Population

How many immigrants are in Kentucky?

About 182K in 2021. This represents around 4% of the population, or approximately 2 in 50 residents. Immigrants include foreign-born residents, encompassing those who have become US citizens, those authorized to enter the US, such as for work, and undocumented residents.
Showing data for
In 2021

182K

Kentucky residents were foreign-born
In 2021

2 in 50

Kentucky residents were foreign-born
The number of foreign-born residents in Kentucky increased from 136K in 2011 to 182K in 2021. This growth occurred alongside changes in the native-born population due to births, deaths, and migration. Analyzing the foreign-born share of the total population offers a clearer perspective on these demographics. In 2021, the foreign-born population in Kentucky was 4%, lower than the national average of 13.6%, and up from 3.1% in 2011.

Foreign-born share of the population in Kentucky

Variations in immigrant populations reflect changes in both local and national population landscapes. The largest immigrant populations are found in major metro areas. Metro areas in California, Texas, Florida, and parts of the Northeast generally have a higher proportion of foreign-born residents.

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In 2021, the metro areas in the US with the highest and lowest foreign-born population shares were Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL at 41.2% (highest) and Beckley, WV at 0.8% (lowest). In Kentucky, the metro areas with the highest and lowest foreign-born populations were Lexington-Fayette, KY at 7.6% (highest) and Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH at 1.3% (lowest).

On average, 8.2% of the population in metro areas was foreign-born in 2021

Foreign-born share of the population (2021)

Foreign-born share of the population (2021)

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