Arkansas was ranked the most pro-life state in America for the sixth year in a row Oct. 27, according to the annual “Life List” released by Americans United for Life (AUL).
AUL is a national organization whose guiding principle is that “all human rights flow from the human right to life,” and that every person is “an equal member of the human family, worthy of respect, solidarity, and love.”
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders celebrated the designation in a statement released by the Governor’s office, calling it a reflection of Arkansas’s long-standing commitment to life.
“Pro-life is whole life, and I’m proud that for the past six years, Arkansas has ranked number one in the nation – not just in protecting the unborn, but in preserving life from conception to natural conclusion,” Sanders said. “I’m thankful to the activists who have fought for this day for decades and promise that as governor, I will continue to fight every day to protect the most vulnerable among us.”
The ranking is based on a comprehensive review of state laws that restrict abortion and support alternatives. Since the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, Arkansas has passed more than 65 pro-life measures.
Among the laws is Senate Bill 6, passed in 2021, which prohibits abortion in Arkansas except to save the life of the mother.
The law became enforceable in 2022 following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. In 2025, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed several additional measures to expand the state’s pro-life framework.
Act 973 prohibits abortions based on the race of the unborn child, while Act 485 makes it illegal to administer abortion-inducing drugs without a pregnant woman’s consent.
Other legislation; Act 1006 of 2025, Act 125 of 2024, and Act 622 of 2023 allocated a combined $5 million to support women facing unplanned pregnancies, including funding for counseling, housing assistance and prenatal care.
AUL praised Arkansas for its “consistent commitment to life.” The Arkansas Family Council, a leading pro-life advocacy group, said the ranking reflects the values of most Arkansans and the efforts of lawmakers who have supported life-affirming policies for over a decade. “Arkansans should be proud of their legislators for passing the best laws in the nation to protect unborn children, the elderly, the disabled, and the terminally ill,” said Family Council President Jerry Cox.
While pro-life advocates have celebrated the ranking, it also highlights the ongoing national debate over reproductive rights. Arkansas’s laws are among the strictest in the country, with no exceptions for rape or incest under its abortion ban.
The state’s broader health outcomes continue to be a concern. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Arkansas had the third-highest infant mortality rate in the nation in 2022, with 7.67 infant deaths per 1,000 live births.
Although the rate dropped 11% from 2021, when Arkansas ranked second nationally, the decrease was not deemed statistically significant.
In response to maternal health challenges, Sanders signed the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act in 2025, directing $45 million to improve outcomes for mothers and infants. Sanders’ administration also added $1 million to the foster placement budget and signed an executive order to reform the state’s foster care and adoption systems.
Sanders also launched the 10:33 Initiative, which brings together faith groups, nonprofits and government agencies to help Arkansans transition from crisis to career, and expanded food assistance for struggling families.
Arkansas also ranks first nationwide in food insecurity, a challenge compounded by reductions in federal SNAP benefits. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, more than 64% of SNAP recipients in the state are in families with children, 27% are in working households, and over 45% include older adults or people with disabilities.
As Arkansas continues to shape its identity through pro-life legislation and social initiatives, the realities of poverty, hunger and health disparities remain central to the broader conversation about what it means to support life in all its forms.