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)

Phillips County had the highest child poverty rate, under 18 (US official measure) of 75 counties in 2021, at 45.9%. Benton County had the lowest, at 10.9%. The median was 26% and the figure for Arkansas was 21.8%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest45.9Phillips County
Lowest10.9Benton County
Median2675 counties
Arkansas21.8History

Map of counties, 2021

Arkansas County: 25.1 %Ashley County: 31.2 %Baxter County: 18.7 %Benton County: 10.9 %Boone County: 19.7 %Bradley County: 26.8 %Calhoun County: 19.3 %Carroll County: 24.7 %Chicot County: 37 %Clark County: 24.7 %Clay County: 26 %Cleburne County: 26.2 %Cleveland County: 20.7 %Columbia County: 34.1 %Conway County: 25.7 %Craighead County: 24.2 %Crawford County: 20.9 %Crittenden County: 32.1 %Cross County: 25 %Dallas County: 32.6 %Desha County: 37.5 %Drew County: 25.2 %Faulkner County: 14.3 %Franklin County: 24.9 %Fulton County: 29.2 %Garland County: 21.2 %Grant County: 15.9 %Greene County: 18.6 %Hempstead County: 27.8 %Hot Spring County: 27 %Howard County: 26.5 %Independence County: 22.3 %Izard County: 27.2 %Jackson County: 29.5 %Jefferson County: 28.8 %Johnson County: 23.3 %Lafayette County: 32.6 %Lawrence County: 30.3 %Lee County: 45.4 %Lincoln County: 25.1 %Little River County: 25 %Logan County: 21.5 %Lonoke County: 14.6 %Madison County: 22.7 %Marion County: 30.7 %Miller County: 30.2 %Mississippi County: 31.2 %Monroe County: 36.5 %Montgomery County: 29.6 %Nevada County: 32.2 %Newton County: 30 %Ouachita County: 29.4 %Perry County: 23.9 %Phillips County: 45.9 %Pike County: 25.2 %Poinsett County: 30.3 %Polk County: 28.8 %Pope County: 23.1 %Prairie County: 23.5 %Pulaski County: 24.9 %Randolph County: 24.4 %St. Francis County: 42.2 %Saline County: 12.1 %Scott County: 29.5 %Searcy County: 32 %Sebastian County: 23.4 %Sevier County: 26 %Sharp County: 28.4 %Stone County: 34.7 %Union County: 23.9 %Van Buren County: 27.1 %Washington County: 15.2 %White County: 20.6 %Woodruff County: 33.7 %Yell County: 21.5 %
  • Under 21
  • 21 to 24
  • 24 to 26
  • 26 to 29
  • 29 to 32
  • 32 and over
%, 2021. 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, 2021

Phillips County: 45.9 %Phillips County45.9Lee County: 45.4 %Lee County45.4St. Francis County: 42.2 %St. Francis County42.2Desha County: 37.5 %Desha County37.5Chicot County: 37 %Chicot County37Monroe County: 36.5 %Monroe County36.5Stone County: 34.7 %Stone County34.7Columbia County: 34.1 %Columbia County34.1Woodruff County: 33.7 %Woodruff County33.7Dallas County: 32.6 %Dallas County32.6Lafayette County: 32.6 %Lafayette County32.6Nevada County: 32.2 %Nevada County32.2Crittenden County: 32.1 %Crittenden County32.1Searcy County: 32 %Searcy County32Ashley County: 31.2 %Ashley County31.2Mississippi County: 31.2 %Mississippi County31.2Marion County: 30.7 %Marion County30.7Lawrence County: 30.3 %Lawrence County30.3Poinsett County: 30.3 %Poinsett County30.3Miller County: 30.2 %Miller County30.2Newton County: 30 %Newton County30Montgomery County: 29.6 %Montgomery County29.6Jackson County: 29.5 %Jackson County29.5Scott County: 29.5 %Scott County29.5Ouachita County: 29.4 %Ouachita County29.4Fulton County: 29.2 %Fulton County29.2Jefferson County: 28.8 %Jefferson County28.8Polk County: 28.8 %Polk County28.8Sharp County: 28.4 %Sharp County28.4Hempstead County: 27.8 %Hempstead County27.8Izard County: 27.2 %Izard County27.2Van Buren County: 27.1 %Van Buren County27.1Hot Spring County: 27 %Hot Spring County27Bradley County: 26.8 %Bradley County26.8Howard County: 26.5 %Howard County26.5Cleburne County: 26.2 %Cleburne County26.2Clay County: 26 %Clay County26Sevier County: 26 %Sevier County26Conway County: 25.7 %Conway County25.7Drew County: 25.2 %Drew County25.2Phillips County: 45.9 %Phillips County45.9Lee County: 45.4 %Lee County45.4St. Francis County: 42.2 %St. Francis County42.2Desha County: 37.5 %Desha County37.5Chicot County: 37 %Chicot County37Monroe County: 36.5 %Monroe County36.5Stone County: 34.7 %Stone County34.7Columbia County: 34.1 %Columbia County34.1Woodruff County: 33.7 %Woodruff County33.7Dallas County: 32.6 %Dallas County32.6Lafayette County: 32.6 %Lafayette County32.6Nevada County: 32.2 %Nevada County32.2Crittenden County: 32.1 %Crittenden County32.1Searcy County: 32 %Searcy County32Ashley County: 31.2 %Ashley County31.2Mississippi County: 31.2 %Mississippi County31.2Marion County: 30.7 %Marion County30.7Lawrence County: 30.3 %Lawrence County30.3Poinsett County: 30.3 %Poinsett County30.3Miller County: 30.2 %Miller County30.2Newton County: 30 %Newton County30Montgomery County: 29.6 %Montgomery County29.6Jackson County: 29.5 %Jackson County29.5Scott County: 29.5 %Scott County29.5Ouachita County: 29.4 %Ouachita County29.4Fulton County: 29.2 %Fulton County29.2Jefferson County: 28.8 %Jefferson County28.8Polk County: 28.8 %Polk County28.8Sharp County: 28.4 %Sharp County28.4Hempstead County: 27.8 %Hempstead County27.8Izard County: 27.2 %Izard County27.2Van Buren County: 27.1 %Van Buren County27.1Hot Spring County: 27 %Hot Spring County27Bradley County: 26.8 %Bradley County26.8Howard County: 26.5 %Howard County26.5Cleburne County: 26.2 %Cleburne County26.2Clay County: 26 %Clay County26Sevier County: 26 %Sevier County26Conway County: 25.7 %Conway County25.7Drew County: 25.2 %Drew County25.2
%. 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

RankCounties2021 (%)Change on 2020
1Phillips County45.9+8.9 pts
2Lee County45.40 pts
3St. Francis County42.2+2.6 pts
4Desha County37.5+3.5 pts
5Chicot County37+0.3 pts
6Monroe County36.50 pts
7Stone County34.7+5.6 pts
8Columbia County34.1+8.6 pts
9Woodruff County33.7+0.6 pts
10Dallas County32.6+0.3 pts
10Lafayette County32.6+3.1 pts
12Nevada County32.2+4.4 pts
13Crittenden County32.1-2.9 pts
14Searcy County32-2.9 pts
15Ashley County31.2+6.8 pts
15Mississippi County31.2+3.2 pts
17Marion County30.7+3.1 pts
18Lawrence County30.3+4.2 pts
18Poinsett County30.3+1.4 pts
20Miller County30.2+5.8 pts
21Newton County30+0.2 pts
22Montgomery County29.6+1.3 pts
23Jackson County29.5-0.1 pts
23Scott County29.5+2.4 pts
25Ouachita County29.4+1.5 pts
26Fulton County29.2+1.5 pts
27Jefferson County28.8+4.1 pts
27Polk County28.8+0.7 pts
29Sharp County28.4-0.3 pts
30Hempstead County27.8+0.7 pts
31Izard County27.2-0.1 pts
32Van Buren County27.1+4.5 pts
33Hot Spring County27+4.5 pts
34Bradley County26.8-1.6 pts
35Howard County26.5+1.6 pts
36Cleburne County26.2+5.3 pts
37Clay County26+1.7 pts
37Sevier County26+1.5 pts
39Conway County25.7+2.8 pts
40Drew County25.2+1 pts
40Pike County25.2+0.6 pts
42Arkansas County25.1+3.3 pts
42Lincoln County25.1+1.9 pts
44Cross County25-8.3 pts
44Little River County25+0.6 pts
46Franklin County24.9+5 pts
46Pulaski County24.9+2.4 pts
48Carroll County24.7+4.1 pts
48Clark County24.7+2.7 pts
50Randolph County24.4+0.9 pts
51Craighead County24.2+0.8 pts
52Perry County23.9+1.2 pts
52Union County23.9+2.1 pts
54Prairie County23.5-0.9 pts
55Sebastian County23.4-0.6 pts
56Johnson County23.3-0.3 pts
57Pope County23.1+5.5 pts
58Madison County22.7-2.5 pts
59Independence County22.3+3.3 pts
60Logan County21.5-0.7 pts
60Yell County21.5-0.1 pts
62Garland County21.2-1.5 pts
63Crawford County20.9+0.5 pts
64Cleveland County20.7+1.4 pts
65White County20.6+1.5 pts
66Boone County19.7-0.1 pts
67Calhoun County19.3-3 pts
68Baxter County18.7-5.3 pts
69Greene County18.6-2.8 pts
70Grant County15.9+0.7 pts
71Washington County15.2+0.5 pts
72Lonoke County14.6+0.4 pts
73Faulkner County14.3+1 pts
74Saline County12.1+1.3 pts
75Benton County10.9-1.6 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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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), 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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), 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/arkansas-counties?period=2021. 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), 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/arkansas-counties?period=2021.

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), 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/arkansas-counties?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_arkansas_by_2021,
  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), 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/arkansas-counties?period=2021. 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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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), 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/arkansas-counties?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/arkansas-counties?period=2021.
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/2021/2021-state-and-county/est21all.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)?

Phillips County, with 45.9% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Benton County, with 10.9% in 2021.

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