Kay County Demographics

A map of Kay County's Population by Race

Kay County, Oklahoma has an estimated population of 43,625, a less than 1% change from the 43,700 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 71.2% White, 9.7% Multiracial, 9.0% Hispanic, 7.8% Native American/Other, 1.8% Black, and 0.5% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Kay County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Kay has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Oklahoma overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Kay County, that probability was 48.0% in 2020 and 46.9% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Kay County is ranked the 22nd most populous county in Oklahoma, out of 77 counties. Kay County was ranked the 22nd most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Kay County's White Population

31,058 residents of Kay County, or 71.2% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Kay County is higher than in Oklahoma overall, where 62.1% of the population is White. Kay County ranks 29th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 77 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Kay County's White population has grown by an estimated 1.1%. White residents' share of Kay County's population has increased from 70.3% to 71.2%.

Kay County is less White than neighboring Noble County (79% White), Cowley County (76.9% White), Sumner County (86.5% White), Grant County (85.2% White), and Pawnee County (74.3% White).

Kay County's Black Population

777 residents of Kay County, or 1.8% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Kay County is slightly lower than in Oklahoma overall, where 6.8% of the population is Black. Kay County ranks 42nd statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 77 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Kay County's Black population has declined by an estimated 9.2%. Black residents' share of Kay County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.8%.

Kay County is more Black than neighboring Noble County (0.3% Black), Sumner County (1.1% Black), and Pawnee County (0.8% Black). Kay County is less Black than neighboring Cowley County (2.4% Black), and Grant County (1.9% Black).

Kay County's Asian Population

210 residents of Kay County, or 0.5% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Kay County is comparable to the share in Oklahoma overall, where 2.4% of the population is Asian. Kay County ranks 29th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 77 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Kay County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 17.0%. Asian residents' share of Kay County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.5%.

Kay County is more Asian than neighboring Noble County (0.2% Asian), Sumner County (0.4% Asian), and Grant County (0.1% Asian). Kay County is less Asian than neighboring Cowley County (1.5% Asian).

Kay County's Hispanic Population

3,932 residents of Kay County, or 9.0% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Kay County is slightly lower than in Oklahoma overall, where 12.7% of the population is Hispanic. Kay County ranks 30th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 77 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Kay County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 7.7%. Hispanic residents' share of Kay County's population has increased from 8.4% to 9.0%.

Kay County is more Hispanic than neighboring Noble County (4.7% Hispanic), Sumner County (6.1% Hispanic), Grant County (4.7% Hispanic), and Pawnee County (3.9% Hispanic). Kay County is less Hispanic than neighboring Cowley County (12.2% Hispanic).

Kay County's Native American/Other Population

3,395 residents of Kay County, or 7.8% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Kay County is comparable to the share in Oklahoma overall, where 7.1% of the population is Native American/Other. Kay County ranks 34th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 77 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Kay County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 24.2%. Native American/Other residents' share of Kay County's population has decreased from 10.2% to 7.8%.

Kay County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Noble County (6.2% Native American/Other), Cowley County (1.7% Native American/Other), Sumner County (1.2% Native American/Other), and Grant County (2.6% Native American/Other). Kay County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Pawnee County (9.7% Native American/Other).

Kay County's Multiracial Population

4,253 residents of Kay County, or 9.7% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Kay County is comparable to the share in Oklahoma overall, where 8.9% of the population is Multiracial. Kay County ranks 46th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 77 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Kay County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 13.9%. Multiracial residents' share of Kay County's population has increased from 8.5% to 9.7%.

Kay County is more Multiracial than neighboring Cowley County (5.3% Multiracial), Sumner County (4.7% Multiracial), and Grant County (5.5% Multiracial). Kay County is less Multiracial than neighboring Pawnee County (10.7% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.