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

Phillips County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 75 counties in 2019, at 49.9%. Benton County had the lowest, at 12.2%. The median was 25.5% and the figure for Arkansas was 21.7%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest49.9Phillips County
Lowest12.2Benton County
Median25.575 counties
Arkansas21.7History

Map of counties, 2019

Arkansas County: 24.1 %Ashley County: 24.8 %Baxter County: 18.1 %Benton County: 12.2 %Boone County: 18.8 %Bradley County: 31.3 %Calhoun County: 20.2 %Carroll County: 19.2 %Chicot County: 45.1 %Clark County: 23.1 %Clay County: 25.5 %Cleburne County: 21.9 %Cleveland County: 19.8 %Columbia County: 26.5 %Conway County: 22.7 %Craighead County: 25 %Crawford County: 28.1 %Crittenden County: 32.1 %Cross County: 26.3 %Dallas County: 31.7 %Desha County: 38.6 %Drew County: 25 %Faulkner County: 15.9 %Franklin County: 23.2 %Fulton County: 26.5 %Garland County: 23.9 %Grant County: 15.6 %Greene County: 20 %Hempstead County: 26.3 %Hot Spring County: 26.7 %Howard County: 24.9 %Independence County: 20.1 %Izard County: 22.7 %Jackson County: 32.4 %Jefferson County: 33.1 %Johnson County: 23.5 %Lafayette County: 37.1 %Lawrence County: 27 %Lee County: 42.1 %Lincoln County: 31.8 %Little River County: 26.1 %Logan County: 22.2 %Lonoke County: 14.9 %Madison County: 24.6 %Marion County: 27.1 %Miller County: 24 %Mississippi County: 30 %Monroe County: 40.8 %Montgomery County: 31 %Nevada County: 38.3 %Newton County: 31.1 %Ouachita County: 27.6 %Perry County: 25.1 %Phillips County: 49.9 %Pike County: 23.9 %Poinsett County: 32.9 %Polk County: 28.9 %Pope County: 19.9 %Prairie County: 22.1 %Pulaski County: 19.9 %Randolph County: 25.8 %St. Francis County: 42.3 %Saline County: 14.9 %Scott County: 29.8 %Searcy County: 34.1 %Sebastian County: 21.7 %Sevier County: 25 %Sharp County: 35.9 %Stone County: 30.8 %Union County: 25.7 %Van Buren County: 29.6 %Washington County: 16 %White County: 20.4 %Woodruff County: 38.1 %Yell County: 23.7 %
  • Under 20
  • 20 to 24
  • 24 to 26
  • 26 to 28
  • 28 to 33
  • 33 and over
%, 2019. 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, 2019

Phillips County: 49.9 %Phillips County49.9Chicot County: 45.1 %Chicot County45.1St. Francis County: 42.3 %St. Francis County42.3Lee County: 42.1 %Lee County42.1Monroe County: 40.8 %Monroe County40.8Desha County: 38.6 %Desha County38.6Nevada County: 38.3 %Nevada County38.3Woodruff County: 38.1 %Woodruff County38.1Lafayette County: 37.1 %Lafayette County37.1Sharp County: 35.9 %Sharp County35.9Searcy County: 34.1 %Searcy County34.1Jefferson County: 33.1 %Jefferson County33.1Poinsett County: 32.9 %Poinsett County32.9Jackson County: 32.4 %Jackson County32.4Crittenden County: 32.1 %Crittenden County32.1Lincoln County: 31.8 %Lincoln County31.8Dallas County: 31.7 %Dallas County31.7Bradley County: 31.3 %Bradley County31.3Newton County: 31.1 %Newton County31.1Montgomery County: 31 %Montgomery County31Stone County: 30.8 %Stone County30.8Mississippi County: 30 %Mississippi County30Scott County: 29.8 %Scott County29.8Van Buren County: 29.6 %Van Buren County29.6Polk County: 28.9 %Polk County28.9Crawford County: 28.1 %Crawford County28.1Ouachita County: 27.6 %Ouachita County27.6Marion County: 27.1 %Marion County27.1Lawrence County: 27 %Lawrence County27Hot Spring County: 26.7 %Hot Spring County26.7Columbia County: 26.5 %Columbia County26.5Fulton County: 26.5 %Fulton County26.5Cross County: 26.3 %Cross County26.3Hempstead County: 26.3 %Hempstead County26.3Little River County: 26.1 %Little River County26.1Randolph County: 25.8 %Randolph County25.8Union County: 25.7 %Union County25.7Clay County: 25.5 %Clay County25.5Perry County: 25.1 %Perry County25.1Craighead County: 25 %Craighead County25Phillips County: 49.9 %Phillips County49.9Chicot County: 45.1 %Chicot County45.1St. Francis County: 42.3 %St. Francis County42.3Lee County: 42.1 %Lee County42.1Monroe County: 40.8 %Monroe County40.8Desha County: 38.6 %Desha County38.6Nevada County: 38.3 %Nevada County38.3Woodruff County: 38.1 %Woodruff County38.1Lafayette County: 37.1 %Lafayette County37.1Sharp County: 35.9 %Sharp County35.9Searcy County: 34.1 %Searcy County34.1Jefferson County: 33.1 %Jefferson County33.1Poinsett County: 32.9 %Poinsett County32.9Jackson County: 32.4 %Jackson County32.4Crittenden County: 32.1 %Crittenden County32.1Lincoln County: 31.8 %Lincoln County31.8Dallas County: 31.7 %Dallas County31.7Bradley County: 31.3 %Bradley County31.3Newton County: 31.1 %Newton County31.1Montgomery County: 31 %Montgomery County31Stone County: 30.8 %Stone County30.8Mississippi County: 30 %Mississippi County30Scott County: 29.8 %Scott County29.8Van Buren County: 29.6 %Van Buren County29.6Polk County: 28.9 %Polk County28.9Crawford County: 28.1 %Crawford County28.1Ouachita County: 27.6 %Ouachita County27.6Marion County: 27.1 %Marion County27.1Lawrence County: 27 %Lawrence County27Hot Spring County: 26.7 %Hot Spring County26.7Columbia County: 26.5 %Columbia County26.5Fulton County: 26.5 %Fulton County26.5Cross County: 26.3 %Cross County26.3Hempstead County: 26.3 %Hempstead County26.3Little River County: 26.1 %Little River County26.1Randolph County: 25.8 %Randolph County25.8Union County: 25.7 %Union County25.7Clay County: 25.5 %Clay County25.5Perry County: 25.1 %Perry County25.1Craighead County: 25 %Craighead County25
%. 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

RankCounties2019 (%)Change on 2018
1Phillips County49.9+2 pts
2Chicot County45.1+1 pts
3St. Francis County42.3-3.7 pts
4Lee County42.1-8.8 pts
5Monroe County40.8+1.9 pts
6Desha County38.6+2.5 pts
7Nevada County38.3+8.3 pts
8Woodruff County38.1+1.7 pts
9Lafayette County37.1+2.3 pts
10Sharp County35.9+1.5 pts
11Searcy County34.1-0.8 pts
12Jefferson County33.1-0.7 pts
13Poinsett County32.9-2.3 pts
14Jackson County32.4+2 pts
15Crittenden County32.1+3.1 pts
16Lincoln County31.8+4.7 pts
17Dallas County31.7-2.5 pts
18Bradley County31.3+1.5 pts
19Newton County31.1-1.8 pts
20Montgomery County31+0.2 pts
21Stone County30.8-2.2 pts
22Mississippi County30-5.9 pts
23Scott County29.8-0.3 pts
24Van Buren County29.6+2.7 pts
25Polk County28.9-0.8 pts
26Crawford County28.1+5.3 pts
27Ouachita County27.6-5.1 pts
28Marion County27.1-4.9 pts
29Lawrence County27+0.2 pts
30Hot Spring County26.7-3 pts
31Columbia County26.5-1.1 pts
31Fulton County26.5-6.3 pts
33Cross County26.3-1.3 pts
33Hempstead County26.3-4.6 pts
35Little River County26.1+2 pts
36Randolph County25.8-0.7 pts
37Union County25.7+0.6 pts
38Clay County25.5-3.8 pts
39Perry County25.1+1.4 pts
40Craighead County25+0.1 pts
40Drew County25-2.3 pts
40Sevier County25-4.5 pts
43Howard County24.9-2.4 pts
44Ashley County24.8-4 pts
45Madison County24.6-1.9 pts
46Arkansas County24.1-0.3 pts
47Miller County24-8.7 pts
48Garland County23.9-11.5 pts
48Pike County23.9-4 pts
50Yell County23.7-1.1 pts
51Johnson County23.5-10 pts
52Franklin County23.20 pts
53Clark County23.1-3.3 pts
54Conway County22.7-3.8 pts
54Izard County22.7-5.2 pts
56Logan County22.2-7.3 pts
57Prairie County22.1-2 pts
58Cleburne County21.9-1.9 pts
59Sebastian County21.7-1.3 pts
60White County20.4-2 pts
61Calhoun County20.2-0.9 pts
62Independence County20.1-0.2 pts
63Greene County20-3.5 pts
64Pope County19.9-0.5 pts
64Pulaski County19.9-6 pts
66Cleveland County19.8-1.2 pts
67Carroll County19.2-5.6 pts
68Boone County18.8-2.7 pts
69Baxter County18.1-4.9 pts
70Washington County16-0.9 pts
71Faulkner County15.9-1.3 pts
72Grant County15.6-2.7 pts
73Lonoke County14.9-1 pts
73Saline County14.9+1.9 pts
75Benton County12.2+0.1 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/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.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), 2019) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.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), 2019. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/arkansas-counties?period=2019. 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), 2019. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/arkansas-counties?period=2019.

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), 2019 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/arkansas-counties?period=2019 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_arkansas_by_2019,
  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), 2019}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/arkansas-counties?period=2019. 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/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.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), 2019
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/arkansas-counties?period=2019
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/arkansas-counties?period=2019.
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/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

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

Phillips County, with 49.9% in 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Benton County, with 12.2% in 2019.

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