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 2020, at 45.4%. Saline County had the lowest, at 10.8%. The median was 24.4% and the figure for Arkansas was 20.8%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest45.4Lee County
Lowest10.8Saline County
Median24.475 counties
Arkansas20.8History

Map of counties, 2020

Arkansas County: 21.8 %Ashley County: 24.4 %Baxter County: 24 %Benton County: 12.5 %Boone County: 19.8 %Bradley County: 28.4 %Calhoun County: 22.3 %Carroll County: 20.6 %Chicot County: 36.7 %Clark County: 22 %Clay County: 24.3 %Cleburne County: 20.9 %Cleveland County: 19.3 %Columbia County: 25.5 %Conway County: 22.9 %Craighead County: 23.4 %Crawford County: 20.4 %Crittenden County: 35 %Cross County: 33.3 %Dallas County: 32.3 %Desha County: 34 %Drew County: 24.2 %Faulkner County: 13.3 %Franklin County: 19.9 %Fulton County: 27.7 %Garland County: 22.7 %Grant County: 15.2 %Greene County: 21.4 %Hempstead County: 27.1 %Hot Spring County: 22.5 %Howard County: 24.9 %Independence County: 19 %Izard County: 27.3 %Jackson County: 29.6 %Jefferson County: 24.7 %Johnson County: 23.6 %Lafayette County: 29.5 %Lawrence County: 26.1 %Lee County: 45.4 %Lincoln County: 23.2 %Little River County: 24.4 %Logan County: 22.2 %Lonoke County: 14.2 %Madison County: 25.2 %Marion County: 27.6 %Miller County: 24.4 %Mississippi County: 28 %Monroe County: 36.5 %Montgomery County: 28.3 %Nevada County: 27.8 %Newton County: 29.8 %Ouachita County: 27.9 %Perry County: 22.7 %Phillips County: 37 %Pike County: 24.6 %Poinsett County: 28.9 %Polk County: 28.1 %Pope County: 17.6 %Prairie County: 24.4 %Pulaski County: 22.5 %Randolph County: 23.5 %St. Francis County: 39.6 %Saline County: 10.8 %Scott County: 27.1 %Searcy County: 34.9 %Sebastian County: 24 %Sevier County: 24.5 %Sharp County: 28.7 %Stone County: 29.1 %Union County: 21.8 %Van Buren County: 22.6 %Washington County: 14.7 %White County: 19.1 %Woodruff County: 33.1 %Yell County: 21.6 %
  • Under 20
  • 20 to 23
  • 23 to 24
  • 24 to 27
  • 27 to 30
  • 30 and over
%, 2020. 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, 2020

Lee County: 45.4 %Lee County45.4St. Francis County: 39.6 %St. Francis County39.6Phillips County: 37 %Phillips County37Chicot County: 36.7 %Chicot County36.7Monroe County: 36.5 %Monroe County36.5Crittenden County: 35 %Crittenden County35Searcy County: 34.9 %Searcy County34.9Desha County: 34 %Desha County34Cross County: 33.3 %Cross County33.3Woodruff County: 33.1 %Woodruff County33.1Dallas County: 32.3 %Dallas County32.3Newton County: 29.8 %Newton County29.8Jackson County: 29.6 %Jackson County29.6Lafayette County: 29.5 %Lafayette County29.5Stone County: 29.1 %Stone County29.1Poinsett County: 28.9 %Poinsett County28.9Sharp County: 28.7 %Sharp County28.7Bradley County: 28.4 %Bradley County28.4Montgomery County: 28.3 %Montgomery County28.3Polk County: 28.1 %Polk County28.1Mississippi County: 28 %Mississippi County28Ouachita County: 27.9 %Ouachita County27.9Nevada County: 27.8 %Nevada County27.8Fulton County: 27.7 %Fulton County27.7Marion County: 27.6 %Marion County27.6Izard County: 27.3 %Izard County27.3Hempstead County: 27.1 %Hempstead County27.1Scott County: 27.1 %Scott County27.1Lawrence County: 26.1 %Lawrence County26.1Columbia County: 25.5 %Columbia County25.5Madison County: 25.2 %Madison County25.2Howard County: 24.9 %Howard County24.9Jefferson County: 24.7 %Jefferson County24.7Pike County: 24.6 %Pike County24.6Sevier County: 24.5 %Sevier County24.5Ashley County: 24.4 %Ashley County24.4Little River County: 24.4 %Little River County24.4Miller County: 24.4 %Miller County24.4Prairie County: 24.4 %Prairie County24.4Clay County: 24.3 %Clay County24.3Lee County: 45.4 %Lee County45.4St. Francis County: 39.6 %St. Francis County39.6Phillips County: 37 %Phillips County37Chicot County: 36.7 %Chicot County36.7Monroe County: 36.5 %Monroe County36.5Crittenden County: 35 %Crittenden County35Searcy County: 34.9 %Searcy County34.9Desha County: 34 %Desha County34Cross County: 33.3 %Cross County33.3Woodruff County: 33.1 %Woodruff County33.1Dallas County: 32.3 %Dallas County32.3Newton County: 29.8 %Newton County29.8Jackson County: 29.6 %Jackson County29.6Lafayette County: 29.5 %Lafayette County29.5Stone County: 29.1 %Stone County29.1Poinsett County: 28.9 %Poinsett County28.9Sharp County: 28.7 %Sharp County28.7Bradley County: 28.4 %Bradley County28.4Montgomery County: 28.3 %Montgomery County28.3Polk County: 28.1 %Polk County28.1Mississippi County: 28 %Mississippi County28Ouachita County: 27.9 %Ouachita County27.9Nevada County: 27.8 %Nevada County27.8Fulton County: 27.7 %Fulton County27.7Marion County: 27.6 %Marion County27.6Izard County: 27.3 %Izard County27.3Hempstead County: 27.1 %Hempstead County27.1Scott County: 27.1 %Scott County27.1Lawrence County: 26.1 %Lawrence County26.1Columbia County: 25.5 %Columbia County25.5Madison County: 25.2 %Madison County25.2Howard County: 24.9 %Howard County24.9Jefferson County: 24.7 %Jefferson County24.7Pike County: 24.6 %Pike County24.6Sevier County: 24.5 %Sevier County24.5Ashley County: 24.4 %Ashley County24.4Little River County: 24.4 %Little River County24.4Miller County: 24.4 %Miller County24.4Prairie County: 24.4 %Prairie County24.4Clay County: 24.3 %Clay County24.3
%. 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

RankCounties2020 (%)Change on 2019
1Lee County45.4+3.3 pts
2St. Francis County39.6-2.7 pts
3Phillips County37-12.9 pts
4Chicot County36.7-8.4 pts
5Monroe County36.5-4.3 pts
6Crittenden County35+2.9 pts
7Searcy County34.9+0.8 pts
8Desha County34-4.6 pts
9Cross County33.3+7 pts
10Woodruff County33.1-5 pts
11Dallas County32.3+0.6 pts
12Newton County29.8-1.3 pts
13Jackson County29.6-2.8 pts
14Lafayette County29.5-7.6 pts
15Stone County29.1-1.7 pts
16Poinsett County28.9-4 pts
17Sharp County28.7-7.2 pts
18Bradley County28.4-2.9 pts
19Montgomery County28.3-2.7 pts
20Polk County28.1-0.8 pts
21Mississippi County28-2 pts
22Ouachita County27.9+0.3 pts
23Nevada County27.8-10.5 pts
24Fulton County27.7+1.2 pts
25Marion County27.6+0.5 pts
26Izard County27.3+4.6 pts
27Hempstead County27.1+0.8 pts
27Scott County27.1-2.7 pts
29Lawrence County26.1-0.9 pts
30Columbia County25.5-1 pts
31Madison County25.2+0.6 pts
32Howard County24.90 pts
33Jefferson County24.7-8.4 pts
34Pike County24.6+0.7 pts
35Sevier County24.5-0.5 pts
36Ashley County24.4-0.4 pts
36Little River County24.4-1.7 pts
36Miller County24.4+0.4 pts
36Prairie County24.4+2.3 pts
40Clay County24.3-1.2 pts
41Drew County24.2-0.8 pts
42Baxter County24+5.9 pts
42Sebastian County24+2.3 pts
44Johnson County23.6+0.1 pts
45Randolph County23.5-2.3 pts
46Craighead County23.4-1.6 pts
47Lincoln County23.2-8.6 pts
48Conway County22.9+0.2 pts
49Garland County22.7-1.2 pts
49Perry County22.7-2.4 pts
51Van Buren County22.6-7 pts
52Hot Spring County22.5-4.2 pts
52Pulaski County22.5+2.6 pts
54Calhoun County22.3+2.1 pts
55Logan County22.20 pts
56Clark County22-1.1 pts
57Arkansas County21.8-2.3 pts
57Union County21.8-3.9 pts
59Yell County21.6-2.1 pts
60Greene County21.4+1.4 pts
61Cleburne County20.9-1 pts
62Carroll County20.6+1.4 pts
63Crawford County20.4-7.7 pts
64Franklin County19.9-3.3 pts
65Boone County19.8+1 pts
66Cleveland County19.3-0.5 pts
67White County19.1-1.3 pts
68Independence County19-1.1 pts
69Pope County17.6-2.3 pts
70Grant County15.2-0.4 pts
71Washington County14.7-1.3 pts
72Lonoke County14.2-0.7 pts
73Faulkner County13.3-2.6 pts
74Benton County12.5+0.3 pts
75Saline County10.8-4.1 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/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.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), 2020) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.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), 2020. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/arkansas-counties?period=2020. 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), 2020. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/arkansas-counties?period=2020.

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), 2020 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/arkansas-counties?period=2020 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_arkansas_by_2020,
  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), 2020}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/arkansas-counties?period=2020. 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/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.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), 2020
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/arkansas-counties?period=2020
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/arkansas-counties?period=2020.
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/2020/2020-state-and-county/est20all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Rank Counties in Arkansas by child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

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

Lee County, with 45.4% in 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Saline County, with 10.8% in 2020.

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