Wayne County Demographics

A map of Wayne County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	17,919	17,872	91.4%	91.4%
Hispanic	882	902	4.5%	4.6%
Multiracial	493	443	2.5%	2.3%
Black	239	228	1.2%	1.2%
Native American/Other	63	50	0.3%	0.3%
Asian	6	60	0.0%	0.3%

Wayne County, Kentucky has an estimated population of 19,602, a less than 1% change from the 19,555 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 91.4% White, 4.5% Hispanic, 2.5% Multiracial, 1.2% Black, 0.3% Native American/Other, and 0.0% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Wayne County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Wayne 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 Wayne County, that probability was 16.2% in 2020 and 16.2% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Wayne County is ranked the 62nd most populous county in Kentucky, out of 120 counties. Wayne County was ranked the 60th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Wayne County's White Population

17,919 residents of Wayne County, or 91.4% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Wayne County is higher than in Kentucky overall, where 81.5% of the population is White. Wayne County ranks 62nd statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Wayne County's White population has remained roughly the same. White residents' share of Wayne County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 91.4%.

Wayne County is more White than neighboring McCreary County (88.8% White). Wayne County is less White than neighboring Russell County (91.5% White), Clinton County (93.1% White), Pickett County (94.9% White), and Pulaski County (92.3% White).

Wayne County's Black Population

239 residents of Wayne County, or 1.2% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Wayne County is lower than in Kentucky overall, where 7.6% of the population is Black. Wayne County ranks 74th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Wayne County's Black population has grown by an estimated 4.8%. Black residents' share of Wayne County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.2%.

Wayne County is more Black than neighboring Russell County (1.1% Black), Clinton County (0.1% Black), Pickett County (0.1% Black), and Pulaski County (0.8% Black). Wayne County is less Black than neighboring McCreary County (6.1% Black).

Wayne County's Asian Population

6 residents of Wayne County, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Wayne County is comparable to the share in Kentucky overall, where 1.6% of the population is Asian. Wayne County ranks 62nd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Wayne County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 90.0%. Asian residents' share of Wayne County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Wayne County is less Asian than neighboring Russell County (0.3% Asian), Clinton County (0.4% Asian), McCreary County (0.1% Asian), and Pulaski County (0.8% Asian).

Wayne County's Hispanic Population

882 residents of Wayne County, or 4.5% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Wayne County is comparable to the share in Kentucky overall, where 5% of the population is Hispanic. Wayne County ranks 19th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Wayne County's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 2.2%. Hispanic residents' share of Wayne County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 4.5%.

Wayne County is more Hispanic than neighboring Clinton County (3.4% Hispanic), Pickett County (2.1% Hispanic), McCreary County (2.2% Hispanic), and Pulaski County (3.1% Hispanic). Wayne County is less Hispanic than neighboring Russell County (4.6% Hispanic).

Wayne County's Native American/Other Population

63 residents of Wayne County, or 0.3% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Wayne County is comparable to the share in Kentucky overall, where 0.4% of the population is Native American/Other. Wayne County ranks 102nd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Wayne County's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 26.0%. Native American/Other residents' share of Wayne County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.3%.

Wayne County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Russell County (0.1% Native American/Other), Pickett County (0.1% Native American/Other), McCreary County (0.2% Native American/Other), and Pulaski County (0.2% Native American/Other). Wayne County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Clinton County (0.6% Native American/Other).

Wayne County's Multiracial Population

493 residents of Wayne County, or 2.5% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Wayne County is comparable to the share in Kentucky overall, where 3.9% of the population is Multiracial. Wayne County ranks 97th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 120 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Wayne County's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 11.3%. Multiracial residents' share of Wayne County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.5%.

Wayne County is more Multiracial than neighboring Russell County (2.4% Multiracial), and Clinton County (2.4% Multiracial). Wayne County is less Multiracial than neighboring Pickett County (2.7% Multiracial), McCreary County (2.6% Multiracial), and Pulaski County (2.8% 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.