Kentucky Demographics 2026: Population, Income, Race & Trends Explained, Population Review

Population & Growth

Kentucky's 4,510,725 residents make it the 26th-most populous US state. Over the long term, the state has been gaining population — +100.4% from 1910 to 2024.

Population density: 114 people per square mile. By comparison, the US national average is roughly 94/sq mi, while New Jersey leads with ~1,260/sq mi and Alaska is the lowest at ~1.3/sq mi.

Race & Ethnicity

By Census ACS classification, Kentucky is:

83.7% White (alone)
7.9% Black or African American
0.0% Asian
1.1% Hispanic or Latino (any race)
0.0% two or more races

Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals can exceed 100% in some breakdowns. The full racial composition (including Native Hawaiian, American Indian, etc.) is available on the Kentucky state page.

Income & Economy

Median household income in Kentucky is $62,417, with per-capita income at $34,960. 11.8% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Unemployment rate: 2.9%.

Income is concentrated in metro counties — see the county-level rankings on the cities ranking page and counties ranking page for sub-state variation.

Age & Households

Median age in Kentucky: 39.1 years (US median ~39). The population is 49.5% male and 50.5% female.

Largest Cities in Kentucky

Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance) — population 627,210
Lexington-Fayette urban county — population 321,122
Bowling Green city — population 73,638
Owensboro city — population 60,112
Covington city — population 40,902

Largest Counties in Kentucky

Jefferson County — population 777,392
Fayette County — population 321,122
Kenton County — population 169,817
Boone County — population 137,676
Warren County — population 137,549

How Kentucky Compares Nationally

By population: ranked 26th of 50 states. By median household income: see the richest states ranking. By population growth: see fastest growing states. By cost of living: see cheapest states to live.

See the complete Kentucky state page with full demographic breakdown, age pyramid, languages, education, housing, and commute data →

Frequently Asked Questions

Kentucky has a population of 4,510,725 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, ranking 26th among the 50 states. Population density is 114 people per square mile.

Kentucky is gaining population, with a +100.4% change since 1910 (2,289,905 → 4,510,725). This is reported via Census ACS rolling 5-year estimates; for monthly/annual estimates between Census years, see the Census Population Estimates Program.

83.7% of Kentucky's population identifies as White, 7.9% as Black or African American, 0.0% as Asian, and 1.1% as Hispanic or Latino (any race). Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals may exceed 100%.

Median household income in Kentucky is $62,417 per the 2023 ACS. Per-capita income: $34,960. 11.8% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

The median age in Kentucky is 39.1 years. The population is 49.5% male and 50.5% female. Age distribution and population pyramids by 5-year age bands are visible on the Kentucky state page.

The largest cities in Kentucky by population: Louisville/Jefferson County metro government (balance) (627,210), Lexington-Fayette urban county (321,122), Bowling Green city (73,638), Owensboro city (60,112), Covington city (40,902).

California is the most populous US state at roughly 39 million, followed by Texas (~30M), Florida (~22M), New York (~20M), and Pennsylvania (~13M). Kentucky ranks 26th. Detailed rankings update each ACS release cycle.

Across recent Census Population Estimates, West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Illinois have shown the largest sustained population declines. Kentucky's own trend is gaining. National state-by-state rankings are published annually by the Census Population Estimates Program.

All demographic data on this page comes from the US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, currently the 2023 release. Historical population figures use Census Population Estimates Program annual estimates. Data is public domain and freely available at census.gov.