Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 population estimates and 2024 Gazetteer. Rankings among the 50 states.
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Population
1790–2024U.S. Census (decennial), 1790–2020 + estimates.
Population pyramid
Kentucky's civilian population by sex and five-year age group. Choose a year to see how the age structure has changed.
Tap an age group in the pyramid to see its detail.
Under 15
840,160 (18.4%)
15 to 64
2,905,378 (63.5%)
65 and older
826,695 (18.1%)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, SC-EST2020 and SC-EST2024 age and sex estimates (civilian population, July 1).
Age, sex and longevity
The main indicators describing Kentucky's age structure, sex distribution and life expectancy.
| Median age | 39.4 years | |
| Female | 50.6% | |
| Male | 49.4% | |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | |
| 65 and older | 18.0% | |
| Life expectancy | 74.6 years | Among the lowest in the U.S. |
Population, households and density
How many people and households live in Kentucky, how concentrated they are and how the population is changing.
| Total population | 4.61 M | 26th in the U.S. |
| Density | 44 /km² | |
| Households | 1.82 M | |
| Urban population | 58.4% | |
| Largest metro | Louisville/Jefferson County (≈ 1.39 M) | |
| Growth | +0.2%/yr | 2020–2024 |
Race, ethnicity and origin
Kentucky is predominantly white, with a Black population concentrated in Louisville and Lexington and a small but growing Hispanic community tied to agriculture and manufacturing.
| White (non-Hispanic) | 84.5% | |
| Black or African American | 8.5% | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 4.7% | |
| Asian | 1.7% | |
| Two or more races | 2.4% | |
| Native American | 0.3% | |
| Mexican origin | ≈ 2.5% | Largest Hispanic subgroup |