Data / Rankings / Child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) / Counties in Arkansas

Counties in Arkansas by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure)

Lee County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 75 counties in 2018, at 50.9%. Benton County had the lowest, at 12.1%. The median was 27.6% and the figure for Arkansas was 23.8%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest50.9Lee County
Lowest12.1Benton County
Median27.675 counties
Arkansas23.8History

Map of counties, 2018

Arkansas County: 24.4 %Ashley County: 28.8 %Baxter County: 23 %Benton County: 12.1 %Boone County: 21.5 %Bradley County: 29.8 %Calhoun County: 21.1 %Carroll County: 24.8 %Chicot County: 44.1 %Clark County: 26.4 %Clay County: 29.3 %Cleburne County: 23.8 %Cleveland County: 21 %Columbia County: 27.6 %Conway County: 26.5 %Craighead County: 24.9 %Crawford County: 22.8 %Crittenden County: 29 %Cross County: 27.6 %Dallas County: 34.2 %Desha County: 36.1 %Drew County: 27.3 %Faulkner County: 17.2 %Franklin County: 23.2 %Fulton County: 32.8 %Garland County: 35.4 %Grant County: 18.3 %Greene County: 23.5 %Hempstead County: 30.9 %Hot Spring County: 29.7 %Howard County: 27.3 %Independence County: 20.3 %Izard County: 27.9 %Jackson County: 30.4 %Jefferson County: 33.8 %Johnson County: 33.5 %Lafayette County: 34.8 %Lawrence County: 26.8 %Lee County: 50.9 %Lincoln County: 27.1 %Little River County: 24.1 %Logan County: 29.5 %Lonoke County: 15.9 %Madison County: 26.5 %Marion County: 32 %Miller County: 32.7 %Mississippi County: 35.9 %Monroe County: 38.9 %Montgomery County: 30.8 %Nevada County: 30 %Newton County: 32.9 %Ouachita County: 32.7 %Perry County: 23.7 %Phillips County: 47.9 %Pike County: 27.9 %Poinsett County: 35.2 %Polk County: 29.7 %Pope County: 20.4 %Prairie County: 24.1 %Pulaski County: 25.9 %Randolph County: 26.5 %St. Francis County: 46 %Saline County: 13 %Scott County: 30.1 %Searcy County: 34.9 %Sebastian County: 23 %Sevier County: 29.5 %Sharp County: 34.4 %Stone County: 33 %Union County: 25.1 %Van Buren County: 26.9 %Washington County: 16.9 %White County: 22.4 %Woodruff County: 36.4 %Yell County: 24.8 %
  • Under 23
  • 23 to 25
  • 25 to 28
  • 28 to 30
  • 30 to 34
  • 34 and over
%, 2018. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2018

Lee County: 50.9 %Lee County50.9Phillips County: 47.9 %Phillips County47.9St. Francis County: 46 %St. Francis County46Chicot County: 44.1 %Chicot County44.1Monroe County: 38.9 %Monroe County38.9Woodruff County: 36.4 %Woodruff County36.4Desha County: 36.1 %Desha County36.1Mississippi County: 35.9 %Mississippi County35.9Garland County: 35.4 %Garland County35.4Poinsett County: 35.2 %Poinsett County35.2Searcy County: 34.9 %Searcy County34.9Lafayette County: 34.8 %Lafayette County34.8Sharp County: 34.4 %Sharp County34.4Dallas County: 34.2 %Dallas County34.2Jefferson County: 33.8 %Jefferson County33.8Johnson County: 33.5 %Johnson County33.5Stone County: 33 %Stone County33Newton County: 32.9 %Newton County32.9Fulton County: 32.8 %Fulton County32.8Miller County: 32.7 %Miller County32.7Ouachita County: 32.7 %Ouachita County32.7Marion County: 32 %Marion County32Hempstead County: 30.9 %Hempstead County30.9Montgomery County: 30.8 %Montgomery County30.8Jackson County: 30.4 %Jackson County30.4Scott County: 30.1 %Scott County30.1Nevada County: 30 %Nevada County30Bradley County: 29.8 %Bradley County29.8Hot Spring County: 29.7 %Hot Spring County29.7Polk County: 29.7 %Polk County29.7Logan County: 29.5 %Logan County29.5Sevier County: 29.5 %Sevier County29.5Clay County: 29.3 %Clay County29.3Crittenden County: 29 %Crittenden County29Ashley County: 28.8 %Ashley County28.8Izard County: 27.9 %Izard County27.9Pike County: 27.9 %Pike County27.9Columbia County: 27.6 %Columbia County27.6Cross County: 27.6 %Cross County27.6Drew County: 27.3 %Drew County27.3Lee County: 50.9 %Lee County50.9Phillips County: 47.9 %Phillips County47.9St. Francis County: 46 %St. Francis County46Chicot County: 44.1 %Chicot County44.1Monroe County: 38.9 %Monroe County38.9Woodruff County: 36.4 %Woodruff County36.4Desha County: 36.1 %Desha County36.1Mississippi County: 35.9 %Mississippi County35.9Garland County: 35.4 %Garland County35.4Poinsett County: 35.2 %Poinsett County35.2Searcy County: 34.9 %Searcy County34.9Lafayette County: 34.8 %Lafayette County34.8Sharp County: 34.4 %Sharp County34.4Dallas County: 34.2 %Dallas County34.2Jefferson County: 33.8 %Jefferson County33.8Johnson County: 33.5 %Johnson County33.5Stone County: 33 %Stone County33Newton County: 32.9 %Newton County32.9Fulton County: 32.8 %Fulton County32.8Miller County: 32.7 %Miller County32.7Ouachita County: 32.7 %Ouachita County32.7Marion County: 32 %Marion County32Hempstead County: 30.9 %Hempstead County30.9Montgomery County: 30.8 %Montgomery County30.8Jackson County: 30.4 %Jackson County30.4Scott County: 30.1 %Scott County30.1Nevada County: 30 %Nevada County30Bradley County: 29.8 %Bradley County29.8Hot Spring County: 29.7 %Hot Spring County29.7Polk County: 29.7 %Polk County29.7Logan County: 29.5 %Logan County29.5Sevier County: 29.5 %Sevier County29.5Clay County: 29.3 %Clay County29.3Crittenden County: 29 %Crittenden County29Ashley County: 28.8 %Ashley County28.8Izard County: 27.9 %Izard County27.9Pike County: 27.9 %Pike County27.9Columbia County: 27.6 %Columbia County27.6Cross County: 27.6 %Cross County27.6Drew County: 27.3 %Drew County27.3
%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2018 (%)Change on 2017
1Lee County50.9+6 pts
2Phillips County47.9-11.5 pts
3St. Francis County46+4 pts
4Chicot County44.1+1.9 pts
5Monroe County38.9-2.6 pts
6Woodruff County36.4-2.9 pts
7Desha County36.1-4.4 pts
8Mississippi County35.9+2.9 pts
9Garland County35.4+10.2 pts
10Poinsett County35.2+3.3 pts
11Searcy County34.9-0.3 pts
12Lafayette County34.8-1.1 pts
13Sharp County34.4-2.6 pts
14Dallas County34.2+0.7 pts
15Jefferson County33.8-0.6 pts
16Johnson County33.5+9.2 pts
17Stone County33-0.3 pts
18Newton County32.9-0.1 pts
19Fulton County32.8+3.9 pts
20Miller County32.7+4.1 pts
20Ouachita County32.7+4.8 pts
22Marion County32+0.4 pts
23Hempstead County30.9-6.3 pts
24Montgomery County30.8-4.8 pts
25Jackson County30.4-0.1 pts
26Scott County30.1-1.2 pts
27Nevada County30+0.6 pts
28Bradley County29.8+0.7 pts
29Hot Spring County29.7+6.3 pts
29Polk County29.7-3.7 pts
31Logan County29.5-0.2 pts
31Sevier County29.50 pts
33Clay County29.3+3.9 pts
34Crittenden County29-2.9 pts
35Ashley County28.8+0.3 pts
36Izard County27.9-0.1 pts
36Pike County27.9+1.4 pts
38Columbia County27.6-4.9 pts
38Cross County27.6-1.8 pts
40Drew County27.3+1.8 pts
40Howard County27.3-1.1 pts
42Lincoln County27.1+1 pts
43Van Buren County26.9-1.3 pts
44Lawrence County26.8+0.1 pts
45Conway County26.5-0.3 pts
45Madison County26.5+1.3 pts
45Randolph County26.5-0.2 pts
48Clark County26.4+0.5 pts
49Pulaski County25.9+5.6 pts
50Union County25.1+0.2 pts
51Craighead County24.9+5.4 pts
52Carroll County24.8-1 pts
52Yell County24.8-3 pts
54Arkansas County24.4-1.9 pts
55Little River County24.1+0.2 pts
55Prairie County24.1-0.1 pts
57Cleburne County23.8-0.1 pts
58Perry County23.7+0.7 pts
59Greene County23.5+3.2 pts
60Franklin County23.2-2.3 pts
61Baxter County23+2 pts
61Sebastian County23-2.9 pts
63Crawford County22.8-5.3 pts
64White County22.4+1.4 pts
65Boone County21.5-0.1 pts
66Calhoun County21.1-0.3 pts
67Cleveland County21-0.1 pts
68Pope County20.4-1.1 pts
69Independence County20.3-1.3 pts
70Grant County18.3+1.9 pts
71Faulkner County17.2+2.4 pts
72Washington County16.9+0.1 pts
73Lonoke County15.9+1 pts
74Saline County13+2.4 pts
75Benton County12.1+0.5 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

People under 18 in families or living alone with income below the official US poverty thresholds, as a percentage of people under 18 whose poverty status can be determined. United States: Census Bureau Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) for the nation, states and counties.

A model-based single-year estimate; the national figure is the one-year American Community Survey estimate. The Census Bureau advises comparing years from 2006 on only. Absolute thresholds set by the US government, so not comparable with the EU at_risk_of_poverty_rate. The rate for all ages is poverty_rate.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties (Counties in Arkansas by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2018) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt

MLA 9

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties, Counties in Arkansas by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2018. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/arkansas-counties?period=2018. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties. Counties in Arkansas by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2018. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/arkansas-counties?period=2018.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties, Counties in Arkansas by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2018 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/arkansas-counties?period=2018 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_arkansas_by_2018,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties: Counties in Arkansas by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2018}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/arkansas-counties?period=2018. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties: Counties in Arkansas by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure), 2018
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/arkansas-counties?period=2018
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/arkansas-counties?period=2018.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2018/2018-state-and-county/est18all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which county has the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure)?

Lee County, with 50.9% in 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure)?

Benton County, with 12.1% in 2018.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): percent of people under age 18 in poverty, nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure): other rankings

Counties in Arkansas: more rankings