Government budget and revenue in Arkansas, United States: official figures
Arkansas' state government took in $29.0 billion in fiscal year 2024, $9,353 per resident, 24th lowest of 50 states per person (all states: $9,318 per person). The total includes taxes, federal funds, charges and pension-fund investment income.
How much does the Arkansas state government spend?
The Arkansas state government spent $26.3 billion in fiscal year 2024, or $8,482 per resident, 16th lowest of 50 states (all states: $9,444). Spending was 12.5% higher than in fiscal year 2019 ($23.3 billion), before adjusting for inflation.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much debt does the Arkansas state government have?
Arkansas state government debt outstanding was $8.1 billion at the end of fiscal year 2024, $2,601 per resident, 21st lowest of 50 states (all states: $3,248). That equals 28% of one year's general revenue; in fiscal year 2019 the debt was $7.2 billion.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much federal funding does Arkansas get?
The federal government provided $11.0 billion to the Arkansas state government in fiscal year 2024, $3,555 per resident and 38.0% of its general revenue, 18th highest share of 50 states (all states: 34.2%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat are federal funds to Arkansas spent on?
Public welfare programmes, mainly Medicaid, accounted for $7.2 billion or 65% of Arkansas' federal funds in fiscal year 2024, and education for $1.4 billion (12%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat does the Arkansas state government spend its money on?
Direct state spending on public welfare was $2,800 per resident in fiscal year 2024, 25th lowest of 50 states (all states: $3,000); higher education took $1,089 per resident and highways $557.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much does Arkansas give to local governments and schools?
28.8% of Arkansas' state general spending in fiscal year 2024 ($7.6 billion) was paid to other governments, mostly local governments and school districts, 9th highest share of 50 states (all states: 27.7%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much tax does Arkansas collect?
Arkansas collected $12.6 billion in state taxes in fiscal year 2025, $4,032 per resident, 25th lowest of 50 states (all states: $4,503). That was 0.9% less than in fiscal year 2024 ($12.7 billion); across all states collections rose 4.3%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat taxes does Arkansas rely on?
The individual income tax raised $2.7 billion (21.8% of state taxes, 14th lowest share of 50 states) in fiscal year 2025. The general sales tax raised $5.1 billion (40.9%, 13th highest share of 50 states). The largest single tax was the general sales and gross receipts tax (40.9%), followed by the individual income tax (21.8%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyDoes Arkansas have corporate, property or severance taxes?
In fiscal year 2025, in Arkansas, corporate net income tax raised $644.4 million (5.1% of state taxes); state property tax raised $1.6 billion; severance tax on oil, gas, coal and minerals raised $37.5 million (0.3% of state taxes).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow much money does the Arkansas state government hold in reserves?
The Arkansas state government held $41.0 billion in cash and securities at the end of fiscal year 2024, $13,235 per resident, of which $39.1 billion was in insurance trust funds such as public employee pension systems.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Arkansas compares with other states
State government revenue per person (2024)
Arkansas ranks 27 of 50, highest first. All revenue of the state government, including insurance trust income, divided by 1 July population
| Rank | Region | State government revenue per person |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | Virginia | $9,559 |
| 25 | Montana | $9,489 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $9,375 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $9,353 |
| 28 | Washington | $9,320 |
| 29 | Illinois | $9,319 |
| 30 | Michigan | $9,298 |
State government spending per person (2024)
Arkansas ranks 35 of 50, highest first. Total expenditure of the state government divided by 1 July population
| Rank | Region | State government spending per person |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Ohio | $8,683 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $8,607 |
| 34 | Alabama | $8,594 |
| 35 | Arkansas | $8,482 |
| 36 | Indiana | $8,302 |
| 37 | Arizona | $8,113 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $8,097 |
State government debt per person (2024)
Arkansas ranks 30 of 50, highest first. Debt outstanding at the end of the fiscal year divided by 1 July population
| Rank | Region | State government debt per person |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | South Carolina | $2,798 |
| 28 | Ohio | $2,722 |
| 29 | Mississippi | $2,618 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $2,601 |
| 31 | Iowa | $2,494 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $2,477 |
| 33 | Michigan | $2,477 |
Federal funds received by the state government per person (2024)
Arkansas ranks 16 of 50, highest first. Intergovernmental revenue from the federal government
| Rank | Region | Federal funds received by the state government per person |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Delaware | $3,757 |
| 14 | Arizona | $3,646 |
| 15 | Maine | $3,627 |
| 16 | Arkansas | $3,555 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $3,504 |
| 18 | Oklahoma | $3,477 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $3,415 |
Federal funds as a share of state general revenue (2024)
Arkansas ranks 18 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Federal funds as a share of state general revenue |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Ohio | 39.2% |
| 16 | Georgia | 38.1% |
| 17 | Maine | 38.0% |
| 18 | Arkansas | 38.0% |
| 19 | Alabama | 37.8% |
| 20 | Oregon | 36.9% |
| 21 | Rhode Island | 36.8% |
State tax collections per person (2025)
Arkansas ranks 26 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | State tax collections per person |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $4,330 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $4,236 |
| 25 | Montana | $4,225 |
| 26 | Arkansas | $4,032 |
| 27 | Michigan | $4,029 |
| 28 | Utah | $3,994 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $3,936 |
Individual income tax as a share of state taxes (2025)
Arkansas ranks 37 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Individual income tax as a share of state taxes |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | Ohio | 28.3% |
| 35 | Kentucky | 27.7% |
| 36 | Vermont | 26.9% |
| 37 | Arkansas | 21.8% |
| 38 | Mississippi | 21.7% |
| 39 | Arizona | 20.6% |
| 40 | New Mexico | 16.9% |
General sales tax as a share of state taxes (2025)
Arkansas ranks 13 of 50, highest first.
| Rank | Region | General sales tax as a share of state taxes |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Ohio | 42.6% |
| 11 | Nebraska | 41.9% |
| 12 | Indiana | 40.9% |
| 13 | Arkansas | 40.9% |
| 14 | Wyoming | 38.7% |
| 15 | Iowa | 38.6% |
| 16 | Idaho | 36.1% |
State spending on public welfare per person (2024)
Arkansas ranks 26 of 50, highest first. Direct general expenditure on public welfare, mainly Medicaid
| Rank | Region | State spending on public welfare per person |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | New Jersey | $2,953 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $2,912 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $2,802 |
| 26 | Arkansas | $2,800 |
| 27 | Mississippi | $2,742 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $2,730 |
| 29 | Virginia | $2,685 |
More on Arkansas: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: Annual Survey of State Government Finances: State Government Finances, U.S. and States, 2012-2024 (table GS00STATEFIN01, amounts in thousands of dollars), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 72ff59b48414…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Annual Survey of State Government Tax Collections: historical database, fiscal years to 2025 (thousands of dollars), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bdf560cd3d8f…)
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