diff --git a/editor/sidebar/post-settings/index.js b/editor/sidebar/post-settings/index.js
index 7d939a44e42179..cf9ee483a3f7a9 100644
--- a/editor/sidebar/post-settings/index.js
+++ b/editor/sidebar/post-settings/index.js
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import PostTaxonomies from '../post-taxonomies';
 import FeaturedImage from '../featured-image';
 import DiscussionPanel from '../discussion-panel';
 import LastRevision from '../last-revision';
+import WordCount from '../word-count';
 
 const PostSettings = ( { toggleSidebar } ) => {
 	return (
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ const PostSettings = ( { toggleSidebar } ) => {
 				</div>
 			</PanelHeader>
 			<PostStatus />
+			<WordCount />
 			<LastRevision />
 			<PostTaxonomies />
 			<FeaturedImage />
diff --git a/editor/sidebar/word-count/index.js b/editor/sidebar/word-count/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000000..594ceb61e78d2a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/editor/sidebar/word-count/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+/**
+ * External dependencies
+ */
+import { connect } from 'react-redux';
+
+/**
+ * WordPress dependencies
+ */
+import { __ } from 'i18n';
+import PanelBody from 'components/panel/body';
+import { getBlocks } from '../../selectors';
+import { serialize } from 'blocks';
+
+function WordCount( { content } ) {
+	const wordCount = wp.utils.WordCounter.prototype.count( content );
+	return (
+		<PanelBody><strong>{ __( 'Word Count' ) }: </strong>{ wordCount }</PanelBody>
+	);
+}
+
+export default connect(
+	( state ) => {
+		return {
+			content: serialize( getBlocks( state ) ),
+		};
+	}
+)( WordCount );
diff --git a/lib/client-assets.php b/lib/client-assets.php
index 4adc798b7abbdd..da7e3b3eb62c47 100644
--- a/lib/client-assets.php
+++ b/lib/client-assets.php
@@ -429,7 +429,16 @@ function gutenberg_editor_scripts_and_styles( $hook ) {
 	wp_enqueue_script(
 		'wp-editor',
 		gutenberg_url( 'editor/build/index.js' ),
-		array( 'wp-api', 'wp-date', 'wp-i18n', 'wp-blocks', 'wp-element', 'wp-components', 'wp-utils' ),
+		array(
+			'wp-api',
+			'wp-date',
+			'wp-i18n',
+			'wp-blocks',
+			'wp-element',
+			'wp-components',
+			'wp-utils',
+			'word-count',
+		),
 		filemtime( gutenberg_dir_path() . 'editor/build/index.js' ),
 		true // enqueue in the footer.
 	);
@@ -438,8 +447,6 @@ function gutenberg_editor_scripts_and_styles( $hook ) {
 	// `wp-utils` doesn't clobbber `word-count`.  See WordPress/gutenberg#1569.
 	$word_count_script = wp_scripts()->query( 'word-count' );
 	array_push( $word_count_script->deps, 'wp-utils' );
-	// Now load the `word-count` script from core.
-	wp_enqueue_script( 'word-count' );
 
 	$post_id = null;
 	if ( isset( $_GET['post_id'] ) && (int) $_GET['post_id'] > 0 ) {