Phillips County Demographics

A map of Phillips County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
Black	9,306	10,305	60.2%	62.2%
White	5,082	5,541	32.9%	33.4%
Multiracial	548	333	3.5%	2.0%
Hispanic	320	264	2.1%	1.6%
Asian	167	64	1.1%	0.4%
Native American/Other	27	61	0.2%	0.4%

Phillips County, Arkansas has an estimated population of 15,450, a decrease from the 16,568 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 60.2% Black, 32.9% White, 3.5% Multiracial, 2.1% Hispanic, 1.1% Asian, and 0.2% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Phillips County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Phillips has become more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is 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 Phillips County, that probability was 50.1% in 2020 and 52.7% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Phillips County is ranked the 50th most populous county in Arkansas, out of 75 counties. Phillips County was ranked the 46th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Phillips County's White Population

5,082 residents of Phillips County, or 32.9% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Phillips County is significantly lower than in Arkansas overall, where 67.4% of the population is White. Phillips County ranks 75th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 75 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Phillips County's White population has declined by an estimated 8.3%. White residents' share of Phillips County's population has decreased from 33.4% to 32.9%.

Phillips County is more White than neighboring Coahoma County (18.9% White), and Tunica County (18.2% White). Phillips County is less White than neighboring Lee County (39.6% White), Monroe County (52.8% White), and Arkansas County (67.1% White).

Phillips County's Black Population

9,306 residents of Phillips County, or 60.2% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Phillips County is significantly higher than in Arkansas overall, where 14.6% of the population is Black. Phillips County ranks 1st statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 75 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Phillips County's Black population has declined by an estimated 9.7%. Black residents' share of Phillips County's population has decreased from 62.2% to 60.2%.

Phillips County is more Black than neighboring Lee County (54.5% Black), Monroe County (40.2% Black), and Arkansas County (26.1% Black). Phillips County is less Black than neighboring Coahoma County (74.4% Black), and Tunica County (79.9% Black).

Phillips County's Asian Population

167 residents of Phillips County, or 1.1% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Phillips County is comparable to the share in Arkansas overall, where 1.6% of the population is Asian. Phillips County ranks 48th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 75 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Phillips County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 160.9%. Asian residents' share of Phillips County's population has increased from 0.4% to 1.1%.

Phillips County is more Asian than neighboring Coahoma County (0.3% Asian), Lee County (0% Asian), Monroe County (0.7% Asian), Tunica County (0% Asian), and Arkansas County (0.1% Asian).

Phillips County's Hispanic Population

320 residents of Phillips County, or 2.1% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Phillips County is lower than in Arkansas overall, where 9% of the population is Hispanic. Phillips County ranks 72nd statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 75 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Phillips County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 21.2%. Hispanic residents' share of Phillips County's population has increased from 1.6% to 2.1%.

Phillips County is more Hispanic than neighboring Tunica County (1.8% Hispanic). Phillips County is less Hispanic than neighboring Coahoma County (3.1% Hispanic), Lee County (3.1% Hispanic), Monroe County (2.9% Hispanic), and Arkansas County (4.1% Hispanic).

Phillips County's Native American/Other Population

27 residents of Phillips County, or 0.2% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Phillips County is comparable to the share in Arkansas overall, where 1% of the population is Native American/Other. Phillips County ranks 73rd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 75 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Phillips County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 55.7%. Native American/Other residents' share of Phillips County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.2%.

Phillips County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Lee County (0% Native American/Other), Monroe County (0.1% Native American/Other), Tunica County (0% Native American/Other), and Arkansas County (0.1% Native American/Other). Phillips County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Coahoma County (0.7% Native American/Other).

Phillips County's Multiracial Population

548 residents of Phillips County, or 3.5% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Phillips County is slightly lower than in Arkansas overall, where 6.3% of the population is Multiracial. Phillips County ranks 75th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 75 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Phillips County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 64.6%. Multiracial residents' share of Phillips County's population has increased from 2.0% to 3.5%.

Phillips County is more Multiracial than neighboring Coahoma County (2.6% Multiracial), Lee County (2.7% Multiracial), Monroe County (3.3% Multiracial), Tunica County (0.1% Multiracial), and Arkansas County (2.4% 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.