Rank #26 by Population · Updated April 2026
Kentucky Population 2026
The population of Kentucky is 4,510,725 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 26th-most populous state in the United States. The median household income is $62,417, the median home value is $192,300, and the median age is 39.1.
Kentucky's population has grown 100.4% since 1910 (2,289,905 → 4,588,372).
4,510,725
Population
114
People / sq mi
$62,417
Median Income
39.1
Median Age
Kentucky covers 39,485 sq mi of land at a density of 114.2 people per square mile.
About Kentucky
Kentucky is defined demographically by education — 27.0% of adults hold a bachelor’s degree, below the national average. With 4,510,725 residents, Kentucky is a US state. It ranks #26 among US states by population.
Incomes run on the lower side: a median household income of $62,417, below the US median of $78,538. The poverty rate, 11.8%, is among the steepest of comparable US states and close to the national 12.4%. Homes are comparatively cheap — a median value of $192,300, with typical rent around $933.
College credentials are comparatively rare here: just 27.0%, below the national 35.0%. Most workers commute: only 9.1% work from home, below the national 14.0%, and the average commute runs about 24 minutes each way.
Kentucky, #26 by population
Kentucky Population History (1910-2024)
The state of Kentucky had a population of 2,289,905 in 1910 and 4,588,372 in 2024, a 2.0× growth over 114 years. The peak was 4,588,372 in 2024. Average annual growth rate: 0.57%.
4,588,372
Population (2024)
2,289,905
Population (1910)
4,588,372
Peak (2024)
0.57%
Avg Annual Growth
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1910 | 2,289,905 |
| 1920 | 2,416,630 |
| 1930 | 2,614,589 |
| 1940 | 2,845,627 |
| 1950 | 2,944,806 |
| 1960 | 3,038,156 |
| 1970 | 3,218,706 |
| 1980 | 3,660,777 |
| 1990 | 3,685,296 |
| 2000 | 4,041,769 |
| 2010 | 4,339,367 |
| 2020 | 4,505,836 |
| 2020 | 4,508,318 |
| 2021 | 4,507,583 |
| 2022 | 4,519,233 |
| 2023 | 4,550,595 |
| 2024 | 4,588,372 |
Age Distribution
Male: 49.5% · Female: 50.5%
Race & Ethnicity
| White | 83.7% |
| Black or African American | 7.9% |
| Asian | 0.0% |
| American Indian & Alaska Native | 0.2% |
| Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander | 0.1% |
| Two or More Races | 0.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.1% |
Economy & Income
$62,417
Median Household Income
$34,960
Per Capita Income
11.8%
Poverty Rate
2.9%
Unemployment Rate
$86,119
Mean Household Income
56.4%
Employment Rate
Cost of Living
Kentucky's overall price level is 90.2 on the BEA Regional Price Parity index (US average = 100), meaning prices are 9.8% lower the US average. Adjusting for cost of living, Kentucky's median household income of $62,417 has the buying power of $69,230 in average-priced areas.
90.2
Price Level (US = 100)
$69,230
COL-Adjusted Median Income
$62,417
Nominal Median Income
Education
88.5%
High School Graduate+
27.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
Births & Fertility
52,315
Live Births (2022)
11.6
Birth Rate (per 1,000)
57.5%
Births to Married Mothers
Births by Mother's Age
Births by Mother's Race
| White | 84.7% |
| Black or African American | 10.4% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 8.2% |
Housing
$192,300
Median Home Value
$933
Median Rent
2,010,655
Total Housing Units
68.3%
Owner-Occupied
31.7%
Renter-Occupied
10.9%
Vacant
Languages Spoken at Home
93.6% of Kentucky residents age 5+ speak only English at home. The most common non-English languages spoken at home in Kentucky:
| # | Language | Speakers | % of pop. 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spanish | 60,753 | 1.43% |
| 2 | Swahili or other Bantu | 5,895 | 0.14% |
| 3 | Other Asian/Pacific | 4,665 | 0.11% |
| 4 | French (incl. Cajun) | 4,248 | 0.10% |
| 5 | Arabic | 3,891 | 0.09% |
| 6 | Chinese (incl. Mandarin, Cantonese) | 3,363 | 0.08% |
| 7 | Nepali, Marathi, or other Indic | 3,103 | 0.07% |
| 8 | German | 2,684 | 0.06% |
| 9 | Vietnamese | 2,416 | 0.06% |
| 10 | Japanese | 1,779 | 0.04% |
Commute
0.7%
Drive Alone
2.0%
Carpool
9.1%
Work From Home
24.0 min
Avg Commute
Largest Cities in Kentucky
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville/Jefferson County | 627,210 |
| 2 | Lexington-Fayette | 321,122 |
| 3 | Bowling Green | 73,638 |
| 4 | Owensboro | 60,112 |
| 5 | Covington | 40,902 |
| 6 | Georgetown | 38,206 |
| 7 | Richmond | 35,498 |
| 8 | Florence | 32,334 |
| 9 | Elizabethtown | 31,870 |
| 10 | Nicholasville | 31,625 |
| 11 | Hopkinsville | 31,011 |
| 12 | Independence | 29,024 |
| 13 | Jeffersontown | 28,988 |
| 14 | Frankfort | 28,452 |
| 15 | Henderson | 27,994 |
| 16 | Paducah | 26,894 |
| 17 | Radcliff | 22,967 |
| 18 | Ashland | 21,405 |
| 19 | Erlanger | 19,677 |
| 20 | Madisonville | 19,442 |
Counties in Kentucky
| # | County | Population | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson County | 777,392 | $67,849 |
| 2 | Fayette County | 321,122 | $67,631 |
| 3 | Kenton County | 169,817 | $79,421 |
| 4 | Boone County | 137,676 | $94,752 |
| 5 | Warren County | 137,549 | $64,801 |
| 6 | Hardin County | 111,452 | $67,608 |
| 7 | Daviess County | 103,195 | $65,323 |
| 8 | Madison County | 94,064 | $62,407 |
| 9 | Campbell County | 93,193 | $77,271 |
| 10 | Bullitt County | 83,209 | $77,640 |
| 11 | Christian County | 72,599 | $54,190 |
| 12 | Oldham County | 68,600 | $121,491 |
| 13 | McCracken County | 67,584 | $62,385 |
| 14 | Pulaski County | 65,503 | $50,943 |
| 15 | Laurel County | 62,731 | $56,999 |
| 16 | Scott County | 58,269 | $83,660 |
| 17 | Pike County | 57,466 | $42,179 |
| 18 | Jessamine County | 53,792 | $74,886 |
| 19 | Franklin County | 51,563 | $66,470 |
| 20 | Shelby County | 48,599 | $82,671 |
Compare Kentucky
Rankings for Kentucky
Read more about Kentucky
A complete guide to Kentucky demographics — population, race & ethnicity breakdown, income, age, growth trends, and how the state compares nationally.
Kentucky Demographics 2026: Population, Income, Race & Trends Explained →Metro areas in Kentucky
Congressional districts in Kentucky
Largest school districts in Kentucky
Other states
State rankings
Common questions about Kentucky
Where to stay in Kentucky
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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, making it the 26th-most populous state in the United States.
Kentucky is gaining population, with a +100.4% change over the available historical Census record. Kentucky's population has grown 100.4% since 1910 (2,289,905 → 4,588,372).
The median household income in Kentucky is $62,417, with a per capita income of $34,960. 11.8% of the population lives below the federal poverty level.
83.7% of Kentucky's population identifies as White (Census ACS 2023). 7.9% is Black or African American, 0.0% is Asian, and 1.1% is Hispanic or Latino (any race, counted separately under Census methodology).
Kentucky is 83.7% White, 7.9% Black or African American, 0.0% Asian, and 1.1% Hispanic or Latino (any race). Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals may exceed 100% in some breakdowns.
The median age in Kentucky is 39.1 years. The population is 49.5% male and 50.5% female.
Kentucky's population has grown 100.4% since 1910 (2,289,905 → 4,588,372).
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.
Demographic data from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year estimates. Birth statistics from the CDC National Vital Statistics System via Data Commons. California does not report marital status on birth certificates. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.
States Similar to Kentucky
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.