Arkansas parenting statistics at a glance
Arkansas parenting statistics point to a state where family formation, maternal health, and household structure all matter at once. The numbers show both the scale of parenting in Arkansas and the pressure points that can shape pregnancy, birth outcomes, and early family life.
Fast facts: Arkansas had 35,395 births in 2024 (Arkansas Maternal Health Scorecard), a 59.2 fertility rate per 1,000 females ages 15 to 44 in 2023 (CDC Stats of the States), and 46.1% of live births were to unmarried mothers in 2023 (CDC Stats of the States).
Table of contents
- Arkansas parenting statistics at a glance
- Birth, fertility, and family formation
- Maternal health and birth outcomes
- Prenatal care and counseling patterns
- Households and family structure in Arkansas
- What the numbers suggest for parents and caregivers
Birth, fertility, and family formation
Arkansas sits in a range where parenting is shaped by both relatively high fertility and meaningful differences in how families are formed. The state’s fertility rate was 59.2 births per 1,000 females ages 15 to 44 in 2023 (CDC Stats of the States), while the teen birth rate was 23.8 births per 1,000 females ages 15 to 19 in the same year (CDC Stats of the States).
That combination matters because it points to parenting across a wide age range, from teens to older parents. The dataset also shows a marriage rate of 7.8 per 1,000 in 2023 and a divorce rate of 3.0 per 1,000 in 2023 (CDC Stats of the States), which provides part of the broader family-formation backdrop.
Key numbers to know
- 59.2 fertility rate in 2023 (CDC Stats of the States)
- 23.8 teen birth rate in 2023 (CDC Stats of the States)
- 46.1% of births to unmarried mothers in 2023 (CDC Stats of the States)
- 35,395 births in 2024 (Arkansas Maternal Health Scorecard)
- 7.8 marriage rate in 2023 (CDC Stats of the States)
- 3.0 divorce rate in 2023 (CDC Stats of the States)
The share of births to unmarried mothers is especially important in any parenting discussion. At 46.1% of all live births in 2023 (CDC Stats of the States), it means nearly one in two births occurred outside marriage. That does not describe one kind of family as better than another, but it does show that Arkansas parenting support needs to fit a wide mix of household situations.
Birth and maternal health snapshot
| Measure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Births | 35,395 | 2024 | Arkansas Maternal Health Scorecard |
| Fertility rate | 59.2 per 1,000 females ages 15-44 | 2023 | CDC Stats of the States |
| Teen birth rate | 23.8 per 1,000 females ages 15-19 | 2023 | CDC Stats of the States |
| Unmarried mothers | 46.1% of live births | 2023 | CDC Stats of the States |
| Marriage rate | 7.8 per 1,000 | 2023 | CDC Stats of the States |
| Divorce rate | 3.0 per 1,000 | 2023 | CDC Stats of the States |
| Cesarean delivery | 33.8% of live births | 2023 | CDC Stats of the States |
| Preterm birth rate | 12.09% of live births | 2023 | CDC Stats of the States |
| Low birthweight rate | 9.65% of live births | 2023 | CDC Stats of the States |
| Infant mortality rate | 8.22 infant deaths per 1,000 live births | 2023 | CDC Stats of the States |
Maternal health and birth outcomes
The strongest pattern in the Arkansas parenting statistics dataset is that maternal and infant outcomes are a major part of the story. Arkansas had a pregnancy-related mortality ratio of 38 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2018 to 2022 (Arkansas Maternal Health Scorecard), and severe maternal morbidity was 75.9 per 10,000 live births in 2023 (Arkansas Maternal Health Scorecard).
These figures matter because they point beyond simple birth counts. They describe how risky pregnancy and delivery can be for some mothers, and they help explain why access to care, follow-up, and continuity of services are not side issues.
Big numbers that stand out
Women age 35 and older had a 4.9x higher pregnancy-related mortality ratio than women younger than 25 in Arkansas in 2018 to 2022 (Arkansas Maternal Health Scorecard).
Non-Hispanic Black women had a 2.2x higher severe maternal morbidity rate than non-Hispanic White women in Arkansas in 2023 (Arkansas Maternal Health Scorecard).
Those differences are not small. They show that parenting statistics in Arkansas must be read through an equity lens, because the burden of poor outcomes is not distributed evenly.
The delivery data add more context. Cesarean delivery was 33.8% of all live births in 2023 (CDC Stats of the States), and the state reported a low-risk cesarean birth rate of 27.9% in 2024 (Arkansas Maternal Health Scorecard). Arkansas also reported a preterm birth rate of 12.09% in 2023 (CDC Stats of the States) and 12.1% in 2024 (Arkansas Maternal Health Scorecard), which shows a very similar level across the two sources.
The low birthweight rate was 9.65% in 2023 (CDC Stats of the States), and the infant mortality rate was 8.22 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 (CDC Stats of the States). In practical terms, these are the headline indicators many readers look for when they want to understand parenting conditions in a state.
Maternal health comparison table
| Indicator | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Pregnancy-related mortality ratio | 38 deaths per 100,000 live births | Arkansas Maternal Health Scorecard |
| Severe maternal morbidity rate | 75.9 per 10,000 live births | Arkansas Maternal Health Scorecard |
| Low-risk cesarean birth rate | 27.9% | Arkansas Maternal Health Scorecard |
| Preterm birth rate | 12.1% | Arkansas Maternal Health Scorecard |
| Infant mortality rate | 8.22 per 1,000 live births | CDC Stats of the States |
| Low birthweight rate | 9.65% | CDC Stats of the States |
Prenatal care and counseling patterns
Prenatal care in Arkansas looks strong in some basic measures, but the counseling data suggest there is still a lot of room to strengthen preventive conversations.
In Arkansas PRAMS 2020, 87.8% received prenatal care in the first trimester (Arkansas Department of Health PRAMS Surveillance Report 2020). At the same time, 12.0% did not receive prenatal care in the first trimester and 0.2% reported no prenatal care (Arkansas Department of Health PRAMS Surveillance Report 2020). Those numbers matter because early care is often the entry point for screening, education, and referral.
The provider-question data are useful because they show what moms were actually asked about during care:
- 94.5% were asked about any prescription medication use (Arkansas Department of Health PRAMS Surveillance Report 2020)
- 93.6% were asked whether they smoked cigarettes (Arkansas Department of Health PRAMS Surveillance Report 2020)
- 91.6% were asked about alcohol use (Arkansas Department of Health PRAMS Surveillance Report 2020)
- 91.9% were asked about breastfeeding plans (Arkansas Department of Health PRAMS Surveillance Report 2020)
- 86.8% were asked about plans to use birth control after birth (Arkansas Department of Health PRAMS Surveillance Report 2020)
- 77.3% were asked if they felt depressed (Arkansas Department of Health PRAMS Surveillance Report 2020)
- 72.7% were asked about illegal drug use (Arkansas Department of Health PRAMS Surveillance Report 2020)
Some topics reached more mixed levels:
- 73.6% discussed preterm labor signs with a prenatal provider (Arkansas Department of Health PRAMS Surveillance Report 2020)
- 73.4% discussed depression with a prenatal provider (Arkansas Department of Health PRAMS Surveillance Report 2020)
- 65.4% discussed effects of smoking with a prenatal provider (Arkansas Department of Health PRAMS Surveillance Report 2020)
- 65.1% discussed effects of alcohol with a prenatal provider (Arkansas Department of Health PRAMS Surveillance Report 2020)
- 61.8% discussed effects of illegal drugs with a prenatal provider (Arkansas Department of Health PRAMS Surveillance Report 2020)
- 57.0% discussed effects of secondhand smoke with a prenatal provider (Arkansas Department of Health PRAMS Surveillance Report 2020)
- 48.3% discussed physical abuse with a prenatal provider (Arkansas Department of Health PRAMS Surveillance Report 2020)
- 48.2% were asked about pregnancy weight gain (Arkansas Department of Health PRAMS Surveillance Report 2020)
- 56.6% had an HIV test during their most recent pregnancy or delivery (Arkansas Department of Health PRAMS Surveillance Report 2020)
- 84.9% were offered a flu shot during the 12 months before delivery (Arkansas Department of Health PRAMS Surveillance Report 2020)
The overall pattern is clear: Arkansas prenatal care generally reaches many mothers early, but some of the more protective conversations are not universal.
What postpartum data add
Postpartum indicators show that care does not end at delivery.
- 15.8% received an IUD or implant postpartum (Arkansas Department of Health PRAMS Surveillance Report 2020)
- 55.0% reported smoking habits postpartum (Arkansas Department of Health PRAMS Surveillance Report 2020)
- 50.0% reported any abuse postpartum (Arkansas Department of Health PRAMS Surveillance Report 2020)
- 81.2% reported depression postpartum (Arkansas Department of Health PRAMS Surveillance Report 2020)
- 21.8% had a test for diabetes postpartum (Arkansas Department of Health PRAMS Surveillance Report 2020)
The depression and abuse figures are especially notable because they show why parenting support needs to include mental health and safety, not just birth-related care.
Households and family structure in Arkansas
The household data help explain where Arkansas parenting happens and what kind of family structures are common.
In 2019 to 2023 ACS estimates, Arkansas had 1,189,160 total households (Arkansas Economic Regions ACS 5-Year Profile). Of those, 562,295 were married-couple households, equal to 47.3% of all households (Arkansas Economic Regions ACS 5-Year Profile).
That leaves a large share of households outside the married-couple category. The data show:
- 338,679 female householder, no spouse/partner present households or 28.5% of households (Arkansas Economic Regions ACS 5-Year Profile)
- 218,548 male householder, no spouse/partner present households or 18.4% of households (Arkansas Economic Regions ACS 5-Year Profile)
- 69,638 cohabiting couple households or 5.9% of households (Arkansas Economic Regions ACS 5-Year Profile)
- 159,690 households living alone or 13.4% of households (Arkansas Economic Regions ACS 5-Year Profile)
Household structure in one view
| Household type | Count | Share of households | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Married-couple households | 562,295 | 47.3% | Arkansas Economic Regions ACS 5-Year Profile |
| Female householder, no spouse/partner present | 338,679 | 28.5% | Arkansas Economic Regions ACS 5-Year Profile |
| Male householder, no spouse/partner present | 218,548 | 18.4% | Arkansas Economic Regions ACS 5-Year Profile |
| Cohabiting couple households | 69,638 | 5.9% | Arkansas Economic Regions ACS 5-Year Profile |
| Householders living alone | 159,690 | 13.4% | Arkansas Economic Regions ACS 5-Year Profile |
The child-centered household numbers are just as useful. Arkansas had 367,640 households with one or more people under 18 years, representing 30.9% of all households (Arkansas Economic Regions ACS 5-Year Profile). That means nearly one in three Arkansas households included a child.
More specific family counts show where children live:
- 211,558 married-couple households with children under 18 (17.8% of households) (Arkansas Economic Regions ACS 5-Year Profile)
- 25,705 cohabiting couple households with children under 18 (2.2% of households) (Arkansas Economic Regions ACS 5-Year Profile)
- 16,275 male householders with children under 18 (1.4% of households) (Arkansas Economic Regions ACS 5-Year Profile)
- 68,213 female householders with children under 18 (5.7% of households) (Arkansas Economic Regions ACS 5-Year Profile)
The family-size data round out the picture. Arkansas’s average family size was 3.08 in 2019 to 2023 ACS estimates (Arkansas Economic Regions ACS 5-Year Profile), which is consistent with a state where many households have children and where parenting support has to work across more than one family type.
What the numbers suggest for parents and caregivers
The Arkansas parenting statistics dataset is not a single story. It is a set of connected signals about fertility, family structure, maternal risk, and household composition.
A few takeaways stand out:
- Arkansas has a substantial number of births each year, with 35,395 births in 2024 (Arkansas Maternal Health Scorecard).
- Birth outcomes show continued pressure points, including 12.1% preterm birth, 9.65% low birthweight, and 8.22 infant deaths per 1,000 live births (Arkansas Maternal Health Scorecard; CDC Stats of the States).
- Maternal outcomes vary sharply by age and race, with 4.9x higher pregnancy-related mortality for women 35 and older versus women younger than 25, and 2.2x higher severe maternal morbidity for non-Hispanic Black women versus non-Hispanic White women (Arkansas Maternal Health Scorecard).
- Most mothers received first-trimester care, but important counseling topics were not universal, especially around abuse, smoking, alcohol, and illegal drugs (Arkansas Department of Health PRAMS Surveillance Report 2020).
- Family structure is broad and diverse, with 47.3% married-couple households and a large share of single-parent and other household forms (Arkansas Economic Regions ACS 5-Year Profile).
For readers comparing Arkansas to other states, the most useful approach is to think in layers. First, look at family formation and birth volume. Then look at maternal outcomes. Finally, look at household structure and the kinds of support systems parents may actually have available.
That layered view is what makes Arkansas parenting statistics useful: they do not just count parents. They show where parenting is concentrated, where risk is elevated, and where support may need to be more targeted.