RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 120 SHOWN OF 120

Fastest shrinking, Kentucky counties

Kentucky counties with the steepest population decline since the prior decennial census. 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 densely populated Most sparsely populated Best broadband access Worst broadband access

YEAR2000 2010 2020

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION GROWTHVS 2000

01Bell County, KYKY22,829-16.0%+249%

02Owsley County, KYKY3,932-14.8%+319%

03Cumberland County, KYKY5,992-14.1%−364%

04Knott County, KYKY13,321-12.8%+793%

05Magoffin County, KYKY11,110-12.7%−752%

06Martin County, KYKY10,697-12.7%−3159%

07Letcher County, KYKY19,952-12.1%+90%

08Wolfe County, KYKY6,298-10.8%−225%

09Clinton County, KYKY9,139-9.9%−282%

10Pike County, KYKY54,721-9.8%+84%

11Union County, KYKY12,839-8.9%+61%

12Floyd County, KYKY34,401-8.9%+239%

13Harlan County, KYKY24,725-8.4%−9%

14Hickman County, KYKY4,372-7.8%+42%

15McCreary County, KYKY17,124-7.7%−182%

16Leslie County, KYKY9,627-7.0%−23%

17Livingston County, KYKY8,863-6.6%−181%

18Clay County, KYKY19,465-6.4%−149%

19Elliott County, KYKY7,265-6.3%−240%

20Ballard County, KYKY7,594-6.3%−230%

21Lee County, KYKY7,297-6.2%−194%

22Wayne County, KYKY19,597-6.0%−143%

23Rockcastle County, KYKY16,148-6.0%−150%

24Lewis County, KYKY12,901-5.7%−170%

25Carlisle County, KYKY4,747-5.4%−352%

26Knox County, KYKY29,532-5.3%−174%

27Webster County, KYKY12,929-4.4%−475%

28Fulton County, KYKY6,218-4.4%−30%

29Jackson County, KYKY13,325-4.0%−131%

30McLean County, KYKY9,064-4.0%−224%

31Carter County, KYKY26,149-3.9%−138%

32Robertson County, KYKY2,325-3.9%−158%

33Trimble County, KYKY8,701-3.8%−111%

34Crittenden County, KYKY8,807-3.5%−271%

35Estill County, KYKY13,962-3.5%−173%

36Hopkins County, KYKY45,127-3.2%−474%

37Henderson County, KYKY44,255-3.2%−176%

38Menifee County, KYKY6,430-3.1%−111%

39Johnson County, KYKY22,051-2.9%−442%

40Boyd County, KYKY47,751-2.6%−5%

41Caldwell County, KYKY12,609-2.6%+98%

42Greenup County, KYKY35,213-2.6%−733%

43Butler County, KYKY12,520-2.5%−116%

44Mason County, KYKY16,936-2.1%−363%

45Trigg County, KYKY14,512-1.9%−109%

46Lincoln County, KYKY25,353-1.9%−111%

47Muhlenberg County, KYKY30,634-1.8%−209%

48Todd County, KYKY12,972-1.7%−118%

49Christian County, KYKY70,115-1.6%−134%

50Pendleton County, KYKY14,800-1.6%−108%

51Morgan County, KYKY14,415-1.4%−107%

52Green County, KYKY11,644-1.3%−112%

53Graves County, KYKY37,050-1.3%−112%

54Marion County, KYKY20,115-1.2%−112%

55Breathitt County, KYKY12,558-1.2%−146%

56Bracken County, KYKY8,511-1.0%−116%

57Perry County, KYKY26,555-0.8%−72%

58Harrison County, KYKY19,627-0.8%−108%

59Ohio County, KYKY23,934-0.3%−103%

60Edmonson County, KYKY12,749-0.3%−102%

61Calloway County, KYKY39,421-0.2%−102%

62Casey County, KYKY16,205-0.1%−101%

63Carroll County, KYKY11,141-0.0%−100%

64Garrard County, KYKY18,207+0.2%−99%

65Marshall County, KYKY31,659+0.7%−94%

66Grant County, KYKY26,181+1.1%−97%

67Gallatin County, KYKY8,840+1.2%−97%

68Adair County, KYKY19,423+1.3%−89%

69Bourbon County, KYKY20,243+1.3%+107%

70Henry County, KYKY16,447+1.7%−90%

71Metcalfe County, KYKY10,583+1.9%−85%

72Breckinridge County, KYKY21,503+1.9%−87%

73Logan County, KYKY28,669+2.2%−75%

74Russell County, KYKY18,608+2.4%−78%

75Grayson County, KYKY27,406+2.6%−82%

76Washington County, KYKY12,368+2.6%−42%

77Lawrence County, KYKY15,765+2.7%−76%

78Whitley County, KYKY37,297+3.0%−60%

79Campbell County, KYKY95,441+3.0%−46%

80Pulaski County, KYKY67,384+3.1%−77%

81Allen County, KYKY22,536+3.2%−85%

82Monroe County, KYKY11,191+3.4%+10%

83McCracken County, KYKY67,553+3.5%−16%

84Clark County, KYKY37,888+3.8%−69%

85Owen County, KYKY11,601+4.0%−76%

86Powell County, KYKY12,812+4.1%−69%

87Lyon County, KYKY9,123+4.4%−80%

88Franklin County, KYKY52,649+4.6%−49%

89Larue County, KYKY15,184+4.7%−67%

90Hardin County, KYKY113,482+4.9%−12%

91Meade County, KYKY30,699+4.9%−46%

92Fleming County, KYKY15,787+5.1%−58%

93Barren County, KYKY45,641+5.5%−54%

94Nicholas County, KYKY7,949+5.6%+331%

95Jefferson County, KYKY795,222+5.7%+31%

96Rowan County, KYKY24,476+5.7%−33%

97Kenton County, KYKY175,779+5.9%−12%

98Hart County, KYKY20,117+6.0%−65%

99Montgomery County, KYKY28,822+6.1%−60%

100Mercer County, KYKY23,733+6.1%−30%

101Taylor County, KYKY26,763+6.2%−27%

102Hancock County, KYKY9,050+6.2%−8%

103Laurel County, KYKY63,746+6.4%−70%

104Daviess County, KYKY104,898+6.9%+38%

105Nelson County, KYKY49,036+7.6%−71%

106Boyle County, KYKY31,632+7.7%−4%

107Woodford County, KYKY27,883+7.7%−52%

108Fayette County, KYKY329,751+9.0%−42%

109Jessamine County, KYKY57,147+9.1%−68%

110Bath County, KYKY13,176+10.0%−30%

111Bullitt County, KYKY86,454+10.6%−63%

112Anderson County, KYKY25,225+11.3%−64%

113Madison County, KYKY101,696+11.8%−49%

114Oldham County, KYKY70,986+12.1%−69%

115Simpson County, KYKY20,788+13.1%+57%

116Spencer County, KYKY20,998+14.2%−80%

117Shelby County, KYKY51,243+14.2%−58%

118Boone County, KYKY145,316+14.4%−71%

119Warren County, KYKY149,375+18.2%−12%

120Scott County, KYKY62,262+21.2%−45%

SHOWING 1–120 OF 120

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UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES