Leslie County Demographics

A map of Leslie County's Population by Race

Leslie County, Kentucky has an estimated population of 10,079, a decrease from the 10,513 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 96.5% White, 3.1% Multiracial, 0.2% Black, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% Hispanic, and 0.0% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Leslie County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Leslie is about as racially diverse as it was in the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Kentucky overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Leslie County, that probability was 6.4% in 2020 and 6.8% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Leslie County is ranked the 99th most populous county in Kentucky, out of 120 counties. Leslie County was ranked the 98th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Leslie County's White Population

9,727 residents of Leslie County, or 96.5% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Leslie County is considerably higher than in Kentucky overall, where 81.5% of the population is White. Leslie County ranks 4th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Leslie County's White population has declined by an estimated 4.4%. White residents' share of Leslie County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 96.5%.

Leslie County is more White than neighboring Perry County (93.7% White), Harlan County (93.9% White), Clay County (91.3% White), Breathitt County (96% White), and Owsley County (95.5% White).

Leslie County's Black Population

20 residents of Leslie County, or 0.2% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Leslie County is lower than in Kentucky overall, where 7.6% of the population is Black. Leslie County ranks 106th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Leslie County's Black population has declined by an estimated 48.7%. Black residents' share of Leslie County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.2%.

Leslie County is more Black than neighboring Owsley County (0% Black). Leslie County is less Black than neighboring Perry County (1.7% Black), Harlan County (1.3% Black), Clay County (3.9% Black), and Breathitt County (0.6% Black).

Leslie County's Asian Population

10 residents of Leslie County, or 0.1% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Leslie County is comparable to the share in Kentucky overall, where 1.6% of the population is Asian. Leslie County ranks 98th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Leslie County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 33.3%. Asian residents' share of Leslie County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.1%.

Leslie County is less Asian than neighboring Perry County (0.6% Asian), Harlan County (0.2% Asian), Breathitt County (0.3% Asian), and Owsley County (0.2% Asian).

Leslie County's Hispanic Population

11 residents of Leslie County, or 0.1% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Leslie County is slightly lower than in Kentucky overall, where 5% of the population is Hispanic. Leslie County ranks 115th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Leslie County's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 84.7%. Hispanic residents' share of Leslie County's population has decreased from 0.7% to 0.1%.

Leslie County is less Hispanic than neighboring Perry County (0.2% Hispanic), Harlan County (0.5% Hispanic), Clay County (2.1% Hispanic), and Breathitt County (1.1% Hispanic).

Leslie County's Native American/Other Population

0 residents of Leslie County, or 0.0% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Leslie County is comparable to the share in Kentucky overall, where 0.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Leslie County ranks 113th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Leslie County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 100.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Leslie County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Leslie County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Perry County (0.4% Native American/Other), Harlan County (0.4% Native American/Other), Clay County (0.2% Native American/Other), and Breathitt County (0.2% Native American/Other).

Leslie County's Multiracial Population

311 residents of Leslie County, or 3.1% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Leslie County is comparable to the share in Kentucky overall, where 3.9% of the population is Multiracial. Leslie County ranks 113th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Leslie County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 57.1%. Multiracial residents' share of Leslie County's population has increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

Leslie County is more Multiracial than neighboring Clay County (2.5% Multiracial), and Breathitt County (1.9% Multiracial). Leslie County is less Multiracial than neighboring Perry County (3.3% Multiracial), Harlan County (3.6% Multiracial), and Owsley County (4.3% 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.