Population of Kentucky
Kentucky's population is 4,543,225 as of 2024, ranked #26 globally out of 50 states.
Current Population
4,543,225
10yr Growth
+4.7%
Global Rank
#26of 50
Peak Growth Year
1980
Growth: +13.73%
Population Over Time
1900 — 2024
Population Over Time
Analysis# Kentucky Population Analysis
Kentucky's population of 4.54 million represents modest growth over the past decade at 4.7%, positioning the state as the 26th most populous in the nation. The state's peak expansion occurred during the 1980s, but current growth rates fall below this historical benchmark, indicating a deceleration in population gains. Over 124 years of data (1900–2024), Kentucky has experienced uneven demographic trends, with the 1980s representing the only sustained period of robust expansion relative to its more recent trajectory.
Historical Data
17 Rows| Year | Population | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4,543,225 | +0.38% |
| 2023 | 4,526,154 | +0.32% |
| 2022 | 4,511,563 | +0.09% |
| 2021 | 4,507,600 | +0.04% |
| 2020 | 4,505,836 | +3.84% |
| 2010 | 4,339,367 | +7.36% |
| 2000 | 4,041,769 | +9.67% |
| 1990 | 3,685,296 | +0.67% |
| 1980 | 3,660,777 | +13.73% |
| 1970 | 3,218,706 | +5.94% |
| 1960 | 3,038,156 | +3.17% |
| 1950 | 2,944,806 | +3.49% |
| 1940 | 2,845,627 | +8.84% |
| 1930 | 2,614,589 | +8.19% |
| 1920 | 2,416,630 | +5.53% |
| 1910 | 2,289,905 | +6.65% |
| 1900 | 2,147,174 | — |