Crime in Kentucky: rates, trends and every county

Crime reported to police in Kentucky since 1979 (FBI estimates), and the counts reported by each county's police agencies.

212.1 per 100,0002025. U.S.: 327.6.
1,261.7 per 100,0002025. U.S.: 1,534.8.
127murders2025: 2.8 per 100,000.

Kentucky since 1979

Violent crime rate per 100,000, Kentucky 0141281422562 19801990200020102020

per 100,000 residents.

Property crime rate per 100,000, Kentucky 0854170825623416 19801990200020102020

per 100,000 residents.

Every year, by type of crime
YearViolentRateMurderRobberyAgg. assaultPropertyRateBurglaryVehicle theft
20259,770212.11271,3686,72858,1271,261.77,6808,828
202410,360225.82921,6576,68863,7691,389.89,17910,678
202310,431229.22931,7776,71670,9741,559.710,65112,960
20229,924219.93281,7726,14667,0551,486.011,24410,159
202112,121269.03742,2277,80473,1751,623.713,06311,032
202011,600259.13232,3697,53779,6731,779.515,40711,497
20199,872220.72292,1625,80885,3871,909.215,56710,285
20189,719217.92502,4695,12589,2352,000.317,46210,460
201710,292231.12652,9675,24395,8992,153.220,53510,358
201610,452235.62653,3715,06897,7132,202.720,9329,948
20159,887223.52193,3144,71097,5452,204.622,5267,876
20149,495215.21643,3434,43299,9092,264.223,4266,375
20139,280210.91723,2474,215104,4482,374.026,3316,069
20129,852224.92013,5474,792112,8002,575.529,8776,724
201110,465239.61513,7055,110119,0372,725.932,7506,701
201010,604243.91883,7485,230111,1702,557.330,4436,239
200911,000255.01843,6425,643108,9142,524.629,8806,096
200812,690297.22014,0806,952114,4922,681.829,5567,657
200712,329290.72064,0686,690107,9872,546.027,8208,678
200611,361270.11733,8506,026109,4282,601.727,8679,364
200511,134266.81903,6905,833105,6082,531.026,4588,796
200410,152245.12363,2685,410105,2092,540.225,9028,772
200310,232248.51813,2245,703103,3702,510.126,0348,253
200211,101271.41913,1316,692108,5902,655.126,8919,321
200110,510258.31813,2696,009107,3562,638.526,9648,944
200011,903294.51933,2567,363107,7232,665.225,3089,274
199912,212308.32033,1047,757104,7682,645.125,1808,869
199812,909328.02373,4688,097109,7212,787.627,9989,752
199712,386316.92283,5467,308109,8192,810.126,6389,694
199612,448320.52283,6437,347110,5312,845.826,73610,142
199514,079364.72764,0018,571115,2982,987.028,38910,003
199416,991444.02443,59511,802110,7252,893.328,7188,558
199317,530462.72493,42512,555105,9792,797.028,0418,193
199220,107535.52163,27315,409104,6922,788.127,3788,128
199116,262438.02533,08411,610108,4302,920.329,5767,969
199014,386390.42642,54510,509107,2082,909.128,2647,350
198913,302356.92932,8369,256110,3282,960.230,5268,191
198812,284330.12292,7648,456104,3622,804.730,7476,904
198712,589337.82803,3618,167109,2842,932.231,5717,181
198612,467334.42483,0768,283102,8102,757.830,7257,203
198511,384305.52562,8217,50198,4282,641.728,7397,198
198410,342277.82442,6316,64199,8032,680.729,2346,709
198311,967322.23643,2367,550115,6023,112.636,2867,994
198211,550315.03553,5686,893119,3043,253.437,7368,548
198110,599289.53083,6875,838118,6903,242.038,8938,603
19809,711266.73213,4685,224115,3283,167.137,9019,131
19798,748248.03353,2474,447103,5482,935.932,0829,035

Rates per 100,000 residents.

FBI Crime Data Explorer, estimated crimes. FBI notes: 1996: The state UCR Program was unable to provide complete 1996 offense figures in accordance with UCR guidelines. The 1996 percent changes within the geographic division in which Kentucky is categorized were applied to the valid 1995 state total to generate the 1996 state total. 1997: The state UCR Program was unable to provide complete 1997 offense figures in accordance with UCR guidelines. The 1996 and 1997 percent changes within the geographic division in which Kentucky is categorized were applied to the valid 1996 state total to effect the 1997 state total. 1998: The state UCR Program was unable to provide complete 1998 offense figures in accordance with UCR guidelines. The state total was estimated by using 1997 figures for the nonreporting areas and applying 1997 versus 1998 percentage changes for the division in which Kentucky is located. The estimates for the nonreporting areas were then increased by any actual 1998 crime counts received. 1999: The state UCR Program was unable to provide complete 1999 offense figures in accordance with UCR guidelines. To arrive at the 1999 estimate for Kentucky, the 1998 state total supplied by the state UCR Program was updated using 1999 crime trends for the division in which Kentucky is located. 2000: The state UCR Program was unable to provide complete 2000 offense figures in accordance with UCR guidelines. To arrive at the 2000 estimate for Kentucky, the 1999 state total supplied by the state UCR Program was updated using 2000 crime trends for the division in which Kentucky is located. 2001: The state UCR Program was unable to provide complete 2001 offense figures in accordance with UCR guidelines. To arrive at the 2001 estimate for Kentucky, the 2000 state estimate was updated using 2001 crime trends reported for the East South Central Division. 2002: The state UCR Program was unable to provide complete 2002 offense figures in accordance with UCR guidelines. To obtain the 2002 state crime count, the FBI contacted the state UCR Program, and the state agency was able to provide their latest state total, 2000. Therefore, the 2001 state estimate was updated for inclusion in the 2002 edition of Crime in the United States by using the 2001 crime trends for the division in which the state is located. To derive the 2002 state estimate, the 2002 crime trends for the division were applied to the adjusted 2001 state estimate. 2003: The state UCR Program was unable to provide complete 2002 offense figures in accordance with UCR guidelines. To obtain the 2002 state crime count, the FBI contacted the state UCR Program, and the state agency was able to provide their latest state total, 2000. Therefore, the 2001 state estimate was updated for inclusion in the 2002 edition of Crime in the United States by using the 2001 crime trends for the division in which the state is located. To derive the 2002 state estimate, the 2002 crime trends for the division were applied to the adjusted 2001 state estimate.

By county

CountyYearViolent rateProperty rateAgencies
Adair County202536.2103.52
Allen County202589.3334.72
Anderson County202535.8278.62
Ballard County202578.9671.11
Barren County2025100.3800.23
Bath County20237.7464.52
Bell County2025127.11,429.13
Boone County202598.6840.92
Bourbon County2025127.8786.43
Boyd County2025178.41,080.93
Boyle County202560.2497.74
Bracken County202582.2317.13
Breathitt County202415.5202.02
Breckinridge County202546.7266.24
Bullitt County202572.7743.36
Butler County202539.7127.02
Caldwell County202563.51,278.02
Calloway County202578.9580.12
Campbell County2025100.91,104.310
Carlisle County202562.9125.92
Carroll County2025152.1420.62
Carter County202550.1308.23
Casey County202562.7125.42
Christian County2025205.61,351.04
Clark County2025111.11,327.62
Clay County202525.8283.42
Clinton County202587.3207.32
Crittenden County202544.6345.52
Cumberland County202549.2229.82
Daviess County2025282.81,499.02
Edmonson County202515.7243.12
Elliott County20160.00.01
Estill County202514.3272.33
Fayette County2025226.32,064.11
Fleming County202512.7267.42
Floyd County202546.8160.86
Franklin County2025171.01,039.42
Fulton County202580.31,864.13
Gallatin County2025158.5441.52
Garrard County202592.8338.62
Grant County202530.9378.63
Graves County2025105.8629.22
Grayson County202580.8433.64
Green County202551.5137.32
Greenup County202539.9270.68
Hancock County202533.4155.83
Hardin County2025128.9705.45
Harlan County202544.7158.37
Harrison County202560.8532.42
Hart County202524.9239.13
Henderson County2025220.3978.92
Henry County202524.5214.53
Hickman County2025137.7229.52
Hopkins County202584.1442.93
Jackson County20247.5195.32
Jefferson County2025598.63,311.618
Jessamine County2025129.01,054.63
Johnson County202559.2191.32
Kenton County2025115.8634.013
Knott County20257.552.82
Knox County202584.3387.83
Larue County202598.8395.22
Laurel County202561.4603.42
Lawrence County202557.4376.62
Lee County20250.0246.72
Leslie County202531.452.42
Letcher County20249.888.54
Lewis County202523.4156.12
Lincoln County202594.7299.75
Livingston County202579.6363.81
Logan County202597.6383.35
Lyon County20250.0250.42
Madison County2025156.0829.63
Magoffin County202527.3100.12
Marion County202575.4296.42
Marshall County202537.8753.33
Martin County202225.9112.32
Mason County2025130.21,183.32
McCracken County2025166.11,280.02
McCreary County202511.959.51
McLean County20240.0273.61
Meade County202552.4281.73
Menifee County202547.0172.21
Mercer County2025156.0345.73
Metcalfe County202528.2244.82
Monroe County202536.0161.93
Montgomery County2025110.6791.72
Morgan County202569.3117.72
Muhlenberg County2025102.0296.04
Nelson County202544.7701.63
Nicholas County202425.6153.52
Ohio County202577.9369.14
Oldham County202550.6680.33
Owen County20250.0218.12
Owsley County20230.025.72
Pendleton County202520.2262.03
Perry County202594.9250.62
Pike County202518.3179.34
Powell County202531.1178.63
Pulaski County2025144.9464.55
Robertson County20230.088.51
Rockcastle County202530.8221.44
Rowan County2025105.5478.72
Russell County202580.8215.53
Scott County2025125.9881.24
Shelby County202543.5650.53
Simpson County2023119.01,269.72
Spencer County202537.8260.02
Taylor County202596.3685.12
Todd County2025132.1318.54
Trigg County202441.0621.42
Trimble County20240.091.31
Union County202591.9421.24
Warren County2025137.51,457.74
Washington County2025105.5397.72
Wayne County202586.6295.32
Webster County202531.2304.54
Whitley County202579.9294.22
Wolfe County202547.5126.71
Woodford County202553.7626.71

Each county's latest complete year: crimes to the county's city and county police agencies (FBI Return A), per 100,000 people they serve. A year is shown only when every agency reported the full year and its total is in line with the years around it, so some counties show an older year or are missing. State police and campus crimes aren't included.

What these numbers are

  • FBI figures count crimes to police, from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. National and state totals are FBI , which fill in for agencies that didn't report.
  • 2021 is different: The FBI retired its Summary Reporting System on January 1, 2021 and accepted only NIBRS data for 2021, so agencies covering 77.0% of the population (monthly average) reported that year, against 96.2% in 2019. The FBI's 2021 estimates fill the gap statistically and carry more uncertainty. The switch was to .
  • Many crimes are never reported to police. The asks people directly, so it counts those too; in 2024, about 47.9% of violent victimizations were reported to police.
  • Definitions change: the FBI broadened its definition of rape in 2013, so rape counts before and after aren't comparable. is the largest share of violent crime; is the largest share of property crime.
  • We show the agencies' figures as published and don't credit or blame any official, party or policy for them: crime rises and falls for many reasons that these counts can't separate.

Quick answers

What is the crime rate in Kentucky?
In 2025, 212.1 violent and 1,261.7 property crimes per 100,000 residents in Kentucky (FBI estimates), against 327.6 and 1,534.8 for the U.S.
How many murders were there in Kentucky?
127 in 2025 (FBI estimate), 2.8 per 100,000.

← Crime in the U.S.

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