Arkansas Named Most Pro-life State in America for Sixth Year

Americans United for Life named Arkansas the most pro-life state in the nation for the sixth year in a row. This recognition, which AUL announced in its newly released 2026 life list, affirms Arkansas’ long-term leadership in defending life from conception to natural death.

AUL’s annual ranking of all 50 states evaluates state-specific abortion regulations, protections for the preborn, end-of-life care, conscience protections for health care workers and efforts to promote a culture of life. The list also offers a comprehensive look at each state’s life-affirming policies, including bioethics, assisted suicide, conscience protections for medical workers and abortion policy.

Once again, Arkansas was recognized as a national model for pro-life policy and comprehensive legislative action. It protects all preborn babies, promotes adoption, defends conscience protections, advocates for vulnerable groups like the elderly and disabled, and provides funding for pregnancy resource centers.

The top five most pro-life states in the nation were Arkansas, Louisiana, Indiana, Oklahoma and Mississippi. Each demonstrated a strong commitment to strengthening life protections for the preborn and expanding support for expecting mothers and families. Rounding out the top ten are South Dakota, Arizona, Kentucky, Idaho and Tennessee.

Unfortunately, pro-life momentum from past years has waned as many states have contended with pro-abortion ballot measures attempting to enshrine abortion-on-demand in state constitutions.

In the last year, seven states passed amendments to put so-called abortion rights in state constitutions, including Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nevada and New York. However, for the first time, three states (Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota) successfully defeated efforts to enshrine abortion in their constitution.

The five lowest-ranking states on this year’s list were Washington, Hawaii, Vermont, New Jersey and Oregon, with Oregon coming in last. These states received the lowest marks for their expansive abortion-on-demand laws, permissive assisted suicide statutes and laws shielding abortion providers from liability for violating other states’ pro-life laws.

AUL’s life list is important because it serves as a scorecard for the pro-life community to identify which states are advancing the cause of life and to determine where more work needs to be done to promote life-affirming laws and policies.

Arkansas’s consistent leadership in advancing comprehensive pro-life policies demonstrates how one state’s vision and commitment can serve as a roadmap for other states seeking to strengthen a culture of life through law.

To learn more about how each state can strengthen its life-affirming state-based laws, consider consulting AUL’s State Spotlight.

In addition, state legislators may wish to connect with AUL regarding model legislation they can introduce in their state to protect and promote life.

Click here to see where your state ranks on the life list.

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