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Which counties in Kentucky are losing population?

47 of the 120 counties in Kentucky had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020. Breathitt County lost the largest share, down 8.3% (−1,143 people). Pike County lost the most residents (−3,738).

Of the 47 counties that lost residents between 2020 and 2025, the largest factor was natural change (more deaths than births) in 42 and net domestic migration (more residents moving to other U.S. counties than arriving) in 5 (Census Bureau components of population change).

Data as of 2025 · updated

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All 47 Kentucky counties that lost residents

Counties losing population in Kentucky
RankCountyChange 2020–25Residents lost 2020–25Residents 2025Largest factor 2020–25
1Breathitt County−8.3%−1,14312,558Domestic migration (−657)
2Leslie County−8.1%−8439,627Natural change (−427)
3Harlan County−7.6%−2,02724,725Natural change (−1,187)
4Letcher County−7.0%−1,51319,952Natural change (−996)
5Perry County−6.4%−1,81526,555Natural change (−919)
6Pike County−6.4%−3,73854,721Natural change (−2,343)
7Knott County−5.9%−84213,321Natural change (−705)
8Union County−5.9%−80512,839Domestic migration (−499)
9Martin County−4.9%−55510,697Natural change (−355)
10Bell County−4.8%−1,15222,829Natural change (−1,040)
11Fulton County−4.5%−2926,218Natural change (−241)
12Magoffin County−4.3%−49611,110Natural change (−283)
13Clay County−4.2%−84319,465Natural change (−569)
14Wolfe County−4.0%−2626,298Natural change (−294)
15Floyd County−3.9%−1,40434,401Natural change (−1,481)
16Christian County−3.6%−2,63770,115Domestic migration (−6,130)
17Hickman County−3.4%−1564,372Natural change (−261)
18Lawrence County−3.3%−53515,765Natural change (−515)
19Johnson County−2.6%−59722,051Natural change (−710)
20Owsley County−2.5%−1023,932Natural change (−206)
21Powell County−2.2%−28612,812Natural change (−303)
22Knox County−2.2%−65429,532Natural change (−690)
23Crittenden County−2.2%−1958,807Natural change (−157)
24Greenup County−1.9%−67235,213Natural change (−1,161)
25Carter County−1.7%−46526,149Natural change (−860)
26Ballard County−1.5%−1187,594Natural change (−278)
27Lewis County−1.4%−18712,901Natural change (−225)
28Estill County−1.4%−19413,962Natural change (−612)
29Carlisle County−1.2%−604,747Natural change (−145)
30Mason County−1.2%−19916,936Natural change (−302)
31Monroe County−1.1%−12411,191Natural change (−255)
32Clinton County−1.0%−929,139Natural change (−204)
33Rowan County−1.0%−23824,476Domestic migration (−185)
34Boyd County−1.0%−45847,751Natural change (−1,307)
35Henderson County−0.9%−42244,255Natural change (−393)
36Elliott County−0.9%−687,265Natural change (−167)
37Lee County−0.9%−687,297Natural change (−322)
38Muhlenberg County−0.9%−27030,634Natural change (−596)
39McLean County−0.8%−709,064Natural change (−245)
40Webster County−0.7%−9212,929Domestic migration (−185)
41Hancock County−0.6%−549,050Natural change (−79)
42McCracken County−0.5%−37067,553Natural change (−1,257)
43Hopkins County−0.5%−24245,127Natural change (−900)
44Bourbon County−0.3%−5620,243Natural change (−328)
45Caldwell County−0.3%−3312,609Natural change (−120)
46Marshall County−0.1%−3031,659Natural change (−926)
47Livingston County−0.1%−88,863Natural change (−283)

How this is ranked

Counties whose Census Bureau resident population estimate for July 1, 2025 is lower than for July 1, 2020, steepest percentage decline first. The largest factor is the most negative of natural change (births minus deaths), net domestic migration and net international migration over the same years (Census Bureau components of population change). Counties with fewer than 1,000 residents, or without a figure for the same period as the others, are left out, as on every ranking.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025). Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how ranks and figures are built. More on every layer: data sources and licences.

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Questions

Which county in Kentucky is losing population fastest?

Breathitt County: down 8.3% between 2020 and 2025, to 12,558 residents (−1,143 people; Census Bureau population estimates). Next: Leslie County (−8.1%) and Harlan County (−7.6%).

How many counties in Kentucky are losing population?

47 of the 120 counties in Kentucky had fewer residents in 2025 than in 2020; the other 73 grew or held steady.

Why are counties in Kentucky losing population?

Of the 47 counties that lost residents between 2020 and 2025, the largest factor was natural change (more deaths than births) in 42 and net domestic migration (more residents moving to other U.S. counties than arriving) in 5 (Census Bureau components of population change).

More county rankings for Kentucky

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