Share of the population by age and sex, five-year groups

Population of Kentucky, 2010–2025 · click to pick a year
Estimates up to 2019 are built on the 2010 Census, those from 2020 on the 2020 Census. A line that steps up or down between 2019 and 2020 reflects this re-basing, not a sudden change in population.

Year

-5 -1   2021  +1 +5

4,508,348 people lived in Kentucky on July 1, 2021: the 26th-largest population among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. The median age was 39.5 years (United States: 38.9); children (18.7%) and older adults (17.5%) make up similar shares of the population. There were 96.7 men for every 100 women. Since 2010 the population has grown by 3.7%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2025 estimates (resident population on July 1; public domain). Median age, shares, dependency ratios and rankings are calculated by PopulationPyramid.net from these estimates; the Census Bureau does not endorse this site.

Key indicators, 2021
Population
4,508,348
Rank by population
26th of 51
Median age
39.5
Men per 100 women
96.7
Under 15
18.7%
15–64
63.9%
65 and over
17.5%
Child dependency
29.2
Old-age dependency
27.3
Change since 2010
+3.7%
Dependency ratios count children under 15 or adults 65 and over per 100 residents aged 15 to 64.
Show the population by age group, 2021
AgeMenWomenTotalShare
0-4135,799129,647265,4465.9%
5-9144,073136,784280,8576.2%
10-14151,185144,294295,4796.6%
15-19150,467143,439293,9066.5%
20-24151,460147,682299,1426.6%
25-29141,650139,146280,7966.2%
30-34143,019143,811286,8306.4%
35-39140,077141,044281,1216.2%
40-44140,164141,495281,6596.2%
45-49134,798135,581270,3796.0%
50-54141,315144,494285,8096.3%
55-59146,622154,773301,3956.7%
60-64143,135155,647298,7826.6%
65-69123,961138,819262,7805.8%
70-74101,934118,042219,9764.9%
75-7962,40976,862139,2713.1%
80-8436,86051,03187,8911.9%
85+26,96649,86376,8291.7%
How Kentucky compares with similar-sized states, 2021
RankStateResidentsRelative
23 South Carolina 5,194,346
24 Alabama 5,050,058
25 Louisiana 4,628,595
26 Kentucky 4,508,348
27 Oregon 4,254,691
28 Oklahoma 3,992,760
29 Connecticut 3,607,765
Frequently asked questions about Kentucky's population
What is the population of Kentucky?
Kentucky had an estimated 4,508,348 residents on July 1, 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program. That ranks 26th among the 51 states and the District of Columbia.
What is the median age in Kentucky?
The median age in Kentucky was 39.5 years in 2021, the 20th oldest of the 51 states and DC. That is 0.6 years older than the national median of 38.9.
How many people in Kentucky are 65 or older?
About 786,747 residents of Kentucky (17.5%) were 65 or older in 2021, against 18.7% under 15 and 63.9% aged 15 to 64.
What does the population pyramid of Kentucky show?
In 2021, Kentucky: children (18.7%) and older adults (17.5%) make up similar shares of the population. There were 96.7 men for every 100 women.
How fast is the population of Kentucky changing?
The population of Kentucky grew by 3.7% between 2010 and 2021, and by 0.0% in the last year.
More pyramids
All US states Population pyramid of the United States AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyoming