Perry County Demographics

A map of Perry County's Population by Race

Perry County, Kentucky has an estimated population of 27,499, a decrease from the 28,473 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 93.7% White, 3.3% Multiracial, 1.7% Black, 0.6% Asian, 0.4% Native American/Other, and 0.2% Hispanic. This demographic dot map shows the population of Perry County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Perry 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 Perry County, that probability was 11.6% in 2020 and 12.1% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Perry County is ranked the 39th most populous county in Kentucky, out of 120 counties. Perry County was ranked the 37th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Perry County's White Population

25,765 residents of Perry County, or 93.7% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Perry County is considerably higher than in Kentucky overall, where 81.5% of the population is White. Perry County ranks 31st statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Perry County's White population has declined by an estimated 3.7%. White residents' share of Perry County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 93.7%.

Perry County is less White than neighboring Leslie County (96.5% White), Knott County (96.7% White), Breathitt County (96% White), Letcher County (96.5% White), and Harlan County (93.9% White).

Perry County's Black Population

470 residents of Perry County, or 1.7% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Perry County is lower than in Kentucky overall, where 7.6% of the population is Black. Perry County ranks 71st statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Perry County's Black population has grown by an estimated 25.7%. Black residents' share of Perry County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.7%.

Perry County is more Black than neighboring Leslie County (0.2% Black), Knott County (1.1% Black), Breathitt County (0.6% Black), Letcher County (0.6% Black), and Harlan County (1.3% Black).

Perry County's Asian Population

165 residents of Perry County, or 0.6% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Perry County is comparable to the share in Kentucky overall, where 1.6% of the population is Asian. Perry County ranks 19th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Perry County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 35.3%. Asian residents' share of Perry County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.6%.

Perry County is more Asian than neighboring Leslie County (0.1% Asian), Knott County (0.2% Asian), Breathitt County (0.3% Asian), Letcher County (0.2% Asian), and Harlan County (0.2% Asian).

Perry County's Hispanic Population

67 residents of Perry County, or 0.2% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Perry County is slightly lower than in Kentucky overall, where 5% of the population is Hispanic. Perry County ranks 113th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Perry County's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 69.7%. Hispanic residents' share of Perry County's population has decreased from 0.8% to 0.2%.

Perry County is more Hispanic than neighboring Leslie County (0.1% Hispanic). Perry County is less Hispanic than neighboring Knott County (0.6% Hispanic), Breathitt County (1.1% Hispanic), Letcher County (0.8% Hispanic), and Harlan County (0.5% Hispanic).

Perry County's Native American/Other Population

112 residents of Perry County, or 0.4% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Perry County is comparable to the share in Kentucky overall, where 0.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Perry County ranks 97th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Perry County's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 38.3%. Native American/Other residents' share of Perry County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.4%.

Perry County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Leslie County (0% Native American/Other), Knott County (0.1% Native American/Other), and Breathitt County (0.2% Native American/Other).

Perry County's Multiracial Population

920 residents of Perry County, or 3.3% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Perry County is comparable to the share in Kentucky overall, where 3.9% of the population is Multiracial. Perry County ranks 78th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Perry County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 15.9%. Multiracial residents' share of Perry County's population has increased from 2.8% to 3.3%.

Perry County is more Multiracial than neighboring Leslie County (3.1% Multiracial), Knott County (1.3% Multiracial), Breathitt County (1.9% Multiracial), and Letcher County (1.5% Multiracial). Perry County is less Multiracial than neighboring Harlan County (3.6% 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.