Population measures provide insight on how communities are changing in size and composition. The racial and ethnic makeup of a community can offer insight into its levels of diversity, which also may reflect particular challenges and opportunities.

Overall, the U.S. population has become more diverse as a result of long-term immigration and natural demographic forces. While immigration at the national level has slowed due to recent policy shifts, several decades of steady immigration both increased and diversified the nation's population. Furthermore, racial and ethnic minority populations are expanding through higher birth-to-death ratios, while the aging non-Hispanic White demographic is experiencing a contraction as deaths outpace births.

Though still by far majority white, Arkansas is becoming more diverse with a 9% decrease in the White population between 2010-14 and 2020-24, slightly lower than the 12% decrease at the national level. In 2020-24, 68% of Arkansans identified as White, 15% Black or African American, 9% Hispanic or Latino, 2% Asian, 3% some other race, 0.6% Native American, and 0.4% (about 12,300 individuals) Pacific Islander.

Though they remained a tiny fraction of the population, Pacific Islanders had the largest growth from 2010-14 to 2020-24 (95%), which far outstripped their population growth in the U.S. overall (18%). The next largest increase was among "some other race" residents, at 62%, followed by Hispanic or Latino residents (39%). Increases were far smaller for Asian residents (29%) and Black, Native American and White residents decreased by 2%, 7% and 9% respectively.

Within the state, Phillips County had the largest non-white population with only 36% of residents identified as white, while 64% were Black. In contrast, Clay County was the least diverse with 95% of residents identifying as White.

In terms of changes in demographics, from 2010-14 to 2020-24, Lonoke County saw the largest increase in its white population (1.4%), while Phillips County saw the largest decrease in its white population (down 31%)..

Rate is percentage change from 2010-14. The Census Bureau asks people to identify their race (white, African American, etc.) separate from their ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). The totals for these categories therefore cannot be added together, as people show up in both a racial and ethnic group. Data for this indicator is released annually in December.