Desha County Demographics

A map of Desha County's Population by Race

Desha County, Arkansas has an estimated population of 10,786, a decrease from the 11,395 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 49.0% Black, 42.5% White, 7.2% Hispanic, 0.9% Multiracial, 0.4% Native American/Other, and 0.0% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Desha County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Desha has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably more diverse than Arkansas overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Desha County, that probability was 59.8% in 2020 and 57.4% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Desha County is ranked the 58th most populous county in Arkansas, out of 75 counties. Desha County was ranked the 58th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Desha County's White Population

4,581 residents of Desha County, or 42.5% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Desha County is significantly lower than in Arkansas overall, where 67.4% of the population is White. Desha County ranks 69th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 75 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Desha County's White population has declined by an estimated 3.2%. White residents' share of Desha County's population has increased from 41.5% to 42.5%.

Desha County is more White than neighboring Bolivar County (31% White), and Chicot County (38.6% White). Desha County is less White than neighboring Arkansas County (67.1% White), Lincoln County (61.7% White), and Drew County (64.7% White).

Desha County's Black Population

5,288 residents of Desha County, or 49.0% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Desha County is significantly higher than in Arkansas overall, where 14.6% of the population is Black. Desha County ranks 7th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 75 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Desha County's Black population has declined by an estimated 1.8%. Black residents' share of Desha County's population has increased from 47.3% to 49.0%.

Desha County is more Black than neighboring Arkansas County (26.1% Black), Lincoln County (27.7% Black), and Drew County (26.9% Black). Desha County is less Black than neighboring Bolivar County (63.2% Black), and Chicot County (53.3% Black).

Desha County's Asian Population

0 residents of Desha County, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Desha County is comparable to the share in Arkansas overall, where 1.6% of the population is Asian. Desha County ranks 34th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 75 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Desha County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Asian residents' share of Desha County's population has decreased from 0.5% to 0.0%.

Desha County is less Asian than neighboring Bolivar County (1% Asian), Arkansas County (0.1% Asian), Lincoln County (0.2% Asian), Drew County (0.8% Asian), and Chicot County (0.2% Asian).

Desha County's Hispanic Population

781 residents of Desha County, or 7.2% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Desha County is comparable to the share in Arkansas overall, where 9% of the population is Hispanic. Desha County ranks 19th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 75 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Desha County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 1.0%. Hispanic residents' share of Desha County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 7.2%.

Desha County is more Hispanic than neighboring Bolivar County (2.7% Hispanic), Arkansas County (4.1% Hispanic), Lincoln County (5.1% Hispanic), Drew County (4.4% Hispanic), and Chicot County (6.4% Hispanic).

Desha County's Native American/Other Population

39 residents of Desha County, or 0.4% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Desha County is comparable to the share in Arkansas overall, where 1% of the population is Native American/Other. Desha County ranks 63rd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 75 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Desha County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 25.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Desha County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.4%.

Desha County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Bolivar County (0.3% Native American/Other), Arkansas County (0.1% Native American/Other), Lincoln County (0.1% Native American/Other), Drew County (0% Native American/Other), and Chicot County (0.2% Native American/Other).

Desha County's Multiracial Population

97 residents of Desha County, or 0.9% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Desha County is lower than in Arkansas overall, where 6.3% of the population is Multiracial. Desha County ranks 56th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 75 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Desha County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 75.3%. Multiracial residents' share of Desha County's population has decreased from 3.4% to 0.9%.

Desha County is less Multiracial than neighboring Bolivar County (1.8% Multiracial), Arkansas County (2.4% Multiracial), Lincoln County (5.1% Multiracial), Drew County (3.2% Multiracial), and Chicot County (1.3% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.