Assets
Asset poverty rate: 30.8%
Average college graduate debt: $23,798
Unbanked households: 7.5%
Economic well-being
Extreme poverty rate: 9%
Food insecurity: 16.6%
Minimum wage: $11.00
Number of Black or African American children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment: 52,000
Number of Hispanic or Latino children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment: 22,000
Percent of individuals who are uninsured: 9.1%
Percent of jobs that are low-wage: 30.1%
Percent of working families under 200% of the poverty line: 39.4%
Poverty rate: 16.2%
Unemployment rate: 3.7%
Education
High school graduation rate: 89.2%
Percent of adult population with at least a high school degree: 85.8%
Percent of college graduates with debt: 59%
Percent of population over age 25 with at least a four year college degree: 23.3%
Percent of teens ages 16 to 19 not attending school and not working: 7%
Family
Children in foster care: 4,127
Number of households with grandparents responsible for grandchildren under age 18: 70,290
Percent of children in immigrant families: 11%
Percent of children living in single parent families: 37%
Teen birth rate per 1,000 population ages 15-19: 30%
Housing
Home foreclosure rate: 0.82%
People experiencing homelessness: 2,366
Households paying more than 50% of income on housing: 88,400
Percent renters: 34%
Total housing units: 1,365,265
Justice System
Incarcerated persons per 100,000 residents: 586
Number of youth residing in juvenile justice and correctional facilities: 465
Participation in federal programs
Adults and children receiving welfare (TANF): 4,985
Children receiving food stamps (SNAP): 172,000
EITC recipients: 287,000
Families receiving child care subsidies: 6,100
Households receiving federal rental assistance: 52,000
Households receiving LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program): 70,837
Number of children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP: 400,346
Number of women and children receiving WIC (Women, Infants and Children supplemental nutrition program): 58,514
Participants in all Head Start programs: 9,597
Poverty by demographic
Child poverty rate: 22%
Number of Asian and Pacific Islander children below 200% poverty: N/A
Number of Black or African American children below 200% poverty: 80,000
Number of Hispanic or Latino children below 200% poverty: 59,000
Percent of single-parent families with related children that are below poverty: 35%
Senior poverty rate: 10.5%
Women in poverty: 17.9%

State governments play a significant role in developing policies that help support low-income families. Below is a list of some key Arkansas policies and a link to an organization that tracks the issue.

Tax & Asset-Building Policy

Family and Work Supports