Kentucky Counties by Population (2025)
2025 Pop.
100K
200K
300K
400K
500K
600K
700K
800K
Top 5 Most Populous Counties
804,381
334,250
177,476
151,943
146,759
120 Counties
| County | 2025 Pop. ↓ | Area (mi²) | Density | Change (2020) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 804,381 | 381 | 2,111 | 2.74% |
| Fayette County | 334,250 | 284 | 1,177 | 3.6% |
| Kenton County | 177,476 | 160 | 1,109 | 4.84% |
| Warren County | 151,943 | 542 | 280 | 12.52% |
| Boone County | 146,759 | 246 | 597 | 7.53% |
| Hardin County | 113,256 | 624 | 182 | 2.18% |
| Daviess County | 104,987 | 458 | 229 | 1.54% |
| Madison County | 101,565 | 438 | 232 | 9.22% |
| Campbell County | 94,157 | 151 | 624 | 1.1% |
| Bullitt County | 86,604 | 297 | 292 | 5.15% |
| Christian County | 70,777 | 718 | 99 | -2.71% |
| Oldham County | 70,742 | 187 | 378 | 4.5% |
| McCracken County | 67,644 | 249 | 272 | -0.42% |
| Pulaski County | 67,465 | 658 | 103 | 3.61% |
| Laurel County | 63,354 | 434 | 146 | 0.99% |
| Scott County | 62,800 | 282 | 223 | 9.15% |
| Jessamine County | 57,479 | 172 | 334 | 8.41% |
| Pike County | 54,862 | 786 | 70 | -6.13% |
| Franklin County | 53,058 | 208 | 255 | 2.82% |
| Shelby County | 50,631 | 380 | 133 | 4.92% |
| Nelson County | 49,431 | 419 | 118 | 5.67% |
| Boyd County | 47,783 | 160 | 299 | -0.88% |
| Barren County | 46,086 | 487 | 95 | 3.54% |
| Hopkins County | 45,451 | 542 | 84 | 0.19% |
| Henderson County | 44,223 | 436 | 101 | -1.01% |
| Calloway County | 39,430 | 385 | 102 | 4.86% |
| Clark County | 38,009 | 252 | 151 | 2.6% |
| Whitley County | 37,549 | 438 | 86 | 2.33% |
| Graves County | 37,042 | 552 | 67 | 1.4% |
| Greenup County | 35,247 | 344 | 102 | -1.79% |
| Floyd County | 34,093 | 393 | 87 | -4.77% |
| Marshall County | 31,751 | 302 | 105 | 0.2% |
| Boyle County | 31,692 | 180 | 176 | 3.03% |
| Meade County | 30,718 | 305 | 101 | 2.3% |
| Muhlenberg County | 30,497 | 467 | 65 | -1.29% |
| Knox County | 29,591 | 386 | 77 | -1.97% |
| Montgomery County | 29,011 | 197 | 147 | 3.22% |
| Logan County | 28,649 | 552 | 52 | 4.12% |
| Woodford County | 27,934 | 190 | 147 | 3.82% |
| Grayson County | 27,334 | 500 | 55 | 3.32% |
| Taylor County | 27,036 | 266 | 102 | 4.01% |
| Perry County | 26,396 | 340 | 78 | -6.95% |
| Carter County | 25,941 | 409 | 63 | -2.53% |
| Grant County | 25,848 | 258 | 100 | 3.33% |
| Anderson County | 25,148 | 202 | 124 | 5.26% |
| Lincoln County | 25,082 | 333 | 75 | 3.44% |
| Rowan County | 24,847 | 280 | 89 | 0.51% |
| Harlan County | 24,802 | 466 | 53 | -7.31% |
| Ohio County | 24,147 | 587 | 41 | 1.7% |
| Mercer County | 23,841 | 249 | 96 | 5.25% |
| Bell County | 22,894 | 359 | 64 | -4.54% |
| Allen County | 22,295 | 344 | 65 | 8.38% |
| Johnson County | 22,057 | 262 | 84 | -2.61% |
| Breckinridge County | 21,325 | 570 | 37 | 4.3% |
| Spencer County | 21,089 | 187 | 113 | 8.13% |
| Simpson County | 20,477 | 234 | 88 | 4.32% |
| Bourbon County | 20,446 | 290 | 71 | 0.8% |
| Hart County | 20,120 | 413 | 49 | 4.27% |
| Letcher County | 19,864 | 338 | 59 | -7.47% |
| Marion County | 19,862 | 344 | 58 | 1.37% |
| Harrison County | 19,641 | 306 | 64 | 4.91% |
| Wayne County | 19,628 | 458 | 43 | 0.43% |
| Clay County | 19,526 | 469 | 42 | -3.86% |
| Adair County | 19,172 | 405 | 47 | 1.54% |
| Russell County | 18,608 | 253 | 74 | 3.4% |
| Garrard County | 18,192 | 230 | 79 | 7.24% |
| Mason County | 17,055 | 240 | 71 | -0.48% |
| McCreary County | 16,579 | 427 | 39 | -1.62% |
| Henry County | 16,445 | 286 | 58 | 4.79% |
| Rockcastle County | 16,281 | 317 | 51 | 1.36% |
| Casey County | 16,009 | 444 | 36 | 0.55% |
| Fleming County | 15,777 | 349 | 45 | 4.5% |
| Lawrence County | 15,622 | 416 | 38 | -4.17% |
| Larue County | 14,928 | 261 | 57 | 0.34% |
| Pendleton County | 14,884 | 277 | 54 | 1.62% |
| Trigg County | 14,748 | 441 | 33 | 4.74% |
| Morgan County | 14,215 | 381 | 37 | 3.52% |
| Estill County | 14,067 | 253 | 56 | -0.66% |
| Jackson County | 13,578 | 345 | 39 | 4.7% |
| Union County | 13,240 | 343 | 39 | -3% |
| Knott County | 13,216 | 352 | 38 | -6.69% |
| Webster County | 12,955 | 332 | 39 | -0.51% |
| Todd County | 12,938 | 375 | 35 | 5.33% |
| Bath County | 12,930 | 278 | 47 | 1.67% |
| Powell County | 12,853 | 179 | 72 | -1.88% |
| Edmonson County | 12,804 | 303 | 42 | 5.41% |
| Lewis County | 12,794 | 483 | 26 | -2.25% |
| Butler County | 12,672 | 426 | 30 | 2.88% |
| Caldwell County | 12,661 | 345 | 37 | 0.2% |
| Breathitt County | 12,646 | 492 | 26 | -7.7% |
| Washington County | 12,281 | 297 | 41 | 2.02% |
| Green County | 11,650 | 286 | 41 | 4.66% |
| Owen County | 11,561 | 350 | 33 | 2.29% |
| Carroll County | 11,236 | 129 | 87 | 3.7% |
| Monroe County | 11,055 | 329 | 34 | -2.34% |
| Magoffin County | 11,034 | 308 | 36 | -4.92% |
| Metcalfe County | 10,621 | 290 | 37 | 3.27% |
| Martin County | 10,465 | 230 | 46 | -6.98% |
| Leslie County | 9,593 | 401 | 24 | -8.39% |
| Clinton County | 9,188 | 197 | 47 | -0.43% |
| McLean County | 9,176 | 253 | 36 | 0.47% |
| Hancock County | 9,090 | 188 | 48 | -0.15% |
| Crittenden County | 8,968 | 360 | 25 | -0.39% |
| Lyon County | 8,966 | 214 | 42 | 3.32% |
| Gallatin County | 8,787 | 98 | 90 | 1.29% |
| Livingston County | 8,741 | 313 | 28 | -1.48% |
| Trimble County | 8,566 | 148 | 58 | 1.22% |
| Bracken County | 8,559 | 203 | 42 | 1.83% |
| Nicholas County | 7,958 | 195 | 41 | 5.54% |
| Ballard County | 7,644 | 247 | 31 | -0.91% |
| Lee County | 7,325 | 209 | 35 | -0.53% |
| Elliott County | 7,255 | 234 | 31 | -1.09% |
| Menifee County | 6,403 | 204 | 31 | 4.25% |
| Wolfe County | 6,358 | 222 | 29 | -3.03% |
| Fulton County | 6,186 | 206 | 30 | -4.99% |
| Cumberland County | 6,114 | 305 | 20 | 4.35% |
| Carlisle County | 4,812 | 189 | 25 | 0.15% |
| Hickman County | 4,363 | 242 | 18 | -3.69% |
| Owsley County | 3,872 | 197 | 20 | -3.97% |
| Robertson County | 2,430 | 100 | 24 | 11.26% |
Overview of Kentucky Counties
There are 120 counties in Kentucky.
Jefferson County is the largest county in the state, with a population of 804,381. The most recent census shows that its population has increased by 0.03% 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 : 334,250
- Kenton County : 177,476
Kentucky Counties with the Fewest Residents
The smallest county in Kentucky is Robertson County , with a population of just 2,430. This total represents a increase of 0.1% since the last census count was performed.
Other small counties include:
- Owsley County : 3,872
- Hickman County : 4,363
- Carlisle County : 4,812
Kentucky Counties with Rapid Growth
Warren County , with its sizeable population of 151,943, has shown the largest population growth, with an increase of 0.1% since the last census.
Jefferson County has also had relatively high population growth of 0.03% with 804,381 residents.
On the other hand, Leslie County has had the largest decrease in population, with its 9,593 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)