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 2023, at 46.1%. Benton County had the lowest, at 9%. The median was 24.3% and the figure for Arkansas was 20.2%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest46.1Lee County
Lowest9Benton County
Median24.375 counties
Arkansas20.2History

Map of counties, 2023

Arkansas County: 23.1 %Ashley County: 25.2 %Baxter County: 20.6 %Benton County: 9 %Boone County: 18.7 %Bradley County: 28.7 %Calhoun County: 17.8 %Carroll County: 19.4 %Chicot County: 37.2 %Clark County: 20.4 %Clay County: 22.3 %Cleburne County: 20.6 %Cleveland County: 20.8 %Columbia County: 27.8 %Conway County: 23 %Craighead County: 23.1 %Crawford County: 18.3 %Crittenden County: 29.3 %Cross County: 25.4 %Dallas County: 26.9 %Desha County: 35.6 %Drew County: 27.8 %Faulkner County: 15.4 %Franklin County: 23.7 %Fulton County: 24.9 %Garland County: 29.4 %Grant County: 13.6 %Greene County: 19.1 %Hempstead County: 25.8 %Hot Spring County: 21.7 %Howard County: 22.5 %Independence County: 18.1 %Izard County: 23.9 %Jackson County: 32 %Jefferson County: 32 %Johnson County: 19.6 %Lafayette County: 30.6 %Lawrence County: 24.5 %Lee County: 46.1 %Lincoln County: 24.8 %Little River County: 25.3 %Logan County: 22.5 %Lonoke County: 11.8 %Madison County: 20.5 %Marion County: 26 %Miller County: 27.3 %Mississippi County: 31.1 %Monroe County: 38.1 %Montgomery County: 28.4 %Nevada County: 31 %Newton County: 27.1 %Ouachita County: 25.3 %Perry County: 20.9 %Phillips County: 45.2 %Pike County: 27.2 %Poinsett County: 27.1 %Polk County: 26.2 %Pope County: 16 %Prairie County: 22.4 %Pulaski County: 23.7 %Randolph County: 23.6 %St. Francis County: 45.6 %Saline County: 12.1 %Scott County: 26.6 %Searcy County: 28.1 %Sebastian County: 17.7 %Sevier County: 24.3 %Sharp County: 25.4 %Stone County: 26.3 %Union County: 24 %Van Buren County: 23.8 %Washington County: 13.5 %White County: 19.6 %Woodruff County: 34.8 %Yell County: 23 %
  • Under 19
  • 19 to 22
  • 22 to 24
  • 24 to 26
  • 26 to 29
  • 29 and over
%, 2023. 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, 2023

Lee County: 46.1 %Lee County46.1St. Francis County: 45.6 %St. Francis County45.6Phillips County: 45.2 %Phillips County45.2Monroe County: 38.1 %Monroe County38.1Chicot County: 37.2 %Chicot County37.2Desha County: 35.6 %Desha County35.6Woodruff County: 34.8 %Woodruff County34.8Jackson County: 32 %Jackson County32Jefferson County: 32 %Jefferson County32Mississippi County: 31.1 %Mississippi County31.1Nevada County: 31 %Nevada County31Lafayette County: 30.6 %Lafayette County30.6Garland County: 29.4 %Garland County29.4Crittenden County: 29.3 %Crittenden County29.3Bradley County: 28.7 %Bradley County28.7Montgomery County: 28.4 %Montgomery County28.4Searcy County: 28.1 %Searcy County28.1Columbia County: 27.8 %Columbia County27.8Drew County: 27.8 %Drew County27.8Miller County: 27.3 %Miller County27.3Pike County: 27.2 %Pike County27.2Newton County: 27.1 %Newton County27.1Poinsett County: 27.1 %Poinsett County27.1Dallas County: 26.9 %Dallas County26.9Scott County: 26.6 %Scott County26.6Stone County: 26.3 %Stone County26.3Polk County: 26.2 %Polk County26.2Marion County: 26 %Marion County26Hempstead County: 25.8 %Hempstead County25.8Cross County: 25.4 %Cross County25.4Sharp County: 25.4 %Sharp County25.4Little River County: 25.3 %Little River County25.3Ouachita County: 25.3 %Ouachita County25.3Ashley County: 25.2 %Ashley County25.2Fulton County: 24.9 %Fulton County24.9Lincoln County: 24.8 %Lincoln County24.8Lawrence County: 24.5 %Lawrence County24.5Sevier County: 24.3 %Sevier County24.3Union County: 24 %Union County24Izard County: 23.9 %Izard County23.9Lee County: 46.1 %Lee County46.1St. Francis County: 45.6 %St. Francis County45.6Phillips County: 45.2 %Phillips County45.2Monroe County: 38.1 %Monroe County38.1Chicot County: 37.2 %Chicot County37.2Desha County: 35.6 %Desha County35.6Woodruff County: 34.8 %Woodruff County34.8Jackson County: 32 %Jackson County32Jefferson County: 32 %Jefferson County32Mississippi County: 31.1 %Mississippi County31.1Nevada County: 31 %Nevada County31Lafayette County: 30.6 %Lafayette County30.6Garland County: 29.4 %Garland County29.4Crittenden County: 29.3 %Crittenden County29.3Bradley County: 28.7 %Bradley County28.7Montgomery County: 28.4 %Montgomery County28.4Searcy County: 28.1 %Searcy County28.1Columbia County: 27.8 %Columbia County27.8Drew County: 27.8 %Drew County27.8Miller County: 27.3 %Miller County27.3Pike County: 27.2 %Pike County27.2Newton County: 27.1 %Newton County27.1Poinsett County: 27.1 %Poinsett County27.1Dallas County: 26.9 %Dallas County26.9Scott County: 26.6 %Scott County26.6Stone County: 26.3 %Stone County26.3Polk County: 26.2 %Polk County26.2Marion County: 26 %Marion County26Hempstead County: 25.8 %Hempstead County25.8Cross County: 25.4 %Cross County25.4Sharp County: 25.4 %Sharp County25.4Little River County: 25.3 %Little River County25.3Ouachita County: 25.3 %Ouachita County25.3Ashley County: 25.2 %Ashley County25.2Fulton County: 24.9 %Fulton County24.9Lincoln County: 24.8 %Lincoln County24.8Lawrence County: 24.5 %Lawrence County24.5Sevier County: 24.3 %Sevier County24.3Union County: 24 %Union County24Izard County: 23.9 %Izard County23.9
%. 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

RankCounties2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Lee County46.1+1.2 pts
2St. Francis County45.6+0.8 pts
3Phillips County45.2-8.1 pts
4Monroe County38.1+1.5 pts
5Chicot County37.2-0.1 pts
6Desha County35.6-5.1 pts
7Woodruff County34.8+2.6 pts
8Jackson County32+4.4 pts
8Jefferson County32-1.4 pts
10Mississippi County31.1+0.7 pts
11Nevada County31-0.6 pts
12Lafayette County30.6-5.3 pts
13Garland County29.4+6.4 pts
14Crittenden County29.3-1.5 pts
15Bradley County28.7+3.1 pts
16Montgomery County28.4-2.5 pts
17Searcy County28.1-2.8 pts
18Columbia County27.8-2.1 pts
18Drew County27.8+0.5 pts
20Miller County27.3-1 pts
21Pike County27.2-1 pts
22Newton County27.1-2.3 pts
22Poinsett County27.1-0.5 pts
24Dallas County26.9-2.3 pts
25Scott County26.6-4.5 pts
26Stone County26.3-4.8 pts
27Polk County26.2+1.4 pts
28Marion County26+1.2 pts
29Hempstead County25.8-3 pts
30Cross County25.4-6.2 pts
30Sharp County25.4-2.2 pts
32Little River County25.3+1.1 pts
32Ouachita County25.3-0.6 pts
34Ashley County25.2-3.6 pts
35Fulton County24.9+0.1 pts
36Lincoln County24.8-2.2 pts
37Lawrence County24.5-0.5 pts
38Sevier County24.3-2.3 pts
39Union County24+0.6 pts
40Izard County23.9-5.2 pts
41Van Buren County23.8-1.5 pts
42Franklin County23.7+1.4 pts
42Pulaski County23.7-0.9 pts
44Randolph County23.6-0.4 pts
45Arkansas County23.1-3.5 pts
45Craighead County23.1+0.3 pts
47Conway County23-3.9 pts
47Yell County23+0.2 pts
49Howard County22.5-0.4 pts
49Logan County22.5-5.2 pts
51Prairie County22.4+1.3 pts
52Clay County22.3-5.8 pts
53Hot Spring County21.7+0.8 pts
54Perry County20.9-1 pts
55Cleveland County20.8+0.7 pts
56Baxter County20.6+1 pts
56Cleburne County20.6+0.3 pts
58Madison County20.5-3.1 pts
59Clark County20.4-3.6 pts
60Johnson County19.6-5.1 pts
60White County19.6+0.4 pts
62Carroll County19.4-1.8 pts
63Greene County19.1-3.5 pts
64Boone County18.7+0.9 pts
65Crawford County18.3-2.3 pts
66Independence County18.1-1.9 pts
67Calhoun County17.8-1.8 pts
68Sebastian County17.7-2.1 pts
69Pope County16-2.5 pts
70Faulkner County15.4+0.8 pts
71Grant County13.6-6.6 pts
72Washington County13.5-0.9 pts
73Saline County12.1+0.2 pts
74Lonoke County11.8-3.5 pts
75Benton County9-0.9 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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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), 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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), 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/arkansas-counties?period=2023. 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), 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/arkansas-counties?period=2023.

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), 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/arkansas-counties?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_arkansas_by_2023,
  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), 2023}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/arkansas-counties?period=2023. 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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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), 2023
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/arkansas-counties?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/child-poverty-rate-under-18/arkansas-counties?period=2023.
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/2023/2023-state-and-county/est23all.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 46.1% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Benton County, with 9% in 2023.

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