Data / Rankings / Establishment exit rate / Counties in Kentucky

Counties in Kentucky by establishment exit rate

Breathitt County had the highest establishment exit rate of 116 counties in 2020, at 14.511%. Lewis County had the lowest, at 4.184%. The median was 7.875% and the figure for Kentucky was 8.061%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest14.511Breathitt County
Lowest4.184Lewis County
Median7.875116 counties
Kentucky8.061History

Map of counties, 2020

Adair County: 7.797 %Allen County: 7.852 %Anderson County: 9.539 %Ballard County: 11.336 %Barren County: 6.39 %Bath County: 9.402 %Bell County: 5.828 %Boone County: 8.321 %Bourbon County: 8.368 %Boyd County: 7.73 %Boyle County: 7.22 %Bracken County: 8.092 %Breathitt County: 14.511 %Breckinridge County: 7.073 %Bullitt County: 10.372 %Butler County: 7.58 %Caldwell County: 13.78 %Calloway County: 6.888 %Campbell County: 8.034 %Carlisle County: 6.289 %Carroll County: 6.118 %Carter County: 8.075 %Casey County: 6.404 %Christian County: 8.932 %Clark County: 9.052 %Clay County: 6.378 %Clinton County: 7.122 %Crittenden County: 13.378 %Cumberland County: 6.931 %Daviess County: 7.53 %Edmonson County: 12.5 %Elliott County: 12.821 %Estill County: 8.075 %Fayette County: 7.889 %Fleming County: 5.742 %Floyd County: 10.658 %Franklin County: 6.708 %Fulton County: 7.905 %Gallatin County: 4.494 %Garrard County: 6.983 %Grant County: 7.306 %Graves County: 6.557 %Grayson County: 7.205 %Green County: 5.96 %Greenup County: 7.776 %Hancock County: 6.25 %Hardin County: 7.057 %Harlan County: 10.714 %Harrison County: 6.68 %Hart County: 5.439 %Henderson County: 8.511 %Henry County: 11.196 %Hickman County: 10.526 %Hopkins County: 10.331 %Jefferson County: 8.045 %Jessamine County: 7.28 %Johnson County: 7.879 %Kenton County: 7.707 %Knott County: 12.081 %Knox County: 5.833 %Larue County: 9.302 %Laurel County: 8.841 %Lawrence County: 7.335 %Lee County: 7.65 %Leslie County: 9.89 %Letcher County: 10.275 %Lewis County: 4.184 %Lincoln County: 9.89 %Livingston County: 7.547 %Logan County: 7.285 %Lyon County: 12.5 %McCracken County: 8.948 %McCreary County: 11.684 %McLean County: 9.772 %Madison County: 9.56 %Magoffin County: 11.636 %Marion County: 4.87 %Marshall County: 8.481 %Martin County: 11.667 %Mason County: 7.035 %Meade County: 6.139 %Mercer County: 8.917 %Metcalfe County: 5.714 %Monroe County: 7.874 %Montgomery County: 8.065 %Morgan County: 4.828 %Muhlenberg County: 12.663 %Nelson County: 6.966 %Nicholas County: 5.714 %Ohio County: 7.375 %Oldham County: 10.423 %Owen County: 10.762 %Pendleton County: 10.526 %Perry County: 8.333 %Pike County: 9.217 %Powell County: 7.792 %Pulaski County: 7.245 %Rockcastle County: 6.286 %Rowan County: 9.277 %Russell County: 8.065 %Scott County: 6.831 %Shelby County: 7.876 %Simpson County: 9.383 %Spencer County: 10.101 %Taylor County: 6.673 %Todd County: 9.809 %Trigg County: 13.043 %Trimble County: 8.955 %Union County: 6.087 %Warren County: 7.373 %Washington County: 6.321 %Wayne County: 5.098 %Webster County: 5.82 %Whitley County: 7.665 %Wolfe County: 6.944 %Woodford County: 8.872 %
  • Under 6.3
  • 6.3 to 7.2
  • 7.2 to 7.9
  • 7.9 to 8.9
  • 8.9 to 10
  • 10 and over
  • No data
%, 2020. Hatched areas have no value for this period. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2020

Breathitt County: 14.511 %Breathitt County14.511Caldwell County: 13.78 %Caldwell County13.78Crittenden County: 13.378 %Crittenden County13.378Trigg County: 13.043 %Trigg County13.043Elliott County: 12.821 %Elliott County12.821Muhlenberg County: 12.663 %Muhlenberg County12.663Edmonson County: 12.5 %Edmonson County12.5Lyon County: 12.5 %Lyon County12.5Knott County: 12.081 %Knott County12.081McCreary County: 11.684 %McCreary County11.684Martin County: 11.667 %Martin County11.667Magoffin County: 11.636 %Magoffin County11.636Ballard County: 11.336 %Ballard County11.336Henry County: 11.196 %Henry County11.196Owen County: 10.762 %Owen County10.762Harlan County: 10.714 %Harlan County10.714Floyd County: 10.658 %Floyd County10.658Hickman County: 10.526 %Hickman County10.526Pendleton County: 10.526 %Pendleton County10.526Oldham County: 10.423 %Oldham County10.423Bullitt County: 10.372 %Bullitt County10.372Hopkins County: 10.331 %Hopkins County10.331Letcher County: 10.275 %Letcher County10.275Spencer County: 10.101 %Spencer County10.101Leslie County: 9.89 %Leslie County9.89Lincoln County: 9.89 %Lincoln County9.89Todd County: 9.809 %Todd County9.809McLean County: 9.772 %McLean County9.772Madison County: 9.56 %Madison County9.56Anderson County: 9.539 %Anderson County9.539Bath County: 9.402 %Bath County9.402Simpson County: 9.383 %Simpson County9.383Larue County: 9.302 %Larue County9.302Rowan County: 9.277 %Rowan County9.277Pike County: 9.217 %Pike County9.217Clark County: 9.052 %Clark County9.052Trimble County: 8.955 %Trimble County8.955McCracken County: 8.948 %McCracken County8.948Christian County: 8.932 %Christian County8.932Mercer County: 8.917 %Mercer County8.917Breathitt County: 14.511 %Breathitt County14.511Caldwell County: 13.78 %Caldwell County13.78Crittenden County: 13.378 %Crittenden County13.378Trigg County: 13.043 %Trigg County13.043Elliott County: 12.821 %Elliott County12.821Muhlenberg County: 12.663 %Muhlenberg County12.663Edmonson County: 12.5 %Edmonson County12.5Lyon County: 12.5 %Lyon County12.5Knott County: 12.081 %Knott County12.081McCreary County: 11.684 %McCreary County11.684Martin County: 11.667 %Martin County11.667Magoffin County: 11.636 %Magoffin County11.636Ballard County: 11.336 %Ballard County11.336Henry County: 11.196 %Henry County11.196Owen County: 10.762 %Owen County10.762Harlan County: 10.714 %Harlan County10.714Floyd County: 10.658 %Floyd County10.658Hickman County: 10.526 %Hickman County10.526Pendleton County: 10.526 %Pendleton County10.526Oldham County: 10.423 %Oldham County10.423Bullitt County: 10.372 %Bullitt County10.372Hopkins County: 10.331 %Hopkins County10.331Letcher County: 10.275 %Letcher County10.275Spencer County: 10.101 %Spencer County10.101Leslie County: 9.89 %Leslie County9.89Lincoln County: 9.89 %Lincoln County9.89Todd County: 9.809 %Todd County9.809McLean County: 9.772 %McLean County9.772Madison County: 9.56 %Madison County9.56Anderson County: 9.539 %Anderson County9.539Bath County: 9.402 %Bath County9.402Simpson County: 9.383 %Simpson County9.383Larue County: 9.302 %Larue County9.302Rowan County: 9.277 %Rowan County9.277Pike County: 9.217 %Pike County9.217Clark County: 9.052 %Clark County9.052Trimble County: 8.955 %Trimble County8.955McCracken County: 8.948 %McCracken County8.948Christian County: 8.932 %Christian County8.932Mercer County: 8.917 %Mercer County8.917
%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2020 (%)Change on 2019
1Breathitt County14.511+6.13 pts
2Caldwell County13.78+7.63 pts
3Crittenden County13.378+3.12 pts
4Trigg County13.043+5.58 pts
5Elliott County12.821+0.32 pts
6Muhlenberg County12.663+4.35 pts
7Edmonson County12.5+2.03 pts
7Lyon County12.5+4.83 pts
9Knott County12.081+4.21 pts
10McCreary County11.684+1.62 pts
11Martin County11.667+4.44 pts
12Magoffin County11.636+3.69 pts
13Ballard County11.336+3.9 pts
14Henry County11.196-1.15 pts
15Owen County10.762+4.48 pts
16Harlan County10.714+5.3 pts
17Floyd County10.658+2.71 pts
18Hickman County10.526n/a
18Pendleton County10.526+2.58 pts
20Oldham County10.423+2.75 pts
21Bullitt County10.372+2.71 pts
22Hopkins County10.331+3.49 pts
23Letcher County10.275-1.85 pts
24Spencer County10.101+0.28 pts
25Leslie County9.89+0.37 pts
25Lincoln County9.89+1.51 pts
27Todd County9.809+1.41 pts
28McLean County9.772+1.67 pts
29Madison County9.56+2.2 pts
30Anderson County9.539+1.4 pts
31Bath County9.402+2.62 pts
32Simpson County9.383+2.21 pts
33Larue County9.302+2.58 pts
34Rowan County9.277+1.01 pts
35Pike County9.217+2.53 pts
36Clark County9.052+4.77 pts
37Trimble County8.955-1.41 pts
38McCracken County8.948+2.78 pts
39Christian County8.932+2.03 pts
40Mercer County8.917-0.01 pts
41Woodford County8.872+3.78 pts
42Laurel County8.841+1.15 pts
43Henderson County8.511+2.7 pts
44Marshall County8.481+2.89 pts
45Bourbon County8.368+0.86 pts
46Perry County8.333+2.73 pts
47Boone County8.321+1.65 pts
48Bracken County8.092+0.86 pts
49Carter County8.075+0.52 pts
49Estill County8.075+1.43 pts
51Montgomery County8.065+1.2 pts
51Russell County8.065+0.13 pts
53Jefferson County8.045+0.23 pts
54Campbell County8.034+0.17 pts
55Fulton County7.905+1.7 pts
56Fayette County7.889+0.16 pts
57Johnson County7.879-0.36 pts
58Shelby County7.876+2.26 pts
59Monroe County7.874+3.2 pts
60Allen County7.852+1.25 pts
61Adair County7.797+2.88 pts
62Powell County7.792-3.62 pts
63Greenup County7.776-2.83 pts
64Boyd County7.73+0.31 pts
65Kenton County7.707-0.11 pts
66Whitley County7.665+1.62 pts
67Lee County7.65+2.27 pts
68Butler County7.58+3.44 pts
69Livingston County7.547-6.19 pts
70Daviess County7.53+1.02 pts
71Ohio County7.375-2.06 pts
72Warren County7.373+0.2 pts
73Lawrence County7.335+0.77 pts
74Grant County7.306-3.77 pts
75Logan County7.285+2.26 pts
76Jessamine County7.28+0.35 pts
77Pulaski County7.245+1.17 pts
78Boyle County7.22+0.74 pts
79Grayson County7.205-0.15 pts
80Clinton County7.122+1.27 pts
81Breckinridge County7.073-2.87 pts
82Hardin County7.057+0.04 pts
83Mason County7.035+1.31 pts
84Garrard County6.983-4.6 pts
85Nelson County6.966-1.04 pts
86Wolfe County6.944+1.06 pts
87Cumberland County6.931-0.91 pts
88Calloway County6.888+0.29 pts
89Scott County6.831-0.32 pts
90Franklin County6.708+0.89 pts
91Harrison County6.68+0.32 pts
92Taylor County6.673+0.59 pts
93Graves County6.557-0.29 pts
94Casey County6.404-2.96 pts
95Barren County6.39-1.08 pts
96Clay County6.378-2.84 pts
97Washington County6.321+2.21 pts
98Carlisle County6.289-6.21 pts
99Rockcastle County6.286-1.76 pts
100Hancock County6.25+2.11 pts
101Meade County6.139-0.14 pts
102Carroll County6.118+1.36 pts
103Union County6.087+0.01 pts
104Green County5.96-0.29 pts
105Knox County5.833-2.26 pts
106Bell County5.828-1.17 pts
107Webster County5.82-3.6 pts
108Fleming County5.742-4.61 pts
109Metcalfe County5.714+0.91 pts
109Nicholas County5.714-3.04 pts
111Hart County5.439-1.75 pts
112Wayne County5.098-0.37 pts
113Marion County4.87-3.29 pts
114Morgan County4.828-4.89 pts
115Gallatin County4.494-4.6 pts
116Lewis County4.184-1.03 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

Establishments that closed during the year (employees a year earlier and none in March of the year), as a percentage of the average number of establishments in the two years. United States: Census Bureau Business Dynamics Statistics.

Counts closed locations, including branches of firms that keep operating elsewhere, so it is not a firm failure rate. Not comparable with enterprise_death_rate, which counts enterprise deaths in Europe. The year is the twelve months to March: 2023 compares March 2022 with March 2023.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. 4 counties with data in other periods have no value for 2020 and are left out rather than filled from another source. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2025). Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010 (Counties in Kentucky by establishment exit rate, 2020) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv

MLA 9

Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010, Counties in Kentucky by establishment exit rate, 2020. U.S. Census Bureau, 25 Sept. 2025, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/establishment-exit-rate/kentucky-counties?period=2020. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2025. Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Counties in Kentucky by establishment exit rate, 2020. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/establishment-exit-rate/kentucky-counties?period=2020.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2025) Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010, Counties in Kentucky by establishment exit rate, 2020 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/establishment-exit-rate/kentucky-counties?period=2020 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_kentucky_by_2020,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010: Counties in Kentucky by establishment exit rate, 2020}},
  year = {2025},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/establishment-exit-rate/kentucky-counties?period=2020. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023\_st\_cty.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010: Counties in Kentucky by establishment exit rate, 2020
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/09/25
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/establishment-exit-rate/kentucky-counties?period=2020
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/establishment-exit-rate/kentucky-counties?period=2020.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
Embed this chart

Paste this code into a web page or a blog post. The chart shows the latest figures as they are published, with the source and a link back to this page.

Sites that read oEmbed links, such as WordPress, can show the chart when you paste the link to this page.

Use this data in your AI agent

Invokely serves this figure to AI assistants through MCP and to code through a REST API, with the source and citation attached. Ask your assistant:

Rank Counties in Kentucky by establishment exit rate using official data, and cite the source.
rank_places {"indicator":"establishment_exit_rate","level":"province","within":"Kentucky","limit":10}
GET https://invokely.ai/api/v1/rank?indicator=establishment_exit_rate&level=province&within=Kentucky&limit=10

Connect Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor in one step. The trial answers 25 calls a day without an account.

Questions

Which county has the highest establishment exit rate?

Breathitt County, with 14.511% in 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest establishment exit rate?

Lewis County, with 4.184% in 2020.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Retrieved 2026-10-12. 4 counties have no value for 2020 and are not ranked.

Establishment exit rate: other rankings

Counties in Kentucky: more rankings