Poverty and living standards in Arkansas, United States: official figures
The Census Bureau estimates that 15.3% of people in Arkansas lived below the federal poverty line in 2024, about 460,261 people; 7th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 12.1%).
Has poverty in Arkansas gone up or down?
In 2019 the estimate for Arkansas was 16.0% (468,575 people), so the rate is down 0.7 percentage points over five years; the national rate moved from 12.3% to 12.1%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children live in poverty in Arkansas?
19.6% of children under 18 in Arkansas were in poverty in 2024, about 135,133 children; 7th highest among the 50 states and DC. For children under 5 the rate was 20.7% (U.S.: 15.5% for under-18s, 16.5% for under-5s).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Arkansas?
The Gini index of household income inequality in Arkansas was 0.4721 in 2024 (0 means every household has the same income, 1 means one household has it all); 18th most unequal among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 0.4809).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Arkansas are cost-burdened?
45.5% of renting households in Arkansas spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2024, and 20.3% spent half or more; the 30% share is 11th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 51.8%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Arkansas get food stamps?
9.0% of households in Arkansas (111,766) said they received SNAP food benefits at some point in the previous 12 months in the 2024 American Community Survey; 14th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 11.8%). 56% of those households had incomes below the poverty line, and 69% of households below the poverty line did not receive SNAP.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people get SNAP in Arkansas?
An average of 240,378 people in Arkansas received SNAP benefits each month in fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025), up 0.1% on fiscal 2024 (240,122), according to USDA administrative data; nationally the average was 42.14 million.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow much are SNAP benefits in Arkansas?
SNAP benefits paid in Arkansas totaled $505.22 million in fiscal 2025, an average of $175.15 per person per month (U.S.: $189.36); 10th smallest average benefit among the 50 states and DC.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow many homeless people are there in Arkansas?
Local counts on a single night in January 2025 found 2,720 people experiencing homelessness in Arkansas, down 2.3% on 2024 (2,783) and up 0.1% on 2019 (2,717); 15th smallest count among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 745,652).
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many homeless people in Arkansas sleep outside?
Of those counted in Arkansas in January 2025, 1,274 were in emergency shelters or transitional housing and 1,446 (53.2%) were unsheltered, sleeping outside or in places not meant for housing; 8th highest unsheltered share among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 35.7%).
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyWho is homeless in Arkansas?
The January 2025 count in Arkansas included 867 people in families with children, 433 children under 18, 394 chronically homeless individuals and 170 veterans.
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many households in Arkansas are food insecure?
On average over 2021 to 2023, 18.9% of households in Arkansas were food insecure, meaning they had difficulty at some time in the year providing enough food because of a lack of resources; the highest among the 50 states and DC and statistically higher than the national average of 12.2%, according to USDA.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyIs food insecurity in Arkansas getting worse?
6.7% of households in Arkansas had very low food security in 2021-23, with some members eating less or skipping meals. Overall food insecurity was 12.6% in 2018-20 and 21.2% in 2011-13; the move from 2018-20 to 2021-23 is +6.3 percentage points, a statistically significant increase.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyHow Arkansas compares with other states
People in poverty (all ages) (2024)
Arkansas ranks 7 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | People in poverty (all ages) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | West Virginia | 16.2% |
| 5 | New Mexico | 15.8% |
| 6 | Kentucky | 15.4% |
| 7 | Arkansas | 15.3% |
| 8 | Alabama | 15.2% |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 14.8% |
| 10 | New York | 14.0% |
Children under 18 in poverty (2024)
Arkansas ranks 7 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | Children under 18 in poverty |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | New Mexico | 20.5% |
| 5 | Alabama | 20.4% |
| 6 | West Virginia | 20.1% |
| 7 | Arkansas | 19.6% |
| 8 | Kentucky | 18.9% |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 18.7% |
| 10 | Tennessee | 18.4% |
Gini index of household income inequality (2024)
Arkansas ranks 18 of 51, highest first. 0 = perfect equality, 1 = one household has all income
| Rank | Region | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Georgia | 0.4730 |
| 16 | Washington | 0.4725 |
| 17 | New Mexico | 0.4722 |
| 18 | Arkansas | 0.4721 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | 0.4717 |
| 20 | New Jersey | 0.4714 |
| 21 | Kentucky | 0.4711 |
Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent (2024)
Arkansas ranks 41 of 51, highest first. Share of renter households for which the ratio can be computed
| Rank | Region | Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | West Virginia | 47.0% |
| 39 | Nebraska | 46.5% |
| 40 | Oklahoma | 46.1% |
| 41 | Arkansas | 45.5% |
| 42 | Missouri | 45.2% |
| 43 | Kentucky | 45.2% |
| 44 | Wisconsin | 44.9% |
Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months (2024)
Arkansas ranks 38 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey
| Rank | Region | Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Missouri | 9.3% |
| 36 | Virginia | 9.2% |
| 37 | New Jersey | 9.1% |
| 38 | Arkansas | 9.0% |
| 39 | Colorado | 8.9% |
| 40 | Indiana | 8.6% |
| 41 | Nebraska | 8.4% |
Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) (2021-2023)
Arkansas ranks 1 of 51, highest first. Low or very low food security
| Rank | Region | Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arkansas | 18.9% |
| 2 | Texas | 16.9% |
| 3 | Louisiana | 16.2% |
| 4 | Mississippi | 16.2% |
| 5 | Oklahoma | 15.4% |
| 6 | Kentucky | 14.5% |
| 7 | South Carolina | 14.4% |
People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) (2025)
Arkansas ranks 37 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | Louisiana | 3,688 |
| 35 | Vermont | 3,386 |
| 36 | Iowa | 2,816 |
| 37 | Arkansas | 2,720 |
| 38 | Idaho | 2,697 |
| 39 | Kansas | 2,658 |
| 40 | Nebraska | 2,656 |
Share of homeless people who were unsheltered (2025)
Arkansas ranks 8 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | Share of homeless people who were unsheltered |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Georgia | 54.2% |
| 6 | Alabama | 53.8% |
| 7 | Washington | 53.7% |
| 8 | Arkansas | 53.2% |
| 9 | Idaho | 50.0% |
| 10 | Nevada | 49.6% |
| 11 | Florida | 47.2% |
People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) (FY2025)
Arkansas ranks 35 of 51, highest first. USDA FNS National Data Bank
| Rank | Region | People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Mississippi | 363,309 |
| 33 | West Virginia | 272,843 |
| 34 | Iowa | 264,523 |
| 35 | Arkansas | 240,378 |
| 36 | Kansas | 187,181 |
| 37 | Utah | 176,220 |
| 38 | Maine | 166,321 |
More on Arkansas: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Gini index of income inequality (B19083), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 dc8a2b21190b…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Receipt of food stamps/SNAP by poverty status for households (B22003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 53dc663e0426…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Gross rent as a percentage of household income (B25070), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 edf1abe1970b…)
- USDA Economic Research Service: Household Food Security in the United States in 2023 (ERR-337), tables 4 and 5: food insecurity by State, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c0eebe273d83…)
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: 2007-2025 Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness by State (2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, Part 1), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c04ebcbe51c8…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2024 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cb52c47d75c1…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2019 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 229d90cb3e05…)
- USDA Food and Nutrition Service: SNAP Monthly State Participation and Benefit Summary, fiscal years 1969 to current (FY24.xlsx and FY25.xlsx), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 d31418fd3b4b…)
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