Kentucky Counties by Population (2025)

Top 5 Most Populous Counties

Kentucky flag Jefferson County

770,242

Kentucky flag Fayette County

319,900

Kentucky flag Kenton County

173,403

Kentucky flag Warren County

146,595

Kentucky flag Boone County

143,398

120 counties

County
2025 Pop. ↓
Area (mi²)
Density
Change (2020)
Jefferson County770,2423812,022-1.61%
Fayette County319,9002841,126-0.85%
Kenton County173,4031601,0842.44%
Warren County146,5955422708.57%
Boone County143,3982465835.08%
Hardin County113,3336241822.26%
Daviess County103,9964582270.57%
Madison County99,9034382287.43%
Campbell County94,5621516261.54%
Bullitt County87,0412972935.68%
Oldham County71,6611873835.86%
Christian County71,524718100-1.7%
McCracken County67,552249271-0.54%
Pulaski County67,0396581022.95%
Laurel County64,1304341482.24%
Scott County62,3502822218.38%
Jessamine County56,5791723296.7%
Pike County55,28578670-5.4%
Franklin County51,8362082490.47%
Shelby County50,8613801345.42%
Nelson County48,4724191163.62%
Boyd County47,360160296-1.75%
Barren County45,280487931.74%
Hopkins County44,93554283-0.96%
Henderson County44,293436102-0.86%
Calloway County38,6543851002.81%
Clark County37,9282521512.41%
Whitley County36,65943884-0.11%
Graves County36,39755266-0.36%
Greenup County34,913344101-2.69%
Floyd County33,43339385-6.61%
Marshall County31,652302105-0.12%
Boyle County31,2621801741.66%
Meade County30,3733051001.16%
Muhlenberg County30,31246765-1.88%
Knox County29,83638677-1.16%
Logan County29,137552535.9%
Montgomery County28,8671971472.69%
Woodford County27,6981901462.95%
Grayson County27,189500542.76%
Perry County26,66534078-6%
Taylor County26,5372661002.07%
Carter County26,41240965-0.74%
Grant County25,9092581003.57%
Lincoln County25,490333775.09%
Anderson County25,2932021255.9%
Harlan County24,66846653-7.8%
Rowan County24,48328087-0.97%
Ohio County23,886587410.59%
Mercer County23,491249943.69%
Allen County22,7983446610.81%
Bell County22,72935963-5.23%
Johnson County21,87826284-3.4%
Breckinridge County21,450570384.91%
Spencer County21,1691871138.5%
Simpson County20,689234885.38%
Bourbon County20,18429070-0.5%
Harrison County20,035306657.03%
Marion County20,006344582.11%
Hart County19,984413483.6%
Letcher County19,61533858-8.62%
Adair County19,598405483.79%
Wayne County19,47245843-0.34%
Clay County19,19646941-5.49%
Russell County18,467253732.58%
Garrard County18,355230808.21%
McCreary County17,584427414.42%
Mason County16,71724070-2.43%
Henry County16,399286574.47%
Rockcastle County16,120317510.38%
Casey County15,932444360.09%
Lawrence County15,80641638-3.05%
Fleming County15,770349454.43%
Larue County15,609261604.95%
Pendleton County15,024277542.57%
Morgan County14,557381385.98%
Trigg County14,411441332.37%
Estill County13,76025354-2.83%
Jackson County13,334345392.86%
Knott County13,28335238-6.18%
Bath County13,269278484.35%
Union County13,11034338-3.97%
Lewis County13,04548327-0.32%
Powell County12,83417972-1.98%
Edmonson County12,740303424.84%
Webster County12,70033238-2.44%
Todd County12,694375343.3%
Washington County12,681297435.3%
Caldwell County12,43734536-1.57%
Butler County12,395426290.64%
Breathitt County12,14349225-11.32%
Green County11,620286414.38%
Owen County11,351350320.44%
Monroe County11,21232934-0.95%
Carroll County11,083129862.38%
Magoffin County10,98830836-5.3%
Metcalfe County10,630290373.32%
Martin County10,59223046-5.87%
Leslie County9,49440124-9.3%
Lyon County9,363214447.88%
Clinton County9,16619747-0.71%
McLean County8,94825335-2.06%
Crittenden County8,94036025-0.7%
Gallatin County8,83098901.81%
Trimble County8,767148593.63%
Livingston County8,74031328-1.48%
Hancock County8,70618846-4.34%
Bracken County8,408203410.1%
Nicholas County7,48619538-0.73%
Ballard County7,46224730-3.25%
Lee County7,33320935-0.48%
Elliott County7,15123431-2.5%
Menifee County6,386204313.9%
Fulton County6,27220630-3.67%
Cumberland County6,062305203.52%
Wolfe County6,01422227-8.31%
Carlisle County4,67418925-2.77%
Hickman County4,47324218-1.24%
Owsley County4,087197211.36%
Robertson County2,4451002411.95%

Overview of Kentucky Counties

There are 120 counties in Kentucky.

The most populous county located in the state of Kentucky is Jefferson County, home to the city of Louisville, which has a population that’s grown to 770,517 since the last census was taken in 2010. Jefferson County has experienced a growth rate of 3.84%.

Other large counties in the state of Kentucky include:

Of these counties, Warren County had the most rapid growth with a growth rate of 14.82%.

Kentucky Counties with the Fewest Residents

The county with the lowest population in the state of Kentucky is Robertson County, which has a population of 2,315. Since the last census in 2010, Robertson County has had a growth rate of -6.15%.

Following Robertson County, other very small counties in Kentucky are:

All of these counties have experienced a decline in population, with the greatest decline occurring in Hickman County, which had a growth rate of -9.01%.

Kentucky Counties with Rapid Growth

The county with the most rapid growth in Kentucky is Scott County, which has seen a population growth of 18.51% since the 2010 census, bringing the population up to 56,051.

Following Scott County are:

The county with the highest population decrease is Martin County, which has seen a loss of 12.31% of its residents.

Sources

  1. US Census State Population Estimates - Most recent state estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program
  2. US Census County Population Estimates - Most recent county estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program
  3. American Community Survey (2009 - 2013)
  4. Census QuickFacts
  5. Historical Populations of States and Counties (1790 - 1990)