Warren and Madison counties were Kentucky’s fastest-growing from 2020 to 2025, new census estimates show.
Warren County’s population increased 11% from 2020 to 2025, while Madison’s increased nearly 10%, according to census data.
Warren County added nearly 15,000 residents, the most statewide. Madison, meanwhile, added nearly 9,000 residents, pushing the county’s population over 100,000 for the first time.
Jefferson and Fayette counties remained the state’s most populous, and both added residents.
Eastern Kentucky’s traditional coal-producing counties saw the biggest drops in population, led by Pike County, which shed nearly 4,000 residents. Harlan and Perry counties lost about 2,000 each.
In western Kentucky, Christian County’s population fell by nearly 2,700 residents.
Allen, Spencer and Scott accounted for the rest of the top 5 with the biggest percentage population growth.
Warren and Jefferson boasted the biggest numerical gains. Boone, Madison and Fayette rounded out the top 5.
Jefferson, Fayette, Kenton, Warren and Boone were the five most populous counties in 2025. From 2020 to 2025, Warren surpassed Boone, while Madison surpassed Campbell.
Pike, Christian, Harlan, Perry and Letcher lost the most residents from 2020 to 2025. The steepest percentage drops were in Breathitt, Leslie, Harlan and Letcher, with Perry and Pike tied.
One county was among the top 10 in largest numerical and percentage losses: Western Kentucky’s Union, now the state’s leading coal producer.
As census numbers showed earlier this year, Kentucky gained 100,577 residents from 2020 to 2025, a 2% increase.
Without domestic and international migration, Kentucky’s population would have declined by 18,000 during that time because deaths exceeded births.
