Kentucky Counties by Population (2026)
2026 Pop.
100K
200K
300K
400K
500K
600K
700K
800K
Top 5 Most Populous Counties
814,881
339,063
180,090
155,950
149,383
120 Counties
| County | 2026 Pop. ↓ | Area (mi²) | Density | Change (2020) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 814,881 | 381 | 2,139 | 4.09% |
| Fayette County | 339,063 | 284 | 1,194 | 5.09% |
| Kenton County | 180,090 | 160 | 1,126 | 6.39% |
| Warren County | 155,950 | 542 | 288 | 15.49% |
| Boone County | 149,383 | 246 | 607 | 9.46% |
| Hardin County | 113,686 | 624 | 182 | 2.57% |
| Daviess County | 105,517 | 458 | 230 | 2.05% |
| Madison County | 103,548 | 438 | 236 | 11.35% |
| Campbell County | 94,306 | 151 | 625 | 1.26% |
| Bullitt County | 87,406 | 297 | 294 | 6.12% |
| Oldham County | 70,959 | 187 | 379 | 4.82% |
| Christian County | 70,548 | 718 | 98 | -3.02% |
| Pulaski County | 68,088 | 658 | 103 | 4.57% |
| McCracken County | 67,738 | 249 | 272 | -0.28% |
| Scott County | 63,900 | 282 | 227 | 11.06% |
| Laurel County | 63,355 | 434 | 146 | 0.99% |
| Jessamine County | 58,463 | 172 | 340 | 10.27% |
| Pike County | 54,294 | 786 | 69 | -7.11% |
| Franklin County | 53,674 | 208 | 258 | 4.01% |
| Shelby County | 51,138 | 380 | 135 | 5.97% |
| Nelson County | 50,156 | 419 | 120 | 7.22% |
| Boyd County | 47,789 | 160 | 299 | -0.87% |
| Barren County | 46,563 | 487 | 96 | 4.61% |
| Hopkins County | 45,684 | 542 | 84 | 0.7% |
| Henderson County | 44,271 | 436 | 102 | -0.9% |
| Calloway County | 39,885 | 385 | 104 | 6.07% |
| Clark County | 38,345 | 252 | 152 | 3.5% |
| Whitley County | 37,865 | 438 | 86 | 3.19% |
| Graves County | 37,263 | 552 | 68 | 2.01% |
| Greenup County | 35,221 | 344 | 102 | -1.86% |
| Floyd County | 33,654 | 393 | 86 | -6% |
| Boyle County | 31,990 | 180 | 178 | 4% |
| Marshall County | 31,768 | 302 | 105 | 0.25% |
| Meade County | 30,994 | 305 | 102 | 3.22% |
| Muhlenberg County | 30,482 | 467 | 65 | -1.34% |
| Knox County | 29,525 | 386 | 76 | -2.19% |
| Montgomery County | 29,251 | 197 | 148 | 4.08% |
| Logan County | 28,831 | 552 | 52 | 4.78% |
| Woodford County | 28,140 | 190 | 148 | 4.58% |
| Grayson County | 27,598 | 500 | 55 | 4.32% |
| Taylor County | 27,263 | 266 | 102 | 4.88% |
| Perry County | 26,053 | 340 | 77 | -8.16% |
| Grant County | 25,974 | 258 | 101 | 3.84% |
| Carter County | 25,784 | 409 | 63 | -3.12% |
| Anderson County | 25,413 | 202 | 126 | 6.37% |
| Lincoln County | 25,254 | 333 | 76 | 4.15% |
| Rowan County | 25,019 | 280 | 89 | 1.21% |
| Harlan County | 24,552 | 466 | 53 | -8.24% |
| Ohio County | 24,361 | 587 | 42 | 2.6% |
| Mercer County | 24,167 | 249 | 97 | 6.69% |
| Bell County | 22,737 | 359 | 63 | -5.19% |
| Allen County | 22,553 | 344 | 66 | 9.63% |
| Johnson County | 22,016 | 262 | 84 | -2.79% |
| Breckinridge County | 21,429 | 570 | 38 | 4.81% |
| Spencer County | 21,355 | 187 | 114 | 9.5% |
| Simpson County | 20,604 | 234 | 88 | 4.97% |
| Bourbon County | 20,559 | 290 | 71 | 1.36% |
| Hart County | 20,317 | 413 | 49 | 5.29% |
| Marion County | 19,873 | 344 | 58 | 1.42% |
| Harrison County | 19,757 | 306 | 65 | 5.53% |
| Wayne County | 19,627 | 458 | 43 | 0.43% |
| Letcher County | 19,589 | 338 | 58 | -8.75% |
| Clay County | 19,460 | 469 | 41 | -4.18% |
| Adair County | 19,105 | 405 | 47 | 1.19% |
| Russell County | 18,758 | 253 | 74 | 4.23% |
| Garrard County | 18,344 | 230 | 80 | 8.13% |
| Mason County | 17,154 | 240 | 71 | 0.1% |
| Henry County | 16,692 | 286 | 58 | 6.37% |
| Rockcastle County | 16,336 | 317 | 52 | 1.7% |
| McCreary County | 16,334 | 427 | 38 | -3.07% |
| Casey County | 16,070 | 444 | 36 | 0.94% |
| Fleming County | 15,963 | 349 | 46 | 5.73% |
| Lawrence County | 15,446 | 416 | 37 | -5.25% |
| Trigg County | 14,937 | 441 | 34 | 6.08% |
| Pendleton County | 14,924 | 277 | 54 | 1.89% |
| Larue County | 14,728 | 261 | 56 | -1% |
| Estill County | 14,132 | 253 | 56 | -0.2% |
| Morgan County | 14,130 | 381 | 37 | 2.9% |
| Jackson County | 13,798 | 345 | 40 | 6.4% |
| Union County | 13,302 | 343 | 39 | -2.55% |
| Todd County | 13,119 | 375 | 35 | 6.81% |
| Webster County | 13,056 | 332 | 39 | 0.26% |
| Knott County | 12,994 | 352 | 37 | -8.25% |
| Edmonson County | 12,973 | 303 | 43 | 6.8% |
| Bath County | 12,909 | 278 | 46 | 1.51% |
| Butler County | 12,793 | 426 | 30 | 3.86% |
| Powell County | 12,778 | 179 | 71 | -2.45% |
| Lewis County | 12,713 | 483 | 26 | -2.87% |
| Caldwell County | 12,711 | 345 | 37 | 0.59% |
| Breathitt County | 12,488 | 492 | 25 | -8.85% |
| Washington County | 12,293 | 297 | 41 | 2.12% |
| Green County | 11,748 | 286 | 41 | 5.54% |
| Owen County | 11,687 | 350 | 33 | 3.41% |
| Carroll County | 11,361 | 129 | 88 | 4.85% |
| Magoffin County | 10,950 | 308 | 36 | -5.64% |
| Monroe County | 10,947 | 329 | 33 | -3.3% |
| Metcalfe County | 10,684 | 290 | 37 | 3.88% |
| Martin County | 10,234 | 230 | 44 | -9.03% |
| Leslie County | 9,457 | 401 | 24 | -9.68% |
| McLean County | 9,226 | 253 | 36 | 1.02% |
| Clinton County | 9,193 | 197 | 47 | -0.38% |
| Hancock County | 9,167 | 188 | 49 | 0.69% |
| Crittenden County | 8,954 | 360 | 25 | -0.54% |
| Lyon County | 8,854 | 214 | 41 | 2.03% |
| Gallatin County | 8,769 | 98 | 89 | 1.08% |
| Livingston County | 8,667 | 313 | 28 | -2.31% |
| Bracken County | 8,621 | 203 | 42 | 2.57% |
| Trimble County | 8,541 | 148 | 58 | 0.92% |
| Nicholas County | 8,100 | 195 | 42 | 7.43% |
| Ballard County | 7,662 | 247 | 31 | -0.67% |
| Lee County | 7,337 | 209 | 35 | -0.37% |
| Elliott County | 7,247 | 234 | 31 | -1.2% |
| Menifee County | 6,465 | 204 | 32 | 5.26% |
| Wolfe County | 6,352 | 222 | 29 | -3.13% |
| Cumberland County | 6,181 | 305 | 20 | 5.5% |
| Fulton County | 6,090 | 206 | 30 | -6.47% |
| Carlisle County | 4,847 | 189 | 26 | 0.87% |
| Hickman County | 4,333 | 242 | 18 | -4.35% |
| Owsley County | 3,816 | 197 | 19 | -5.36% |
| Robertson County | 2,478 | 100 | 25 | 13.46% |
Overview of Kentucky Counties
There are 120 counties in Kentucky.
Jefferson County is the largest county in the state, with a population of 814,881. The most recent census shows that its population has increased by 0.04% since the previous census.
A number of other Kentucky counties also boast relatively large populations for their state, though not able to match the density of Jefferson County:
- Fayette County : 339,063
- Kenton County : 180,090
Kentucky Counties with the Fewest Residents
The smallest county in Kentucky is Robertson County , with a population of just 2,478. This total represents a increase of 0.1% since the last census count was performed.
Other small counties include:
- Owsley County : 3,816
- Hickman County : 4,333
- Carlisle County : 4,847
Kentucky Counties with Rapid Growth
Warren County , with its sizeable population of 155,950, has shown the largest population growth, with an increase of 0.2% since the last census.
Jefferson County has also had relatively high population growth of 0.04% with 814,881 residents.
On the other hand, Leslie County has had the largest decrease in population, with its 9,457 current residents totalling 0.1% less than the previous census.
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)