01
Location
Neighboring states: Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas.
Local timeLittle Rock ·
U.S. States / South · Card 004
Arkansas
Arkansas is a U.S. state in the South. Its capital is Little Rock.
Find Arkansas
● State capital · Gold highlights Arkansas.
Map: Natural Earth. Neighboring states use postal abbreviations.
Map: Natural Earth. Neighboring states use postal abbreviations.
At a glance
- Capital
- Little Rock
- Postal abbreviation
- AR
- Population
- 3,114,791July 1, 2025 · Census estimate
- Total area
- 137,732 km²53,179 square miles · land and water
- Statehood
- June 15, 1836State number 25
- Currency
- U.S. dollar (USD)
Sources: Census · population · Census · area
Arkansas in context
Gold shows Arkansas. The dot marks Little Rock.
Alaska and Hawaii are shown in separate insets at different scales.Geography & flag
02
Landscape & places
The Buffalo River flows through the Ozarks beneath limestone bluffs, with free-flowing stretches protected as a national river.
03
Land and water
The total area includes 134,771 km² of land and 2,961 km² of water, according to Census area measurements.
State flag
A white diamond edged in blue on a red field, with stars and the name Arkansas.
Sources: Census · geographic reference · Census · area measurements · National Park Service · Buffalo
History & statehood
Arkansas lay within the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. A separate Arkansas Territory was organized in 1819 from part of Missouri Territory. It became a state in 1836. Little Rock Central High School later became a major site in the history of school desegregation.
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Louisiana Purchase
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Arkansas Territory organized
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Statehood · State number 25
Sources: Congressional Research Service · statehood · U.S. Census Bureau · historical geography · National Park Service
Economy
Main activities
In 2025, manufacturing was the largest of the broad industry groups compared here by current-dollar output. Other major groups included professional and business services, real estate and rental and leasing, and government and government enterprises.
Total economic output was $198.4 billion in current dollars in 2025.
Largest industry groups · 2025
- Manufacturing: 12.9%
- Professional and business services: 12.6%
- Real estate and rental and leasing: 11.0%
- Government and government enterprises: 10.9%
Share of total current-dollar GDP. These figures measure output, not employment.
Sources: BEA · annual GDP by state, SAGDP2
Population & economic trends
Population, 2020–2025
Millions of people3.112025 · millions of people
July 1 resident population estimates, using the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 series.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau
View data table
| Year | People |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 3,014,399 |
| 2021 | 3,027,127 |
| 2022 | 3,047,429 |
| 2023 | 3,069,856 |
| 2024 | 3,096,080 |
| 2025 | 3,114,791 |
Real GDP, 2010–2025
Billions of chained 2017 dollars150.642025 · billions of chained 2017 dollars
Real GDP measures economic output adjusted for inflation. The chart uses BEA’s chained 2017 dollars.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
View data table
| Year | Millions of chained 2017 dollars |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 113,000.9 |
| 2011 | 115,241.8 |
| 2012 | 116,616.2 |
| 2013 | 119,842.8 |
| 2014 | 121,409.4 |
| 2015 | 121,532.5 |
| 2016 | 123,034.9 |
| 2017 | 123,882.6 |
| 2018 | 126,371.2 |
| 2019 | 127,220.0 |
| 2020 | 128,395.6 |
| 2021 | 137,634.8 |
| 2022 | 138,672.0 |
| 2023 | 141,968.0 |
| 2024 | 147,389.9 |
| 2025 | 150,640.3 |
Government
Arkansas has three branches of state government. The governor leads the executive branch. A Senate and House of Representatives form the legislature, which passes state laws and budgets. State courts interpret and apply the law.
Sources: USAGov · Arkansas
Knowledge check
Three questions about Arkansas.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
What is the capital of Arkansas?
Sources & notes
Prepared 27 September 2026. Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025, July 1 estimates for 2020–2025. Real GDP: BEA annual state accounts, SAGDP9, millions of chained 2017 dollars; industry shares: SAGDP2, current dollars. Data downloaded 27 September 2026. Area measurements include land and water.
Sources: Census · population estimates · BEA · state GDP · Census · area measurements · Natural Earth · map data
The capital clock shows current local time. Statistical figures are dated estimates and may be revised.