The
United States Census Bureau estimates that the population of Arkansas was 3,045,637 on July 1, 2022, a 1.13% increase since the
2020 United States Census As of 2022, Arkansas had an estimated population of 3,045,637, which is an increase of 11,835, or 0.2%, from the prior year and an increase of 62,286, or 2.14%, since the year 2010. This includes a natural increase since the last census of 52,214 people (that is 198,800 births minus 146,586 deaths) and an increase due to net migration of 57,611 people into the state. Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 21,947 people, and migration within the country produced a net increase of 35,664 people. It is estimated that about 48.8% is male, and 51.2% is female. From 2000 through 2006 Arkansas has had a population growth of 5.1% or 137,472. The population density of the state is 51.3 people per square mile. According to the
2020 United States Census, Arkansas had a population of 3,011,524. The racial composition of the population was: • 70.2%
White American • 15.1% Black or
African American • 0.9% Native Americans and Alaska Natives • 1.7%
Asian American • 0.5% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander • 4.5% from some other race • 7.1% from two or more races 8.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race. According to the 2006–2008
American Community Survey, the ten largest ancestry groups in the state
African American (15.5%),
Irish (13.6%),
German (12.5%),
American (11.1%),
English (10.3%),
French (2.4%),
Scotch-Irish (2.1%),
Dutch (1.9%),
Scottish (1.9%) and
Italian (1.7%). Before the arrival of Europeans, Native American tribes such as Caddo, Quapaw, and Osage Nations inhabited the state.
Cherokee people have a history in the state after voluntary and forced removals in the 1810s to 1830s, the
Cherokee Nation is located in neighboring
Oklahoma (its Northeastern side facing the Arkansas state line) and both citizens and descendants reside in Benton, Washington and Crawford counties. European Americans have a strong presence in the northwestern
Ozarks and the central part of the state. African Americans live mainly in the southern and eastern parts of the state. Arkansans of Irish, English and German ancestry are mostly found in the far northwestern Ozarks near the Missouri border. Ancestors of the Irish in the Ozarks were chiefly
Scotch-Irish, Protestants from
Northern Ireland, the
Scottish lowlands and northern England: part of the largest group of settlers from
Great Britain and
Ireland before the American Revolution.
English and
Scotch-Irish immigrants settled throughout the backcountry of the South and in the more mountainous areas. Americans of
English ancestry are found throughout the state.
Greeks settled in Little Rock, Greek communities also grew up in Fort Smith, Pine Bluff, Hot Springs, and other parts of Arkansas. There is also an Italian community in Arkansas. There is small community of
Roma in Arkansas.
Romanichal are present in state. Arkansas also has a growing Hispanic population. Many of the Hispanics in Arkansas are of
Mexican descent. Asians are present in the state. There is a Chinese, Indian and Hmong presence in Arkansas. ==Native American tribes==