Race and Ethnicity in Kentucky 2024

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Kentucky Population by Race and Ethnicity

Kentucky the 26th largest U.S. state by population has a racially and ethnically diverse population. As of 2020, White (Non-Hispanic) are the largest group in Kentucky followed by African Americans.

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Ethnic and Racial Percentage

In 2020, the White alone (non-Hispanic) population was the largest racial or ethnic group in Kentucky, comprising 81.33% of the total population. It was followed by the Black or African American population whose share was 7.94.

Hispanic or Latino was the third largest group at 4.61%. Two or more races are at 3.89% & Asian population was at 1.64 %

The ethnic composition of Kentucky is as follows

Origin and Race	Actual Population	Percentage 2020
White alone	3,664,764	81.33%
Black or African American alone	357,764	7.94%
Hispanic or Latino	207,854	4.61%
Two or more races:	175,363	3.89%
Asian alone	73,843	1.64%
Some Other Race alone	14,706	0.33%
American Indians and Alaska Native alone	8,080	0.18%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islanders	3,462	0.08%
Total	4,505,836

Source: US Census 2020

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*US Census recognized five racial categories (White, Black or African American, Asian American, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander) as well as people of two or more races. It also classified respondents as "Hispanic or Latino" or "Not Hispanic or Latino", identifying Hispanic and Latino as an ethnicity (not a race), which comprises the largest minority group in the nation.

Ancestry in Kentucky

As per Census Studies and estimate American, German, Irish, English, and Italian have made the five largest ancestry groups in Kentucky.

In 2020, 13.8% of the population considered themselves to be of only American ancestry (regardless of race or ethnicity). Many of these were of English, Scotch-Irish or European descent; however, their families have lived in the state for so long they choose to identify as having “American” ancestry or do not know their ancestry.

The Largest Ancestry in Kentucky is as follows

#	ANCESTRY	Estimate	Percentage
1	American	615,108	13.8%
2	German	551,705	12.3%
3	Irish	481,894	10.8%
4	English	439,863	9.8%
5	Italian	88,081	2.0%
6	Scottish	81,603	1.8%
7	French (except Basque)	66,076	1.5%
8	Scotch-Irish	57,437	1.3%
9	Polish	42,559	1.0%
10	Subsaharan African	38,745	0.9%
11	Dutch	37,729	0.8%
12	Welsh	26,122	0.6%
13	Arab	17,354	0.4%
14	Norwegian	15,833	0.4%
15	Swedish	12,859	0.3%
16	French Canadian	11,840	0.3%
17	Russian	11,662	0.3%
18	Swiss	10,850	0.2%
19	Greek	7,447	0.2%
20	West Indian	6,653	0.1%
21	Hungarian	6,413	0.1%
22	Portuguese	5,197	0.1%
23	Ukrainian	5,134	0.1%
24	Danish	4,861	0.1%
25	Czech	3,869	0.1%
26	Lithuanian	2,257	0.1%
27	Slovak	2,097	0.0%

Source: US Census 2020

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European Ancestry in Kentucky

Non-Hispanics Whites account for nearly 81.33% of Kentucky’s population. German, Irish, English, and Italian Americans have made up the largest European ancestry groups in Kentucky. As per the Census report, German Americans made up 12.3% of the population and numbered 551,705 members. Irish Americans made up 10.8% of the population and number over 481,894

English Americans made up 9.8% of the population and numbered close to 439,863 followed by Italian ancestry at 2.0% of the population and numbered close to 88,081.

Besides them, Europeans who make good numbers are Scottish (1.8%). French (1.5%), Polish (1%), and Dutch (0.8%)

African Americans in Kentucky

As of 2020, those of African ancestry accounted for 9.94% of Kentucky’s population. About 44.2% of Kentucky’s African American population is in Jefferson County and 52% are in the Louisville Metro Area. Other areas with high concentrations, besides Christian and Fulton Counties, are the city of Paducah, the Bluegrass, and the city of Lexington

Hispanics and Latinos in Kentucky

Hispanics and Latinos are the third-largest groups in Kentucky after non-Hispanic white and African Americans. Around 4.61% of Kentucky’s Population claim Hispanic or Latin American ethnicity. Kentucky has the 38th largest Latino population. Mexican at 58% are the largest group followed by Puerto Rican (18%), Cuban (8%), and Dominican (1%), and the rest are Others.

Asian Americans in Kentucky

Asian Americans are a sizable minority group in Kentucky. Americans of Asian descent formed 1.64% percent of the population. Its ethnic Asian population has grown rapidly since the late 1990s; the majority are Indians, Filipinos, Vietnamese, and ethnic Chinese.

Native Americans in Kentucky

Native Americans are a smaller minority in the state. Native Americans made up 0.18% of Kentucky’s population and number over 3,462 individuals as of 2020.

Pacific Islanders in Kentucky

Americans with origins from the Pacific Islands are the smallest minority in Kentucky. They made up 0.08 percent of Kentucky’s population and number over 3,462 individuals as of 2020.

Multi-Race in Kentucky

Multiracial individuals are also a visible minority in Kentucky. People identifying as multiracial form 3.89% percent of the population, and number around 175,363 people.

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Sources

Race and Ethnicity in Kentucky 2024 | Ancestry in Kentucky