Kentucky County Population Trends in 2023

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National population trends

Nationally from 2020-2023, the total population grew by 1%. Idaho, Florida, South Carolina, Texas and Montana were the fastest growing states over this period, while 12 states lost population.

States with the greatest declines in population included New York, Illinois, Louisiana, California and West Virginia.

Most and least populated counties in Kentucky

In 2023, county population ranged from 2,313 (Roberston) to 772,144 (Jefferson). The median county population in Kentucky was 19,686.

• 7 counties had populations of more than 100,000
• 35 counties had populations of more than 30,000
• A majority of counties (63%) had a population of less than 25,000

• Jefferson: 772,144
• Fayette: 320,154
• Kenton: 171,321
• Warren: 142,229
• Boone: 140,496
• Hardin: 112,273
• Daviess: 103,458
• Madison: 96,735
• Campbell: 93,702
• Bullitt: 84,863

• Robertson: 2,313
• Owsley: 4,001
• Hickman: 4,447
• Carlisle: 4,704
• Cumberland: 6,000
• Wolfe: 6,282
• Menifee: 6,286
• Fulton: 6,338
• Elliott: 7,245
• Lee: 7,293

Change in county population, 2020-2023

From 2020-2023, 70 counties gained population, 49 counties lost population and one county (Casey) remained the same.

• Six counties grew by more than 5 percent: Robertson, Allen, Lyon, Warren, Spencer and Garrard. In total numbers, Warren County added the greatest number of people (7,201) followed by Boone (4,028), Madison (3,742), Scott (2,637) and Bullitt (2,497).
• The population declined by more than 5 percent in three counties: Leslie, Breathitt and Harlan. In total numbers, Jefferson County population declined the most (-10,701) followed by Fayette (-2,473), Pike (2,468), Harlan (-1,430) and Floyd (-1,375).

• Warren: +7,201
• Boone: +4,028
• Madison: +3,742
• Scott: +2,637
• Bullitt: +2,497

• Robertson: +5.9%
• Allen: +5.9%
• Lyon: +5.9%
• Warren: +5.3%
• Spencer: +5.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division, Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties in Kentucky: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 (CO-EST2023-POP-21), Release Date: March 2024