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%−434%

02Leslie County, KYKY9,627-8.4%−7%

03Harlan County, KYKY24,725-7.8%−15%

04Letcher County, KYKY19,952-7.4%+16%

05Perry County, KYKY26,555-6.7%+128%

06Pike County, KYKY54,721-6.7%+27%

07Knott County, KYKY13,321-6.5%+355%

08Union County, KYKY12,839-6.1%+9%

09Bell County, KYKY22,829-5.3%+15%

10Martin County, KYKY10,697-5.2%−1359%

11Fulton County, KYKY6,218-4.6%−27%

12Magoffin County, KYKY11,110-4.5%−332%

13Clay County, KYKY19,465-4.3%−133%

14Floyd County, KYKY34,401-4.3%+63%

15Wolfe County, KYKY6,298-4.0%−147%

16Christian County, KYKY70,115-3.6%−175%

17Hickman County, KYKY4,372-3.3%−40%

18Lawrence County, KYKY15,765-3.2%−129%

19Owsley County, KYKY3,932-2.9%−17%

20Johnson County, KYKY22,051-2.8%−427%

21Powell County, KYKY12,812-2.4%−118%

22Knox County, KYKY29,532-2.2%−131%

23Greenup County, KYKY35,213-2.1%−614%

24Crittenden County, KYKY8,807-2.0%−200%

25Carter County, KYKY26,149-1.8%−117%

26Ballard County, KYKY7,594-1.7%−136%

27Carlisle County, KYKY4,747-1.6%−176%

28Estill County, KYKY13,962-1.4%−130%

29Lewis County, KYKY12,901-1.4%−117%

30Lee County, KYKY7,297-1.3%−120%

31Monroe County, KYKY11,191-1.3%−142%

32Clinton County, KYKY9,139-1.2%−123%

33Elliott County, KYKY7,265-1.2%−127%

34Henderson County, KYKY44,255-1.2%−129%

35Mason County, KYKY16,936-1.1%−234%

36Boyd County, KYKY47,751-1.1%−61%

37McLean County, KYKY9,064-1.0%−130%

38Muhlenberg County, KYKY30,634-1.0%−157%

39Rowan County, KYKY24,476-0.8%−109%

40Webster County, KYKY12,929-0.7%−157%

41Hopkins County, KYKY45,127-0.7%−176%

42Hancock County, KYKY9,050-0.5%−107%

43McCracken County, KYKY67,553-0.5%−111%

44Caldwell County, KYKY12,609-0.3%−76%

45Livingston County, KYKY8,863-0.3%−103%

46Bourbon County, KYKY20,243-0.0%−107%

47Marshall County, KYKY31,6590.0%−100%

48Wayne County, KYKY19,597+0.2%−98%

49Ohio County, KYKY23,934+0.7%−92%

50Rockcastle County, KYKY16,148+0.7%−94%

51Pendleton County, KYKY14,800+1.1%−95%

52Graves County, KYKY37,050+1.1%−89%

53Butler County, KYKY12,520+1.2%−92%

54Bracken County, KYKY8,511+1.3%−80%

55McCreary County, KYKY17,124+1.4%−85%

56Daviess County, KYKY104,898+1.5%−69%

57Jefferson County, KYKY795,222+1.6%−64%

58Whitley County, KYKY37,297+1.6%−79%

59Casey County, KYKY16,205+1.7%−81%

60Gallatin County, KYKY8,840+1.7%−96%

61Cumberland County, KYKY5,992+1.8%−67%

62Laurel County, KYKY63,746+1.8%−92%

63Larue County, KYKY15,184+2.1%−85%

64Franklin County, KYKY52,649+2.1%−76%

65Fayette County, KYKY329,751+2.2%−86%

66Meade County, KYKY30,699+2.3%−74%

67Clark County, KYKY37,888+2.5%−80%

68Hardin County, KYKY113,482+2.5%−55%

69Montgomery County, KYKY28,822+2.5%−84%

70Campbell County, KYKY95,441+2.5%−55%

71Barren County, KYKY45,641+2.6%−78%

72Trimble County, KYKY8,701+2.7%−92%

73Marion County, KYKY20,115+2.7%−74%

74Adair County, KYKY19,423+2.8%−78%

75Washington County, KYKY12,368+2.8%−38%

76Taylor County, KYKY26,763+2.8%−66%

77Jackson County, KYKY13,325+2.9%−78%

78Owen County, KYKY11,601+2.9%−83%

79Metcalfe County, KYKY10,583+2.9%−76%

80Carroll County, KYKY11,141+3.1%−67%

81Trigg County, KYKY14,512+3.2%−85%

82Boyle County, KYKY31,632+3.3%−59%

83Bath County, KYKY13,176+3.3%−77%

84Russell County, KYKY18,608+3.4%−68%

85Pulaski County, KYKY67,384+3.6%−73%

86Grayson County, KYKY27,406+3.7%−74%

87Woodford County, KYKY27,883+3.8%−77%

88Kenton County, KYKY175,779+4.0%−40%

89Hart County, KYKY20,117+4.3%−75%

90Lincoln County, KYKY25,353+4.4%−73%

91Logan County, KYKY28,669+4.5%−49%

92Fleming County, KYKY15,787+4.7%−62%

93Mercer County, KYKY23,733+4.8%−45%

94Green County, KYKY11,644+4.8%−56%

95Henry County, KYKY16,447+4.9%−72%

96Nelson County, KYKY49,036+4.9%−81%

97Grant County, KYKY26,181+5.0%−88%

98Oldham County, KYKY70,986+5.0%−87%

99Harrison County, KYKY19,627+5.0%−53%

100Morgan County, KYKY14,415+5.0%−75%

101Lyon County, KYKY9,123+5.1%−77%

102Edmonson County, KYKY12,749+5.1%−59%

103Bullitt County, KYKY86,454+5.2%−82%

104Menifee County, KYKY6,430+5.2%−82%

105Breckinridge County, KYKY21,503+5.2%−63%

106Nicholas County, KYKY7,949+5.5%+318%

107Anderson County, KYKY25,225+5.8%−82%

108Todd County, KYKY12,972+6.0%−37%

109Robertson County, KYKY2,325+6.0%−10%

110Simpson County, KYKY20,788+6.1%−27%

111Calloway County, KYKY39,421+6.2%−44%

112Shelby County, KYKY51,243+6.6%−81%

113Boone County, KYKY145,316+6.9%−86%

114Garrard County, KYKY18,207+7.4%−73%

115Spencer County, KYKY20,998+7.7%−89%

116Jessamine County, KYKY57,147+7.8%−72%

117Scott County, KYKY62,262+8.9%−77%

118Allen County, KYKY22,536+9.5%−56%

119Madison County, KYKY101,696+9.7%−58%

120Warren County, KYKY149,375+11.0%−47%

SHOWING 1–120 OF 120

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UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU POPULATION ESTIMATES