Harlan County, Kentucky Population 2024

24,996

Harlan County, Kentucky's estimated 2024 population is 24,996 with a growth rate of -1.3% in the past year according to the most recent United States census data. Harlan County, Kentucky is the 46th largest county in Kentucky. The 2010 population was 29,223 and has seen a growth of -14.46% since that time.

Note: data after 2022 is projected based on recent change

38 Rows

Year
Population
Growth
Change
202923,356-328-1.38%
202823,684-328-1.37%
202724,012-328-1.35%
202624,340-328-1.33%
202524,668-328-1.31%
202424,996-328-1.3%
202325,324-328-1.28%
202225,652-498-1.9%
202126,150-604-2.26%
202026,7547943.06%
201925,960-378-1.44%
201826,338-349-1.31%
201726,687-299-1.11%
201626,986-523-1.9%
201527,509-509-1.82%
201428,018-476-1.67%
201328,494-192-0.67%
201228,686-443-1.52%
201129,129-94-0.32%
201029,22300%
199036,574-5,315-12.69%
198041,8894,51912.09%
197037,370-13,737-26.88%
196051,107-20,644-28.77%
195071,751-3,524-4.68%
194075,27510,71816.6%
193064,55733,011104.64%
192031,54620,980198.56%
191010,5667287.4%
19009,8383,64158.75%
18906,19791917.41%
18805,27886319.55%
18704,415-1,079-19.64%
18605,4941,22628.73%
18504,2681,25341.56%
18403,015862.94%
18302,92996849.36%
18201,961-21,395-91.6%
2024 Growth Rate
-1.3% (-328)
County Website
Harlan County
County Seat
Harlan
2020 Population
26,754
Area
466 mi²
Density
54 people/mi²
Growth Since 2020
-6.57% (-1,758)
Founded
1819

Population by Race

Race
Population
Percentage (of total)
White25,16394.64%
Two or more races6712.52%
Black or African American5482.06%
Asian1220.46%
Other race570.21%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander240.09%
Native American40.02%

White

Two or more races

Black or African American

Asian

Other race

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Native American

Harlan County, Kentucky Population by Race

Harlan County, Kentucky Population Pyramid 2024

Harlan County, Kentucky Median Age

41.2

Total

39.8

Male

42.6

Female

Harlan County, Kentucky Adults

There are 20,407 adults, (5,048 of whom are seniors) in Harlan County, Kentucky.

Harlan County, Kentucky Age Dependency

73.1

Age Dependency Ratio

32.9

Old Age Dependency Ratio

40.3

Child Dependency Ratio

Harlan County, Kentucky Sex Ratio

Female13,74851.71%
Male12,84148.29%

Harlan County, Kentucky Population by Age

Harlan County, Kentucky Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

Household Type
Count
Average Size
Owner
Renter
All10,4982.4768.931.1
Married5,0593.0580.919.1
Non Family3,3831.255.844.2
Female1,4913.3457.342.7
Male5652.6570.329.7

2.99

Average Family Size

2.47

Average Household Size

68.9%

Rate of Home Ownership

Married

Male

Female

NonFamily

owner

renter

Harlan County, Kentucky Households and Families

Male

Female

Education Attained
Count
Percentage
9th to 12th Grade2,64114.21%
Associates Degree1,88210.13%
Bachelors Degree9745.24%
Graduate Degree9815.28%
High School Graduate6,68035.95%
Less Than 9th Grade1,6428.84%
Some College3,78320.36%

Less Than 9th Grade

9th to 12th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Associates Degree

Bachelors Degree

Graduate Degree

Harlan County, Kentucky Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)

Harlan County, Kentucky Educational Attainment by Race

High School Graduation Rate

Bachelors Rate

Race
Total
High School
Bachelors
White17,68213,5291,791
2+ Races33826830
Black31427968
Asian11611254
Hispanic65373
Other Race51519
Islander24240
Native American440

The highest rate of high school graduation is among native american people with a rate of 100%.

The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 46.55%.

Harlan County, Kentucky Educational Attainment by Race

All

Male

Female

Name
Average
Male
Female
Bachelors Degree$52,000$61,618$41,429
Graduate Degree$55,481$59,260$46,250
High School Graduate$29,138$33,520$26,189
Less Than 9th Grade$20,170$17,417$23,875
Overall$31,460$36,112$28,680
Some College$31,425$35,625$28,776

$31,460

Average Earnings

$36,112

Average Male

$28,680

Average Female

Harlan County, Kentucky Earnings by Educational Attainment

Harlan County, Kentucky Language by Age

Only English

Spanish

Other Indo-European Languages

Asian and Pacific Island Languages

Other Languages

Harlan County, Kentucky Language

98.88% of Harlan County, Kentucky residents speak only English, while 1.12% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Asian and Pacific Island languages, which is spoken by 0.57% of the population.

Harlan County, Kentucky Language

Harlan County, Kentucky Poverty by Race

rate

Name
Total
In Poverty
Poverty Rate
White24,5517,20229.33%
Multiple63928845.07%
Black53021139.81%
Hispanic664669.7%
Other532954.72%
Islander2424100%

30.02%

Overall Poverty Rate

28.54%

Male Poverty Rate

31.41%

Female Poverty Rate

Poverty in Harlan County, Kentucky

The race most likely to be in poverty in Harlan County, Kentucky is Islander, with 100% below the poverty level.

The race least likely to be in poverty in Harlan County, Kentucky is White, with 29.33% below the poverty level.

The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 7.09%. Among those working part-time, it was 32.24%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 35.07%.

Harlan County, Kentucky Poverty

rate

Rate
Poverty
Less Than 9th Grade40.97%
High School27.67%
Some College20.37%
Bachelors or Greater6.01%

Harlan County, Kentucky Poverty Rate by Education

rate

Rate
Poverty
Female Unemployed56.08%
Male Unemployed54.06%
Female Employed15.05%
Male Employed11.38%

Harlan County, Kentucky Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

Harlan County, Kentucky Income by Household Type

Households

Families

MarriedFamilies

NonFamilies

Name
Median
Mean
Families$45,564$60,038
Households$35,128$51,132
Married Families$53,240$-999,999,999
Non Families$20,328$28,320

mean

median

Income by Household Type

Harlan County, Kentucky Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Marriage Rates

51.1%

Overall Marriage Rate

53.6%

Male Marriage Rate

48.8%

Female Marriage Rate

Harlan County, Kentucky Married by Age and Sex

male

female

Harlan County, Kentucky Marriage

The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35-44.

Harlan County, Kentucky Marital Status by Race

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Harlan County, Kentucky Marital Status

Second Gulf War

First Gulf War

Vietnam

Korea

World War II

1,054

Number of Veterans

982

Male Veterans

72

Female Veterans

War
Veterans
Vietnam463
Second Gulf War303
First Gulf War268
Korea23
World War II22

Harlan County, Kentucky Veterans by War

count

Age Group
Veterans
65 to 74341
35 to 54257
75+214
18 to 34123
55 to 64119

Harlan County, Kentucky Veterans by Age

count

Name
Veterans
% of Total
White9960.051221393674466445
2+ Races500.12755102040816327
Black40.0106951871657754
Native American41

Harlan County, Kentucky Veterans by Race

Harlan County, Kentucky Veterans by Education

Less Than 9th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Bachelors or Greater

6.15%

Veteran Poverty Rate

49.4%

Veteran Disability Rate

Harlan County, Kentucky Veterans by Education

LaborForceParticipation

39.6%

Labor Force Participation

35.3%

Employment Rate

10.8%

Unemployment Rate

Harlan County, Kentucky Employment by Age

LaborForceParticipation

Harlan County, Kentucky Employment by Race

LaborForceParticipation

Harlan County, Kentucky Employment by Education

Origin of Non-Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.

Origin of Naturalized Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

82.19%

Born in Harlan County, Kentucky

99.57%

Native Born

0.43%

Foreign Born

0.1%

Non Citizen

0.33%

Naturalized

Place of Birth

99.57% of Harlan County, Kentucky residents were born in the United States, with 82.19% having been born in Kentucky. 0.1% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.

Harlan County, Kentucky Place of Birth

Sources