Little Rock passed the 200,000 mark in population, growing diversity, latest census shows

Little Rock, Arkansas – Little Rock population has officially passed the 200,000 mark and the city has also grown its diversity, Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. said on a press conference.

The city of Little Rock performed better compared to similar-sized cities. According to the mayor, cities like Jackson, Mississippi; Memphis, Tennessee; Shreveport, Louisiana; and Birmingham, Alabama have all seen a decrease in the number of population, while Little Rock reached 202,591 which is 9,067 more compared to 2010 census.

“Today I’m happy, I’m excited, and I’m proud to announce that Little Rock has finally cleared 200,000 in population,” Scott said in a press conference at City Hall on Thursday (Aug. 19). “Our growth shows that people find Little Rock attractive. Yes, this is something we already know, but it proves just how attractive we are. Our growth shows that people find Little Rock a great place to be in, no matter the shape, form, or size of their family.”

The growth rate since 2010 is 4.69%. The city reached population of 202,591 in 2020, 9,067 more compared to 2010 census. According to the 2010 census, the city of Little Rock had 193,524 residents ten years ago.

According to the American Community Survey estimate in 2019, the city’s population was 197,958, meaning the city outpaced estimated size based on annual sampling data, particularly leading up to 2020.

The Census data also show a diversifying city, with a large gain among the population identifying as “two or more races” from 3,374 to 11,626, up 244.58%.

The latest census showed that 44% of the residents declared themselves as “white alone”, while all other single and multiracial categories comprise 56% of the city’s residents.

The largest increase is seen in Hispanic and Latino population with 55.13%, growing from 13,076 to 20,285 in ten years.