ACS. 2) The letter N indicates that a number could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.

Foreign Born
Average household size 3.33
Average family size 3.66
U.S. Born
Average household size 2.45
Average family size 3.03
Foreign Born
   
   
U.S. Born
   
   
Foreign Born
   
   
U.S. Born
   
   
 
Population
Population
Population
Children under 18 Number
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents

Note: Refers to children between ages 0 and 17 (regardless of their nativity) who reside with at least one parent. This means that the number of children shown here is smaller than the overall number of U.S. children under 18. Since 2013, the U.S. Census Bureau includes children of same-sex married couples in its count of children in families and subfamilies.

 
Children under age 18 with 651,479
Only native parent(s)
576,074
One or more foreign-born parents
75,405

Child is native

66,984

Child is foreign born

8,421
Children under age 6 with 206,155
Only native parent(s)
182,245
One or more foreign-born parents
23,910

Child is native

23,082

Child is foreign born

828
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 445,324
Only native parent(s)
393,829
One or more foreign-born parents
51,495

Child is native

43,902

Child is foreign born

7,593
Children in Low-Income Families

Note: Refers to children between ages 0 and 17 (regardless of their nativity) who reside with at least one parent. This means that the number of children shown here is smaller than the overall number of U.S. children under 18. Since 2013, the U.S. Census Bureau includes children of same-sex married couples in its count of children in families and subfamilies. The term "low-income families" refers to families with annual incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty threshold.

309,711
Only native parents 269,855
One or more foreign-born parents 39,856
%
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents*  
Children under age 18 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 88.4%
One or more foreign-born parents 11.6%
Child is native 10.3%
Child is foreign born 1.3%
Children under age 6 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 88.4%
One or more foreign-born parents 11.6%
Child is native 11.2%
Child is foreign born 0.4%
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 88.4%
One or more foreign-born parents 11.6%
Child is native 9.9%
Child is foreign born 1.7%
Children in Low-Income Families* 100%
Only native parents 87.1%
One or more foreign-born parents 12.9%
Number
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents  
Children under age 18 with 635,371
Only native parent(s) 601,852
One or more foreign-born parents 33,519
Child is native 25,616
Child is foreign born 7,903
Children under age 6 with 205,272
Only native parent(s) 191,855
One or more foreign-born parents 13,417
Child is native 11,602
Child is foreign born 1,815
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 430,099
Only native parent(s) 409,997
One or more foreign-born parents 20,102
Child is native 14,014
Child is foreign born 6,088
Children in Low-Income Families* 305,897
Only native parents 286,039
One or more foreign-born parents 19,858
%
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents  
Children under age 18 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 94.7%
One or more foreign-born parents 5.3%
Child is native 4.0%
Child is foreign born 1.2%
Children under age 6 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 93.5%
One or more foreign-born parents 6.5%
Child is native 5.7%
Child is foreign born 0.9%
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 95.3%
One or more foreign-born parents 4.7%
Child is native 3.3%
Child is foreign born 1.4%
Children in Low-Income Families* 100%
Only native parents 93.5%
One or more foreign-born parents 6.5%
Number
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents  
Children under age 18 with 591,363
Only native parent(s) 578,954
One or more foreign-born parents 12,409
Child is native 9,984
Child is foreign born 2,425
Children under age 6 with 192,934
Only native parent(s) 188,831
One or more foreign-born parents 4,103
Child is native 3,840
Child is foreign born 263
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 398,429
Only native parent(s) 390,123
One or more foreign-born parents 8,306
Child is native 6,144
Child is foreign born 2,162
Children in Low-Income Families* 316,251
Only native parents 310,248
One or more foreign-born parents 6,003
%
Children with Foreign- and Native-Born Parents  
Children under age 18 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 97.9%
One or more foreign-born parents 2.1%
Child is native 1.7%
Child is foreign born 0.4%
Children under age 6 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 97.9%
One or more foreign-born parents 2.1%
Child is native 2.0%
Child is foreign born 0.1%
Children between ages 6 and 17 with 100%
Only native parent(s) 97.9%
One or more foreign-born parents 2.1%
Child is native 1.5%
Child is foreign born 0.5%
Children in Low-Income Families* 100%
Only native parents 98.1%
One or more foreign-born parents 1.9%

Sources: Migration Policy Institute tabulations of the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) and Decennial Census. Unless stated otherwise, 2021 data are from the one-year ACS file. For information about ACS definitions, click here. For ACS methodology, sampling error, and nonsampling error, click here. Estimates from 1990 and 2000 Decennial Census data as well as ACS microdata are from Steven Ruggles, Sarah Flood, Ronald Goeken, Megan Schouweiler and Matthew Sobek. IPUMS USA: Version 12.0 [dataset]. Minneapolis, MN: IPUMS, 2022. https://doi.org/10.18128/D010.V12.0.

Definitions

  • The term "foreign born" refers to people residing in the United States at the time of the population survey who were not U.S. citizens at birth. The foreign-born population includes naturalized U.S. citizens, lawful permanent immigrants (or green-card holders), refugees and asylees, certain legal nonimmigrants (including those on student, work, or some other temporary visas), and persons residing in the country without authorization.
  • The term "U.S. born" refers to people residing in the United States who were U.S. citizens in one of three categories: people born in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia; people born in U.S. Insular Areas such as Puerto Rico or Guam; or people who were born abroad to at least one U.S. citizen parent.
  • The term "low-income families" refers to families with annual incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty threshold.

Data-related notes

  • The letter N indicates that an estimate could not be provided by the Census Bureau because the number of sample cases was too small for this state.
  • Race and Hispanic origin: The Census Bureau made some improvements and changes in how respondents were asked about their race and Hispanic origin on the 2020 decennial Census form. The goal was to achieve a more accurate portrait of how U.S. residents self-identify. The same changes were implemented in the subsequent ACS as well. Note that the racial composition of the U.S. population in the 2021 ACS looks different from prior ACS years. For instance, the proportion reporting “two or more races” has increased, while the proportion of “white alone” decreased, reflecting both the growth of a more racially diverse population and the changes in questionnaire design. Race and Hispanic origin comparisons between the 2021 ACS and earlier ACS years or pre-2020 decennial Censuses should be made with caution. For more details, visit the Census Bureau’s Resource Library.
  • For “Median Age” and “Household Size”: Data for Alaska, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming are from the U.S. Census Bureau's pooled 2017-2021 American Community Survey (ACS). Data for the United States overall and for the remaining states are from the 2021 ACS.
  • Region of birth: For 1990, 2000, and current ACS year, the total for the region of birth of the foreign born is different from the total foreign born. This is because the 1990 total excludes those who did not report a country of birth and those born at sea, while the 2000 census and the current ACS year totals exclude those born at sea.
  • Countries of birth: These are the largest countries of birth reported by the Census Bureau. Some countries are only listed as part of a larger geographic region. For example, those born in Somalia are included only among those born in Eastern Africa. Therefore, a few states may have larger populations of foreign-born persons born in countries not listed individually in census data. For each of the three years, countries of birth reflect geographic boundaries as of that year.
  • Children: The data here include children between ages 0 and 17 (regardless of their nativity) who reside with at least one parent. This means that the number of children shown here is smaller than the overall number of U.S. children under 18. Since 2013, the U.S. Census Bureau has included children of same-sex married couples in its count of children in families and subfamilies.