01
Location
Neighboring states: Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia.
Local timeFrankfort ·
U.S. States / South · Card 017
Kentucky
Kentucky is a U.S. state in the South. Its capital is Frankfort.
Find Kentucky
● State capital · Gold highlights Kentucky.
Map: Natural Earth. Neighboring states use postal abbreviations.
Map: Natural Earth. Neighboring states use postal abbreviations.
At a glance
- Capital
- Frankfort
- Postal abbreviation
- KY
- Population
- 4,606,864July 1, 2025 · Census estimate
- Total area
- 104,656 km²40,408 square miles · land and water
- Statehood
- June 1, 1792State number 15
- Currency
- U.S. dollar (USD)
Sources: Census · population · Census · area
Kentucky in context
Gold shows Kentucky. The dot marks Frankfort.
Alaska and Hawaii are shown in separate insets at different scales.Geography & flag
02
Landscape & places
Mammoth Cave protects an extensive underground cave system beneath a landscape of wooded hills and river valleys.
03
Land and water
The total area includes 102,269 km² of land and 2,387 km² of water, according to Census area measurements.
State flag
The state seal and sprays of goldenrod on blue, with Commonwealth of Kentucky above.
Sources: Census · geographic reference · Census · area measurements · National Park Service · Mammoth Cave
History & statehood
Kentucky was formerly part of Virginia. After a series of conventions and negotiations over separation, it entered the Union in 1792. Kentucky is one of four states whose official name uses Commonwealth.
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Statehood · State number 15
-
Boundary dispute with Tennessee resolved
Sources: Congressional Research Service · statehood · U.S. Census Bureau · historical geography · National Park Service
Economy
Main activities
In 2025, manufacturing was the largest of the broad industry groups compared here by current-dollar output. Other major groups included government and government enterprises, real estate and rental and leasing, and educational services, health care, and social assistance.
Total economic output was $306.9 billion in current dollars in 2025.
Largest industry groups · 2025
- Manufacturing: 15.9%
- Government and government enterprises: 11.8%
- Real estate and rental and leasing: 11.6%
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance: 9.9%
Share of total current-dollar GDP. These figures measure output, not employment.
Sources: BEA · annual GDP by state, SAGDP2
Population & economic trends
Population, 2020–2025
Millions of people4.612025 · millions of people
July 1 resident population estimates, using the Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 series.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau
View data table
| Year | People |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 4,508,271 |
| 2021 | 4,508,348 |
| 2022 | 4,521,238 |
| 2023 | 4,549,953 |
| 2024 | 4,584,046 |
| 2025 | 4,606,864 |
Real GDP, 2010–2025
Billions of chained 2017 dollars233.242025 · billions of chained 2017 dollars
Real GDP measures economic output adjusted for inflation. The chart uses BEA’s chained 2017 dollars.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
View data table
| Year | Millions of chained 2017 dollars |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 186,720.6 |
| 2011 | 188,389.8 |
| 2012 | 192,060.1 |
| 2013 | 196,698.0 |
| 2014 | 196,795.8 |
| 2015 | 199,487.1 |
| 2016 | 201,007.2 |
| 2017 | 203,564.0 |
| 2018 | 205,940.1 |
| 2019 | 211,783.1 |
| 2020 | 206,601.9 |
| 2021 | 215,535.0 |
| 2022 | 220,641.8 |
| 2023 | 226,942.4 |
| 2024 | 230,966.4 |
| 2025 | 233,243.1 |
Government
Kentucky has three branches of state government. The governor leads the executive branch. A Senate and House of Representatives form the legislature, which passes state laws and budgets. State courts interpret and apply the law.
Sources: USAGov · Kentucky
Knowledge check
Three questions about Kentucky.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
What is the capital of Kentucky?
Sources & notes
Prepared 27 September 2026. Population: Census Bureau Vintage 2025, July 1 estimates for 2020–2025. Real GDP: BEA annual state accounts, SAGDP9, millions of chained 2017 dollars; industry shares: SAGDP2, current dollars. Data downloaded 27 September 2026. Area measurements include land and water.
Sources: Census · population estimates · BEA · state GDP · Census · area measurements · Natural Earth · map data
The capital clock shows current local time. Statistical figures are dated estimates and may be revised.