How many immigrants are in Kentucky?
Data updated September 19, 2024
About 202K immigrants in 2023. This translates to approximately 4.5% of the population, or roughly 3 in 70 residents in Kentucky. Immigrants are defined as foreign-born residents, which includes people who became US citizens, hold work or student visas, or are undocumented residents.
Showing data for
In 2023
202K
Kentucky residents were foreign-born
In 2023
3 in 70
Kentucky residents were foreign-born
The number of foreign-born residents in Kentucky grew from 149K in 2013 to 202K in 2023. This increase occurred alongside changes in the native-born population due to births, deaths, and people moving. Analyzing the foreign-born share of the total population provides a better view of these demographics. In Kentucky, the foreign-born share of the population was 4.5% in 2023, lower than the US overall at 14.3%, and up from 3.4% in the state since 2013.
In Kentucky, 4.5% of the population was foreign-born in 2023.
Variations in immigrant populations illustrate a changing population landscape in both local areas and the nation as a whole. The largest immigration populations are concentrated in big metro areas. Metro areas in California, Texas, Florida, and parts of the Northeast typically have a higher share of residents that are foreign-born.
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From 2018 to 2022, the metro areas (with data) in the US with the highest and lowest foreign-born population share were: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL at 41.5% foreign-born (highest) and Beckley, WV at 0.9% foreign-born (lowest). The highest and lowest among the metro areas in or connected to Kentucky were: Lexington-Fayette, KY at 7.6% foreign-born (highest) and Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH at 1.2% foreign-born (lowest).
On average, 8.3% of the population in metro areas was foreign-born from 2018 to 2022
Foreign-born share of the population
Average foreign-born share of the population from 2018 to 2022
| 1. | Lexington-Fayette, KY Metro Area | 7.6% |
| 2. | Bowling Green, KY Metro Area | 7.4% |
| 3. | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN Metro Area | 6.5% |
| 4. | Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY Metro Area | 3.2% |
| 5. | Owensboro, KY Metro Area | 2.8% |
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
United States Census Bureau
American Community Survey (ACS)
