Elizabeth Fernandez | Moment | Getty Images
Kentucky Score and Ranking
| CATEGORY | 2026 SCORE | 2026 RANK | 2025 RANK | 2026 GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INFRASTRUCTURE | 242 | 17 | 36 | B- |
| ECONOMY | 183 | 37 | 34 | D+ |
| WORKFORCE | 188 | 22 | 25 | C- |
| QUALITY OF LIFE | 143 | 30 | 33 | C |
| COST OF DOING BUSINESS | 187 | 10 | 9 | B+ |
| TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION | 115 | 29 | 31 | C |
| BUSINESS FRIENDLINESS | 104 | 32 | 16 | C- |
| ACCESS TO CAPITAL | 47 | 31 | 35 | C- |
| EDUCATION | 49 | 25 | 26 | C |
| COST OF LIVING | 32 | 14 | 20 | B+ |
| OVERALL | 1290 | 27 | 25 |
Economic Profile
Governor: Andy Beshear, Democrat
Population: 4,606,864
GDP growth (Q1 2026): 1.80%
Unemployment rate (May 2026): 4.50%
Top corporate tax rate: 5.00%
Top individual income tax rate: 3.50%
Gasoline tax: 44.80 cents/gallon
Bond rating (Moody's/S&P): Aa2, Stable/A+, Stable
Economic profile sources: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federation of Tax Administrators, American Petroleum Institute (including 18.40 cent/gallon federal tax), Moody's Investor Service, S&P Global Market Intelligence
