Kentucky Counties by Population (2026)
2026 Pop.
100K
200K
300K
400K
500K
600K
700K
Top 5 Most Populous Counties
796,278
332,431
177,117
152,184
147,142
| County | 2026 Pop. ↓ | Area (mi²) | Density (/mi²) | Change (2020) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 796,278 | 381 | 2,090 | 1.71% |
| Fayette County | 332,431 | 284 | 1,171 | 3.04% |
| Kenton County | 177,117 | 160 | 1,107 | 4.64% |
| Warren County | 152,184 | 542 | 281 | 12.7% |
| Boone County | 147,142 | 246 | 598 | 7.82% |
| Hardin County | 114,320 | 624 | 183 | 3.15% |
| Daviess County | 105,521 | 458 | 230 | 2.05% |
| Madison County | 103,792 | 438 | 237 | 11.6% |
| Campbell County | 96,828 | 151 | 641 | 3.96% |
| Bullitt County | 87,143 | 297 | 293 | 5.8% |
| Oldham County | 71,372 | 187 | 382 | 5.42% |
| Christian County | 68,794 | 718 | 96 | -5.44% |
| Pulaski County | 67,809 | 658 | 103 | 4.14% |
| McCracken County | 67,374 | 249 | 271 | -0.81% |
| Laurel County | 64,248 | 434 | 148 | 2.41% |
| Scott County | 62,800 | 282 | 223 | 9.14% |
| Jessamine County | 57,978 | 172 | 337 | 9.31% |
| Pike County | 54,084 | 786 | 69 | -7.48% |
| Franklin County | 52,901 | 208 | 254 | 2.52% |
| Shelby County | 52,004 | 380 | 137 | 7.79% |
| Nelson County | 49,463 | 419 | 118 | 5.72% |
| Boyd County | 47,554 | 160 | 297 | -1.36% |
| Barren County | 45,870 | 487 | 94 | 3.06% |
| Hopkins County | 45,233 | 542 | 83 | -0.3% |
| Henderson County | 44,162 | 436 | 101 | -1.15% |
| Calloway County | 39,940 | 385 | 104 | 6.24% |
| Clark County | 38,092 | 252 | 151 | 2.86% |
| Whitley County | 37,389 | 438 | 85 | 1.89% |
| Graves County | 37,302 | 552 | 68 | 2.1% |
| Greenup County | 35,176 | 344 | 102 | -1.98% |
| Floyd County | 34,172 | 393 | 87 | -4.56% |
| Boyle County | 31,967 | 180 | 178 | 3.94% |
| Marshall County | 31,663 | 302 | 105 | -0.08% |
| Meade County | 30,901 | 305 | 101 | 2.9% |
| Muhlenberg County | 30,696 | 467 | 66 | -0.67% |
| Knox County | 29,412 | 386 | 76 | -2.56% |
| Logan County | 28,889 | 552 | 52 | 4.99% |
| Montgomery County | 28,831 | 197 | 146 | 2.55% |
| Woodford County | 28,082 | 190 | 148 | 4.39% |
| Grayson County | 27,633 | 500 | 55 | 4.44% |
| Taylor County | 26,715 | 266 | 100 | 2.71% |
| Grant County | 26,630 | 258 | 103 | 6.46% |
| Perry County | 26,305 | 340 | 77 | -7.28% |
| Carter County | 26,103 | 409 | 64 | -1.92% |
| Lincoln County | 25,653 | 333 | 77 | 5.79% |
| Anderson County | 25,492 | 202 | 126 | 6.65% |
| Rowan County | 24,426 | 280 | 87 | -1.17% |
| Harlan County | 24,404 | 466 | 52 | -8.78% |
| Ohio County | 23,968 | 587 | 41 | 0.93% |
| Mercer County | 23,967 | 249 | 96 | 5.8% |
| Allen County | 22,977 | 344 | 67 | 11.69% |
| Bell County | 22,653 | 359 | 63 | -5.54% |
| Johnson County | 21,969 | 262 | 84 | -3% |
| Breckinridge County | 21,742 | 570 | 38 | 6.35% |
| Spencer County | 21,289 | 187 | 114 | 9.2% |
| Simpson County | 21,158 | 234 | 90 | 7.79% |
| Hart County | 20,324 | 413 | 49 | 5.37% |
| Marion County | 20,232 | 344 | 59 | 3.29% |
| Bourbon County | 20,149 | 290 | 69 | -0.74% |
| Harrison County | 19,787 | 306 | 65 | 5.76% |
| Letcher County | 19,697 | 338 | 58 | -8.24% |
| Wayne County | 19,631 | 458 | 43 | 0.42% |
| Adair County | 19,611 | 405 | 48 | 3.84% |
| Clay County | 19,375 | 469 | 41 | -4.59% |
| Russell County | 18,667 | 253 | 74 | 3.72% |
| Garrard County | 18,466 | 230 | 80 | 8.85% |
| McCreary County | 17,325 | 427 | 41 | 2.88% |
| Mason County | 16,958 | 240 | 71 | -1.03% |
| Henry County | 16,692 | 286 | 58 | 6.37% |
| Casey County | 16,357 | 444 | 37 | 2.71% |
| Rockcastle County | 16,084 | 317 | 51 | 0.17% |
| Fleming County | 15,926 | 349 | 46 | 5.55% |
| Lawrence County | 15,705 | 416 | 38 | -3.65% |
| Larue County | 15,212 | 261 | 58 | 2.24% |
| Pendleton County | 14,799 | 277 | 53 | 1.08% |
| Morgan County | 14,597 | 381 | 38 | 6.29% |
| Trigg County | 14,511 | 441 | 33 | 3.08% |
| Estill County | 13,979 | 253 | 55 | -1.25% |
| Bath County | 13,382 | 278 | 48 | 5.25% |
| Jackson County | 13,356 | 345 | 39 | 2.98% |
| Knott County | 13,179 | 352 | 37 | -6.95% |
| Todd County | 13,157 | 375 | 35 | 7.12% |
| Webster County | 12,986 | 332 | 39 | -0.27% |
| Lewis County | 12,890 | 483 | 27 | -1.51% |
| Edmonson County | 12,836 | 303 | 42 | 5.73% |
| Powell County | 12,763 | 179 | 71 | -2.56% |
| Caldwell County | 12,630 | 345 | 37 | -0.09% |
| Butler County | 12,560 | 426 | 29 | 1.94% |
| Union County | 12,551 | 343 | 37 | -8.01% |
| Washington County | 12,426 | 297 | 42 | 3.19% |
| Breathitt County | 12,365 | 492 | 25 | -9.75% |
| Green County | 11,740 | 286 | 41 | 5.49% |
| Owen County | 11,737 | 350 | 34 | 3.84% |
| Monroe County | 11,226 | 329 | 34 | -0.79% |
| Carroll County | 11,171 | 129 | 87 | 3.14% |
| Magoffin County | 11,049 | 308 | 36 | -4.8% |
| Martin County | 10,711 | 230 | 47 | -4.81% |
| Metcalfe County | 10,629 | 290 | 37 | 3.33% |
| Leslie County | 9,505 | 401 | 24 | -9.22% |
| Lyon County | 9,169 | 214 | 43 | 5.72% |
| Clinton County | 9,106 | 197 | 46 | -1.35% |
| Hancock County | 9,082 | 188 | 48 | -0.24% |
| McLean County | 9,047 | 253 | 36 | -0.95% |
| Gallatin County | 8,916 | 98 | 91 | 2.79% |
| Livingston County | 8,879 | 313 | 28 | 0.09% |
| Trimble County | 8,763 | 148 | 59 | 3.52% |
| Crittenden County | 8,639 | 360 | 24 | -4.03% |
| Bracken County | 8,560 | 203 | 42 | 1.92% |
| Nicholas County | 8,146 | 195 | 42 | 8.01% |
| Ballard County | 7,580 | 247 | 31 | -1.71% |
| Lee County | 7,301 | 209 | 35 | -0.87% |
| Elliott County | 7,260 | 234 | 31 | -1% |
| Menifee County | 6,531 | 204 | 32 | 6.4% |
| Wolfe County | 6,333 | 222 | 29 | -3.46% |
| Fulton County | 6,176 | 206 | 30 | -5.13% |
| Cumberland County | 5,947 | 305 | 19 | 1.48% |
| Carlisle County | 4,730 | 189 | 25 | -1.6% |
| Hickman County | 4,354 | 242 | 18 | -3.84% |
| Owsley County | 3,934 | 197 | 20 | -2.48% |
| Robertson County | 2,298 | 100 | 23 | 5.32% |
Sources
- US Census State Population Estimates - Most recent state estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program
- US Census County Population Estimates - Most recent county estimates from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program
- American Community Survey (2009 - 2013)
- Census QuickFacts
- Historical Populations of States and Counties (1790 - 1990)