COUNTY FATALITY DATA
Desha County, Arkansas
Road fatality data for Desha County (AR). Data period: 2016-2023.
- 15
- Total Fatalities (2016-2023)
- 2
- Latest Year Deaths
- 16.2
- Per 100k Residents
- Stable
- Trend
The verdict
Desha County's fatality rate of 16.2 per 100,000 residents places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure.
- 43%
- of rated U.S. counties are deadlier per capita
- 21.6/100k
- Arkansas county average
- Stable
- fatality trend
What the Data Shows
Desha County, Arkansas recorded 15 total road fatalities across 14 reported crashes during the 2016-2023 reporting window, according to NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The most recent year covered by the data logged 2 deaths on county roads, and the annual average works out to approximately 1.7 fatalities per year. Adjusted for population, the fatality rate is 16.2 per 100,000 residents, which places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
With a small recorded crash count (14), FARS does not publish an individual cause-code breakdown for Desha County, so readers looking for contributing-factor data should use the Arkansas state page, which aggregates county-level case files into statewide totals. Either way, the underlying records are drawn from a census of fatal crashes, not a statistical sample, so the counts are actual deaths rather than estimates.
The directional trend for Desha County is stable, meaning annual counts have stayed within a narrow band relative to the average. Residents, insurers, and policy analysts can use this baseline alongside population density, highway mile data, and rural-versus-urban road mix to judge whether Desha County's 15-death total is proportionate to its exposure. All numbers are for research and informational use only.
Total Fatalities
15
Latest Year
2
Avg Annual
1.7
Rate per 100K
16.2
Trend
↔ Stable
How does Desha County compare?
Average annual road deaths per 100,000 residents. Choose any comparison from the menu.
Desha County is 25% safer than the comparison
Average annual road deaths from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System over population from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2023). Rates shown for counties with 10,000+ residents.
Among the 15 rated counties in Arkansas, Desha County ranks 15 for per-capita risk, below the state's own per-capita average of 21.6 per 100,000 -- nationally, this rate places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure. The gap between Desha County's rate and the state average is 5.4 per 100,000. Its closest per-capita peer statewide is Crittenden County, at 27.2 per 100,000 (a difference of 11.0). Its peer counties, highest to lowest per 100,000 residents: Lawrence County (47.2), Fulton County (33.8), St Francis County (33.0), Hot Spring County (32.5), Hempstead County (31.0), Poinsett County (30.4), Franklin County (29.8), Sevier County (29.4), Grant County (29.4), Clark County (29.1), Madison County (28.7), Little River County (28.0), Bradley County (27.7), Crittenden County (27.2).
Desha County's rate vs. every rated U.S. county
Deaths per 100,000 residents -- counties with 10,000+ people, NHTSA FARS over Census population
16 43rd percentile a lower per-capita rate than 43% of 2,392 rated counties
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more rated counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source NHTSA FARS over U.S. Census Bureau population estimates · 2026-06-03
Desha County's rate vs. the Arkansas state average
Frequently Asked Questions
How many traffic fatalities occurred in Desha County, Arkansas?
Desha County recorded 15 total traffic fatalities across 14 reported crashes over the data period (2016-2023). The most recent year saw 2 fatalities. The county averages approximately 1.7 fatalities per year.
What is the leading cause of road fatalities in Desha County?
With a small recorded crash count (14), FARS does not publish an individual cause-code breakdown for Desha County. Statewide data for Arkansas may provide additional context.
Is the trend of road fatalities in Desha County increasing or decreasing?
The trend in Desha County is stable. Fatality counts have remained relatively consistent over the data period.
What is the fatality rate per capita in Desha County?
Desha County has a fatality rate of 16.2 per 100,000 residents, which places it close to the national middle by that per-capita measure among the 3,137 U.S. counties in this dataset.
How does Desha County compare to the rest of Arkansas?
Desha County's per-capita rate of 16.2 per 100,000 residents is below the Arkansas county average of 21.6. Visit the Arkansas state page for the full county-by-county breakdown.
Where does the road fatality data for Desha County come from?
All road fatality data comes from the NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a census of fatal motor vehicle crashes on public roads in the United States. FARS data covers the period 2016-2023 and includes all crashes resulting in at least one fatality within 30 days.
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) This information is for research and informational purposes only
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Every figure on PlainRoadSafety is computed directly from NHTSA FARS census data, no number is typed in by an editor. County figures are computed directly from NHTSA FARS census data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.