RANKING · 2025 ESTIMATES · 120 SHOWN OF 120

Fastest shrinking, Kentucky counties

Kentucky counties with the steepest population decline from the 2020 census to 2025. This list covers the 120 counties in Kentucky that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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SAME RANKING BYCities States Metros

RELATEDLargest by population Fastest growing Most population gained Most population lost Most densely populated Most sparsely populated

YEAR2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION GROWTHVS 2000

01Breathitt County, KYKY12,558-8.5%−11.0 pts

02Leslie County, KYKY9,627-8.4%+0.7 pts

03Harlan County, KYKY24,725-7.8%+1.4 pts

04Letcher County, KYKY19,952-7.4%−1.0 pts

05Perry County, KYKY26,555-6.7%−3.8 pts

06Pike County, KYKY54,721-6.7%−1.4 pts

07Knott County, KYKY13,321-6.5%−5.1 pts

08Union County, KYKY12,839-6.1%−0.5 pts

09Bell County, KYKY22,829-5.3%−0.7 pts

10Martin County, KYKY10,697-5.2%−5.6 pts

11Fulton County, KYKY6,218-4.6%+1.7 pts

12Magoffin County, KYKY11,110-4.5%−6.5 pts

13Clay County, KYKY19,465-4.3%−17.2 pts

14Floyd County, KYKY34,401-4.3%−1.7 pts

15Wolfe County, KYKY6,298-4.0%−12.7 pts

16Christian County, KYKY70,115-3.6%−8.4 pts

17Hickman County, KYKY4,372-3.3%+2.2 pts

18Lawrence County, KYKY15,765-3.2%−14.5 pts

19Owsley County, KYKY3,932-2.9%+0.6 pts

20Johnson County, KYKY22,051-2.8%−3.6 pts

21Powell County, KYKY12,812-2.4%−15.7 pts

22Knox County, KYKY29,532-2.2%−9.3 pts

23Greenup County, KYKY35,213-2.1%−2.5 pts

24Crittenden County, KYKY8,807-2.0%−4.1 pts

25Carter County, KYKY26,149-1.8%−12.3 pts

26Ballard County, KYKY7,594-1.7%−6.6 pts

27Carlisle County, KYKY4,747-1.6%−3.8 pts

28Estill County, KYKY13,962-1.4%−6.2 pts

29Lewis County, KYKY12,901-1.4%−9.5 pts

30Lee County, KYKY7,297-1.3%−8.0 pts

31Monroe County, KYKY11,191-1.3%−4.4 pts

32Clinton County, KYKY9,139-1.2%−6.7 pts

33Elliott County, KYKY7,265-1.2%−5.7 pts

34Henderson County, KYKY44,255-1.2%−5.3 pts

35Mason County, KYKY16,936-1.1%−1.9 pts

36Boyd County, KYKY47,751-1.1%+1.7 pts

37McLean County, KYKY9,064-1.0%−4.2 pts

38Muhlenberg County, KYKY30,634-1.0%−2.6 pts

39Rowan County, KYKY24,476-0.8%−9.3 pts

40Webster County, KYKY12,929-0.7%−1.9 pts

41Hopkins County, KYKY45,127-0.7%−1.5 pts

42Hancock County, KYKY9,050-0.5%−7.2 pts

43McCracken County, KYKY67,553-0.5%−4.7 pts

44Caldwell County, KYKY12,609-0.3%+1.0 pts

45Livingston County, KYKY8,863-0.3%−8.5 pts

46Bourbon County, KYKY20,243-0.0%−0.7 pts

47Marshall County, KYKY31,6590.0%−10.7 pts

48Wayne County, KYKY19,597+0.2%−13.8 pts

49Ohio County, KYKY23,934+0.7%−7.9 pts

50Rockcastle County, KYKY16,148+0.7%−11.3 pts

51Pendleton County, KYKY14,800+1.1%−18.5 pts

52Graves County, KYKY37,050+1.1%−9.3 pts

53Butler County, KYKY12,520+1.2%−14.5 pts

54Bracken County, KYKY8,511+1.3%−5.3 pts

55McCreary County, KYKY17,124+1.4%−8.1 pts

56Daviess County, KYKY104,898+1.5%−3.5 pts

57Jefferson County, KYKY795,222+1.6%−2.7 pts

58Whitley County, KYKY37,297+1.6%−6.0 pts

59Casey County, KYKY16,205+1.7%−7.0 pts

60Gallatin County, KYKY8,840+1.7%−44.2 pts

61Cumberland County, KYKY5,992+1.8%−3.6 pts

62Laurel County, KYKY63,746+1.8%−19.5 pts

63Larue County, KYKY15,184+2.1%−12.4 pts

64Franklin County, KYKY52,649+2.1%−6.8 pts

65Fayette County, KYKY329,751+2.2%−13.4 pts

66Meade County, KYKY30,699+2.3%−6.7 pts

67Clark County, KYKY37,888+2.5%−9.9 pts

68Hardin County, KYKY113,482+2.5%−3.0 pts

69Montgomery County, KYKY28,822+2.5%−12.8 pts

70Campbell County, KYKY95,441+2.5%−3.1 pts

71Barren County, KYKY45,641+2.6%−9.3 pts

72Trimble County, KYKY8,701+2.7%−30.7 pts

73Marion County, KYKY20,115+2.7%−7.7 pts

74Adair County, KYKY19,423+2.8%−9.5 pts

75Washington County, KYKY12,368+2.8%−1.7 pts

76Taylor County, KYKY26,763+2.8%−5.6 pts

77Jackson County, KYKY13,325+2.9%−10.0 pts

78Owen County, KYKY11,601+2.9%−13.9 pts

79Metcalfe County, KYKY10,583+2.9%−9.1 pts

80Carroll County, KYKY11,141+3.1%−6.2 pts

81Trigg County, KYKY14,512+3.2%−18.4 pts

82Boyle County, KYKY31,632+3.3%−4.7 pts

83Bath County, KYKY13,176+3.3%−11.0 pts

84Russell County, KYKY18,608+3.4%−7.4 pts

85Pulaski County, KYKY67,384+3.6%−10.0 pts

86Grayson County, KYKY27,406+3.7%−10.5 pts

87Woodford County, KYKY27,883+3.8%−12.5 pts

88Kenton County, KYKY175,779+4.0%−2.7 pts

89Hart County, KYKY20,117+4.3%−12.9 pts

90Lincoln County, KYKY25,353+4.4%−12.1 pts

91Logan County, KYKY28,669+4.5%−4.3 pts

92Fleming County, KYKY15,787+4.7%−7.5 pts

93Mercer County, KYKY23,733+4.8%−3.9 pts

94Green County, KYKY11,644+4.8%−6.2 pts

95Henry County, KYKY16,447+4.9%−12.5 pts

96Nelson County, KYKY49,036+4.9%−21.2 pts

97Grant County, KYKY26,181+5.0%−37.3 pts

98Oldham County, KYKY70,986+5.0%−33.8 pts

99Harrison County, KYKY19,627+5.0%−5.7 pts

100Morgan County, KYKY14,415+5.0%−14.7 pts

101Lyon County, KYKY9,123+5.1%−16.9 pts

102Edmonson County, KYKY12,749+5.1%−7.3 pts

103Bullitt County, KYKY86,454+5.2%−23.6 pts

104Menifee County, KYKY6,430+5.2%−23.6 pts

105Breckinridge County, KYKY21,503+5.2%−9.1 pts

106Nicholas County, KYKY7,949+5.5%+4.2 pts

107Anderson County, KYKY25,225+5.8%−25.4 pts

108Todd County, KYKY12,972+6.0%−3.5 pts

109Robertson County, KYKY2,325+6.0%−0.7 pts

110Simpson County, KYKY20,788+6.1%−2.2 pts

111Calloway County, KYKY39,421+6.2%−5.0 pts

112Shelby County, KYKY51,243+6.6%−27.7 pts

113Boone County, KYKY145,316+6.9%−42.4 pts

114Garrard County, KYKY18,207+7.4%−20.4 pts

115Spencer County, KYKY20,998+7.7%−65.3 pts

116Jessamine County, KYKY57,147+7.8%−20.1 pts

117Scott County, KYKY62,262+8.9%−29.6 pts

118Allen County, KYKY22,536+9.5%−12.2 pts

119Madison County, KYKY101,696+9.7%−13.5 pts

120Warren County, KYKY149,375+11.0%−9.7 pts

SHOWING 1–120 OF 120

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UPDATED 2026-08-08 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU POPULATION ESTIMATES