Demographics

Arkansas vs California: Population Density

California is more densely populated than Arkansas.

Arkansas flag
Arkansas
AR · South
58.9 per sq mi
Number of residents per square mile.
California flag
California
CA · West
Winner
240.4 per sq mi
Number of residents per square mile.

Visual comparison

Arkansas58.9 per sq mi
California240.4 per sq mi

Difference: 181.5 per sq mi — California leads.

National Rankings

Where They Rank Nationally

See where both states fall among all 50 states for population density.

Arkansas #35 · 58.9 per sq mi
California #11 · 240.4 per sq mi
Lowest Highest

Top 10 States — Population Density

#1 New Jersey flag New Jersey
1,099.4 per sq mi
#2 Rhode Island flag Rhode Island
724.0 per sq mi
#3 Massachusetts flag Massachusetts
679.3 per sq mi
#4 Connecticut flag Connecticut
668.0 per sq mi
#5 Maryland flag Maryland
506.6 per sq mi
#6 Delaware flag Delaware
429.8 per sq mi
#7 New York flag New York
366.7 per sq mi
#8 Florida flag Florida
359.8 per sq mi
#9 Pennsylvania flag Pennsylvania
283.9 per sq mi
#10 Ohio flag Ohio
266.4 per sq mi
Selected states
#35 Arkansas flag Arkansas
58.9 per sq mi
#11 California flag California
240.4 per sq mi

Arkansas ranks 35th and California ranks 11th nationally for population density.

Related context

Density in Context

Population density shapes commutes, housing costs, and the feel of daily life.

MetricArkansasCalifornia
Population 3,011,524 39,538,223 Land Area 53,179 sq mi 163,696 sq mi Median Home Value $154,200 $693,700 Violent Crime / 100k 556.3 499.5 Cost of Living Index 87.6 138.5

What this means

Arkansas vs California: Population Density in context

California's population density is 240.4 per sq mi, compared with 58.9 per sq mi in Arkansas — roughly 4.1× the Arkansas figure. Number of residents per square mile.

Arkansas
58.9 per sq mi
California
240.4 per sq mi
Difference
181.5 per sq mi

People also ask

Arkansas vs California Population Density — common questions

QWhat is Arkansas's population density?

Arkansas's population density is 58.9 per sq mi.

QWhat is California's population density?

California's population density is 240.4 per sq mi.

QWhich state has a higher population density — Arkansas or California?

California is more densely populated than Arkansas.

QHow much more population density does California have compared to Arkansas?

181.5 per sq mi.

More comparisons: Arkansas vs California

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Full comparison
Population Bachelor's Degree Advanced Degree Net Domestic Migration Population Growth Since 2020

Explore each state

Arkansas symbols California symbols Compare other states

Data source and freshness

Primary source
U.S. Census Bureau — 2020 Census and TIGER/Line
Data period
2020 population and land area
Dataset reviewed
July 23, 2026
Method note
Calculated as population divided by land area.