Population of Kentucky
Current Population
4,543,225
10yr Growth Rate
+4.7%
Rank
#26 of 50
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 Population Data
| 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 | — |