Alaska Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Alaska, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Alaska. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Alaska. The estimated population of Alaska is 735,951 people, with a median age of 35.

We can look at the total population in Alaska over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
735,951
 -0.14% -0.35%
2020
736,990
 -0.01% -
2019
737,068
 -0.2% -
2018
738,516
 -0.01% -
2017
738,565
 - -

Population of Alaska by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
59%
61.5%
 -4.07%
Black/African American
3.1%
3.1%
 0.00%
Native
14.2%
13.8%
 +2.90%
Hispanic
7.3%
6.8%
 +7.35%
Asian
6.3%
6.1%
 +3.28%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
1.4%
1.2%
 +16.67%
Two Or More Races
8.2%
7.4%
 +10.81%
Other
0.5%
0.2%
 +150.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Alaska by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 35 +1.16% 34.6 +1.47% 35.4 +0.57%
2020 34.6 +0.87% 34.1 +0.89% 35.2 +0.86%
2019 34.3 +0.88% 33.8 +0.6% 34.9 +1.16%
2018 34 +0.29% 33.6 +0.6% 34.5 +0.29%
2017 33.9 - 33.4 - 34.4 -

The median age of Alaska gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 53,909 -1.05% 52,182 -2.82% 53,344 50,717
10 to 19 52,066 -3.34% 46,408 -0.01% 50,340 46,388
20 to 29 66,615 -9.09% 53,899 -8.92% 60,756 49,242
30 to 39 55,457 +3.03% 49,129 +6.89% 57,152 52,598
40 to 49 45,911 +0.44% 43,469 -4.88% 46,091 41,379
50 to 59 52,902 -9.59% 49,571 -12.62% 48,006 43,609
60 to 69 38,825 +11.58% 35,214 +12.36% 43,518 39,770
70+ 20,634 +21.93% 22,374 +21.32% 25,542 27,499

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Alaska is $80,287.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Alaska.

  • Under 25
    $44,078.00
  • 25 to 44
    $86,218.00
  • 45 to 64
    $95,393.00
  • 65 and over
    $62,935.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Alaska, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Alaska, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Alaska is currently $103,258.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

10.34% of households in Alaska are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Alaska against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    13.03%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    16.01%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    17.63%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    13.75%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    19.20%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    10.04%
  • $200,000 or more
    10.34%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Alaska is $39,236.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Alaska by the total population of Alaska.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Alaska, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Alaska to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    13.77%
  • Bachelor's degree
    32.30%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    12.91%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    38.95%
  • Less than high school diploma
    2.06%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Alaska that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Alaska over the age of 16 is 572,165.

Of those people, a total of 67.10% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Alaska is 59.20%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 37,003 42.10% 16.40%
20 to 24 years 50,780 78.70% 12.10%
25 to 29 years 59,218 80.70% 8.50%
30 to 34 years 57,307 80.80% 6.40%
35 to 44 years 96,664 83.40% 5.80%
45 to 54 years 87,719 82.90% 5.50%
55 to 59 years 47,145 71.50% 4.80%
60 to 64 years 46,141 58.00% 5.40%
65 to 74 years 61,465 29.20% 4.10%
75 years and over 28,723 8.70% 3.70%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Alaska. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 375,399 67.70% 5.10%
Black or African American 19,205 74.70% 4.60%
American Indian and Alaska Native 76,502 55.90% 17.30%
Asian 38,486 72.90% 5.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 7,232 68.80% 5.20%
Other 11,185 75.60% 5.90%
Two or more races 44,156 70.00% 9.40%
Hispanic or Latino 36,719 75.70% 6.00%
Not Hispanic or Latino 358,652 67.20% 5.10%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Alaska as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Alaska is 338,664, with median earnings of $47,826.00.

Women in Alaska earning approximately 71.60% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 338,664 $47,826.00
Male 180,009 $55,595.00
Female 158,655 $39,794.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 35,563 $73,105.00
Business and Financial 14,622 $66,006.00
Computer and Mathematical 6,767 $76,426.00
Architecture and Engineering 7,708 $92,171.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 6,450 $69,658.00
Community and Social Service 7,934 $50,120.00
Legal 3,093 $86,013.00
Educational and Library 22,460 $47,556.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 5,660 $35,744.00
Healthcare Practitioners 20,137 $77,695.00
Healthcare Support 11,297 $32,066.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 5,136 $50,513.00
Law Enforcement 4,432 $77,568.00
Food Preparation and Serving 17,336 $20,586.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 12,337 $25,769.00
Personal Care and Service 10,157 $20,218.00
Sales 26,346 $31,267.00
Office and Administrative Support 41,791 $40,506.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 3,615 $37,992.00
Construction and Extraction 20,423 $64,422.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 14,339 $62,166.00
Production 13,244 $39,364.00
Transportation and Material Moving 15,772 $53,512.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 19,886 $84,710.00 15,677 $61,044.00
Business and Financial 5,728 $79,666.00 8,894 $57,663.00
Computer and Mathematical 5,133 $81,335.00 1,634 $62,907.00
Architecture and Engineering 6,324 $100,093.00 1,384 $74,881.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 3,346 $72,004.00 3,104 $64,318.00
Community and Social Service 2,662 $50,459.00 5,272 $49,468.00
Legal 1,317 $119,255.00 1,776 $71,765.00
Educational and Library 6,557 $61,813.00 15,903 $42,172.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 2,537 $37,954.00 3,123 $30,617.00
Healthcare Practitioners 5,784 $96,861.00 14,353 $72,983.00
Healthcare Support 1,894 $34,514.00 9,403 $31,812.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 3,775 $52,536.00 1,361 $40,844.00
Law Enforcement 3,725 $79,719.00 707 $63,977.00
Food Preparation and Serving 8,135 $21,997.00 9,201 $18,592.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 7,667 $28,545.00 4,670 $22,770.00
Personal Care and Service 3,067 $20,635.00 7,090 $19,814.00
Sales 12,635 $41,310.00 13,711 $23,969.00
Office and Administrative Support 11,020 $42,284.00 30,771 $39,758.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 2,826 $52,472.00 789 $26,250.00
Construction and Extraction 19,513 $64,536.00 910 $57,000.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 13,897 $63,120.00 442 $29,247.00
Production 9,903 $50,010.00 3,341 $23,454.00
Transportation and Material Moving 13,150 $58,888.00 2,622 $33,696.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 260,561 households in Alaska, with an average household size of 2.72 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 170,981 families in Alaska with an average family size of 3.32 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 129,879 14,656 26,446 89,580
Average Household Size 3.41 3.47 3.66 1.33
Total Families 129,879 14,656 26,446 0
Average Household Size 3.36 3.01 3.33 0

Poverty

Of the 170,981 families in Alaska, 7.10% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Alaska:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 324,434 housing units in Alaska.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 260,561 80.31%
Vacant 63,873 19.69%

25.23% of the total 324,434 housing units in Alaska are rental units. This is approximately 81,856 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 171,207 are occupied by the owner - or 52.77% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Alaska is $1,279.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Alaska that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    7,498
  • Less than $500
    5,164
  • $500 to $999
    18,878
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    28,009
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    17,211
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    9,143
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    2,420
  • $3,000 or more
    1,031

Property Value

The median value of a property in Alaska is $282,800.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Alaska that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    10,330
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    7,985
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    10,784
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    16,575
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    48,049
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    58,181
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    17,823
  • $1,000,000 or more
    1,480

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Alaska. The chart below shows the number of properties in Alaska that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    5,275
  • 1940 to 1949
    4,928
  • 1950 to 1959
    14,616
  • 1960 to 1969
    24,794
  • 1970 to 1979
    73,553
  • 1980 to 1989
    83,239
  • 1990 to 1999
    45,550
  • 2000 to 2009
    52,330
  • 2010 to 2013
    19,888
  • 2014 or later
    261

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Alaska that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    23,871
  • 1 vehicle available
    80,322
  • 2 vehicles available
    95,992
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    60,376

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Alaska get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Alaska that commute to work in a particular way.

19.5 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Alaska.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    25,652
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    57,464
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    61,651
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    62,584
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    44,090
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    15,400
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    23,204
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    3,244
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    4,608
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    10,852
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    9,216
  • 90 or more minutes
    7,133

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Alaska in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

Counties in Alaska

We have data for 31 counties in Alaska. Click on a county below to see more information about the demographics of that county, with links to cities and towns within that county.

Zip Codes in Alaska

If you want to find out more about the population and demographics of specific zip codes in Alaska, click on the links below.