# Arkansas statistical areas

The U.S. State of Arkansas currently has 25 statistical areas that have been delineated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). On July 21, 2023, the OMB delineated four combined statistical areas, seven metropolitan statistical areas, and 14 micropolitan statistical areas in Arkansas. As of 2023, the most populous statistical area in the state is Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR CSA, comprising the metro area of its capital and largest city, Little Rock.

## Background

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has designated more than 1,000 statistical areas for the United States and Puerto Rico. These statistical areas are important geographic delineations of population clusters used by the OMB, the United States Census Bureau, planning organizations, and federal, state, and local government entities.
The OMB defines a core-based statistical area (commonly referred to as a CBSA) as the county or counties (or county-equivalents) surrounding at least one densely-settled core of at least 10,000 population, "plus adjacent counties having a high degree of social and economic integration with the core as measured through commuting ties with the counties containing the core". The OMB further divides core-based statistical areas based on population into metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) for those with at least 50,000 and micropolitan statistical areas (μSAs) for those with 10,000 to 49,999 people.
The OMB defines a combined statistical area (CSA) as two or more adjacent core-based statistical areas where the employment interchange rate (% commuting from A to B plus % commuting from B to A) is at least 15%. The primary statistical areas (PSAs) include all combined statistical areas and any core-based statistical area that is not a constituent of a combined statistical area.

## Table

The 25 United States statistical areas and 75 counties of the State of Arkansas :
| Combined statistical area | 2023 population (est.) | Core-based statistical area | 2023 population (est.) | County | 2023 population (est.) |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR CSA | 913,536 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR MSA | 764,045 | Pulaski County, Arkansas | 400,009 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR CSA | 913,536 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR MSA | 764,045 | Faulkner County, Arkansas | 129,951 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR CSA | 913,536 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR MSA | 764,045 | Saline County, Arkansas | 129,574 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR CSA | 913,536 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR MSA | 764,045 | Lonoke County, Arkansas | 75,944 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR CSA | 913,536 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR MSA | 764,045 | Grant County, Arkansas | 18,383 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR CSA | 913,536 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR MSA | 764,045 | Perry County, Arkansas | 10,184 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR CSA | 913,536 | Searcy, AR μSA | 78,452 | White County, Arkansas | 78,452 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR CSA | 913,536 | Pine Bluff, AR μSA | 71,039 | Jefferson County, Arkansas | 63,661 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR CSA | 913,536 | Pine Bluff, AR μSA | 71,039 | Cleveland County, Arkansas | 7,378 |
| none | none | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR MSA | 590,337 | Benton County, Arkansas | 311,013 |
| none | none | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR MSA | 590,337 | Washington County, Arkansas | 261,549 |
| none | none | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR MSA | 590,337 | Madison County, Arkansas | 17,775 |
| none | none | Fort Smith, AR-OK MSA | 231,280 190,989 (AR) | Sebastian County, Arkansas | 129,098 |
| none | none | Fort Smith, AR-OK MSA | 231,280 190,989 (AR) | Crawford County, Arkansas | 61,891 |
| none | none | Fort Smith, AR-OK MSA | 231,280 190,989 (AR) | Sequoyah County, Oklahoma | 40,291 |
| Jonesboro-Paragould, AR CSA | 183,133 | Jonesboro, AR MSA | 136,390 | Craighead County, Arkansas | 113,993 |
| Jonesboro-Paragould, AR CSA | 183,133 | Jonesboro, AR MSA | 136,390 | Poinsett County, Arkansas | 22,397 |
| Jonesboro-Paragould, AR CSA | 183,133 | Paragould, AR μSA | 46,743 | Greene County, Arkansas | 46,743 |
| Hot Springs-Malvern, AR CSA | 133,042 | Hot Springs, AR MSA | 99,784 | Garland County, Arkansas | 99,784 |
| Hot Springs-Malvern, AR CSA | 133,042 | Malvern, AR μSA | 33,258 | Hot Spring County, Arkansas | 33,258 |
| none | none | Russellville, AR μSA | 84,637 | Pope County, Arkansas | 64,593 |
| none | none | Russellville, AR μSA | 84,637 | Yell County, Arkansas | 20,044 |
| Memphis-Forrest City, TN-MS-AR CSA | 1,377,852 69,240 (AR) | Memphis, TN-MS-AR MSA | 1,335,674 47,139 (AR) | Shelby County, Tennessee | 910,042 |
| Memphis-Forrest City, TN-MS-AR CSA | 1,377,852 69,240 (AR) | Memphis, TN-MS-AR MSA | 1,335,674 47,139 (AR) | DeSoto County, Mississippi | 193,247 |
| Memphis-Forrest City, TN-MS-AR CSA | 1,377,852 69,240 (AR) | Memphis, TN-MS-AR MSA | 1,335,674 47,139 (AR) | Tipton County, Tennessee | 62,015 |
| Memphis-Forrest City, TN-MS-AR CSA | 1,377,852 69,240 (AR) | Memphis, TN-MS-AR MSA | 1,335,674 47,139 (AR) | Crittenden County, Arkansas | 47,139 |
| Memphis-Forrest City, TN-MS-AR CSA | 1,377,852 69,240 (AR) | Memphis, TN-MS-AR MSA | 1,335,674 47,139 (AR) | Fayette County, Tennessee | 44,175 |
| Memphis-Forrest City, TN-MS-AR CSA | 1,377,852 69,240 (AR) | Memphis, TN-MS-AR MSA | 1,335,674 47,139 (AR) | Marshall County, Mississippi | 34,123 |
| Memphis-Forrest City, TN-MS-AR CSA | 1,377,852 69,240 (AR) | Memphis, TN-MS-AR MSA | 1,335,674 47,139 (AR) | Tate County, Mississippi | 28,261 |
| Memphis-Forrest City, TN-MS-AR CSA | 1,377,852 69,240 (AR) | Memphis, TN-MS-AR MSA | 1,335,674 47,139 (AR) | Tunica County, Mississippi | 9,234 |
| Memphis-Forrest City, TN-MS-AR CSA | 1,377,852 69,240 (AR) | Memphis, TN-MS-AR MSA | 1,335,674 47,139 (AR) | Benton County, Mississippi | 7,438 |
| Memphis-Forrest City, TN-MS-AR CSA | 1,377,852 69,240 (AR) | Forrest City, AR μSA | 22,101 | St. Francis County, Arkansas | 22,101 |
| Memphis-Forrest City, TN-MS-AR CSA | 1,377,852 69,240 (AR) | Clarksdale, MS μSA | 20,077 | Coahoma County, Mississippi | 20,077 |
| none | none | Texarkana, TX-AR MSA | 145,907 54,220 (AR) | Bowie County, Texas | 91,687 |
| none | none | Texarkana, TX-AR MSA | 145,907 54,220 (AR) | Miller County, Arkansas | 42,415 |
| none | none | Texarkana, TX-AR MSA | 145,907 54,220 (AR) | Little River County, Arkansas | 11,805 |
| none | none | Harrison, AR μSA | 45,601 | Boone County, Arkansas | 38,530 |
| none | none | Harrison, AR μSA | 45,601 | Newton County, Arkansas | 7,071 |
| none | none | Mountain Home, AR μSA | 42,875 | Baxter County, Arkansas | 42,875 |
| none | none | Blytheville, AR μSA | 38,663 | Mississippi County, Arkansas | 38,663 |
| none | none | Batesville, AR μSA | 38,320 | Independence County, Arkansas | 38,320 |
| none | none | El Dorado, AR μSA | 37,397 | Union County, Arkansas | 37,397 |
| none | none | Camden, AR μSA | 26,434 | Ouachita County, Arkansas | 21,793 |
| none | none | Camden, AR μSA | 26,434 | Calhoun County, Arkansas | 4,641 |
| none | none | Magnolia, AR μSA | 22,150 | Columbia County, Arkansas | 22,150 |
| none | none | Arkadelphia, AR μSA | 21,274 | Clark County, Arkansas | 21,274 |
| none | none | none | none | Carroll County, Arkansas | 28,814 |
| none | none | none | none | Johnson County, Arkansas | 26,129 |
| none | none | none | none | Cleburne County, Arkansas | 25,445 |
| none | none | none | none | Logan County, Arkansas | 21,400 |
| none | none | none | none | Conway County, Arkansas | 21,077 |
| none | none | none | none | Polk County, Arkansas | 19,436 |
| none | none | none | none | Hempstead County, Arkansas | 19,343 |
| none | none | none | none | Randolph County, Arkansas | 18,907 |
| none | none | none | none | Ashley County, Arkansas | 18,262 |
| none | none | none | none | Sharp County, Arkansas | 17,968 |
| none | none | none | none | Marion County, Arkansas | 17,514 |
| none | none | none | none | Franklin County, Arkansas | 17,468 |
| none | none | none | none | Drew County, Arkansas | 16,945 |
| none | none | none | none | Jackson County, Arkansas | 16,782 |
| none | none | none | none | Cross County, Arkansas | 16,420 |
| none | none | none | none | Lawrence County, Arkansas | 16,318 |
| none | none | none | none | Arkansas County, Arkansas | 16,307 |
| none | none | none | none | Van Buren County, Arkansas | 16,142 |
| none | none | none | none | Sevier County, Arkansas | 15,632 |
| none | none | none | none | Phillips County, Arkansas | 14,961 |
| none | none | none | none | Clay County, Arkansas | 14,201 |
| none | none | none | none | Izard County, Arkansas | 14,169 |
| none | none | none | none | Lincoln County, Arkansas | 12,898 |
| none | none | none | none | Stone County, Arkansas | 12,671 |
| none | none | none | none | Howard County, Arkansas | 12,533 |
| none | none | none | none | Fulton County, Arkansas | 12,421 |
| none | none | none | none | Desha County, Arkansas | 10,479 |
| none | none | none | none | Pike County, Arkansas | 10,208 |
| none | none | none | none | Bradley County, Arkansas | 10,104 |
| none | none | none | none | Scott County, Arkansas | 9,851 |
| none | none | none | none | Chicot County, Arkansas | 9,538 |
| none | none | none | none | Montgomery County, Arkansas | 8,620 |
| none | none | none | none | Lee County, Arkansas | 8,201 |
| none | none | none | none | Nevada County, Arkansas | 8,120 |
| none | none | none | none | Prairie County, Arkansas | 8,036 |
| none | none | none | none | Searcy County, Arkansas | 7,806 |
| none | none | none | none | Monroe County, Arkansas | 6,512 |
| none | none | none | none | Dallas County, Arkansas | 6,185 |
| none | none | none | none | Lafayette County, Arkansas | 6,095 |
| none | none | none | none | Woodruff County, Arkansas | 5,964 |
| State of Arkansas | State of Arkansas | State of Arkansas | State of Arkansas | State of Arkansas | 3,067,730 |

## Core-based statistical areas

The following table provides the in-state population ranking of each CBSA along with its rate of population change over time.
The 21 core-based statistical areas of the State of Arkansas :
| 2023 rank | Core-based statistical area | Population | Population | Population | Population | Population |
| 2023 rank | Core-based statistical area | 2023 estimate | Change | 2020 Census | Change | 2010 Census |
| 1 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR MSA | 764,045 | +2.14% | 748,031 | +6.90% | 699,757 |
| 2 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR MSA | 590,337 | +7.98% | 546,725 | +24.22% | 440,121 |
| 3 | Fort Smith, AR-OK MSA (AR) | 190,989 | +1.63% | 187,932 | +0.13% | 187,692 |
| 4 | Jonesboro, AR MSA | 136,390 | +1.63% | 134,196 | +10.88% | 121,026 |
| 5 | Hot Springs, AR MSA | 99,784 | −0.40% | 100,180 | +4.33% | 96,024 |
| 6 | Russellville, AR μSA | 84,637 | +1.19% | 83,644 | −0.35% | 83,939 |
| 7 | Searcy, AR μSA | 78,452 | +2.12% | 76,822 | −0.33% | 77,076 |
| 8 | Pine Bluff, AR μSA | 71,039 | −5.04% | 74,810 | −13.14% | 86,124 |
| 9 | Texarkana, TX-AR MSA (AR) | 54,220 | −0.74% | 54,626 | −3.54% | 56,633 |
| 10 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR MSA (AR) | 47,139 | −2.13% | 48,163 | −5.38% | 50,902 |
| 11 | Paragould, AR μSA | 46,743 | +2.20% | 45,736 | +8.66% | 42,090 |
| 12 | Harrison, AR μSA | 45,601 | +2.25% | 44,598 | −1.40% | 45,233 |
| 13 | Mountain Home, AR μSA | 42,875 | +3.00% | 41,627 | +0.27% | 41,513 |
| 14 | Blytheville, AR μSA | 38,663 | −4.97% | 40,685 | −12.47% | 46,480 |
| 15 | Batesville, AR μSA | 38,320 | +1.01% | 37,938 | +3.52% | 36,647 |
| 16 | El Dorado, AR μSA | 37,397 | −4.24% | 39,054 | −6.21% | 41,639 |
| 17 | Malvern, AR μSA | 33,258 | +0.66% | 33,040 | +0.36% | 32,923 |
| 18 | Camden, AR μSA | 26,434 | −3.49% | 27,389 | −13.02% | 31,488 |
| 19 | Magnolia, AR μSA | 22,150 | −2.86% | 22,801 | −7.13% | 24,552 |
| 20 | Forrest City, AR μSA | 22,101 | −4.28% | 23,090 | −19.06% | 28,528 |
| 21 | Arkadelphia, AR μSA | 21,274 | −0.80% | 21,446 | −6.74% | 22,995 |
| | Fort Smith, AR-OK MSA | 231,280 | +1.79% | 227,213 | −1.25% | 230,083 |
| | Memphis, TN-MS-AR MSA | 1,335,674 | −0.72% | 1,345,425 | +1.55% | 1,324,829 |
| | Texarkana, TX-AR MSA | 145,907 | −1.09% | 147,519 | −1.13% | 149,198 |

## Combined statistical areas

The following table provides the in-state population ranking of each CSA along with its rate of population change over time.
The four combined statistical areas of the State of Arkansas :
| 2023 rank | Combined statistical area | Population | Population | Population | Population | Population |
| 2023 rank | Combined statistical area | 2023 estimate | Change | 2020 Census | Change | 2010 Census |
| 1 | Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR CSA | 913,536 | +1.54% | 899,663 | +4.25% | 862,957 |
| 2 | Jonesboro-Paragould, AR CSA | 183,133 | +1.78% | 179,932 | +10.31% | 163,116 |
| 3 | Hot Springs-Malvern, AR CSA | 133,042 | −0.13% | 133,220 | +3.31% | 128,947 |
| 4 | Memphis-Forrest City, TN-MS-AR CSA (AR) | 69,420 | −2.57% | 71,253 | −9.99% | 79,160 |
| | Memphis-Forrest City, TN-MS-AR CSA | 1,377,852 | −0.87% | 1,389,905 | +0.77% | 1,379,238 |