Alaska Demographics 2026: Population, Income, Race & Trends Explained, Population Review

Population & Growth

Alaska's 733,971 residents make it the 48th-most populous US state. Over the long term, the state has been gaining population — +1050.1% from 1910 to 2024.

Population density: 1 people per square mile. By comparison, the US national average is roughly 94/sq mi, while New Jersey leads with ~1,260/sq mi and Alaska is the lowest at ~1.3/sq mi.

Race & Ethnicity

By Census ACS classification, Alaska is:

60.7% White (alone)
3.1% Black or African American
0.0% Asian
20.2% Hispanic or Latino (any race)
0.2% two or more races

Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals can exceed 100% in some breakdowns. The full racial composition (including Native Hawaiian, American Indian, etc.) is available on the Alaska state page.

Income & Economy

Median household income in Alaska is $89,336, with per-capita income at $44,928. 6.8% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Unemployment rate: 3.6%.

Income is concentrated in metro counties — see the county-level rankings on the cities ranking page and counties ranking page for sub-state variation.

Age & Households

Median age in Alaska: 35.6 years (US median ~39). The population is 52.5% male and 47.5% female. Alaska is among the younger states by median age — typically driven by higher birth rates or in-migration of working-age adults.

Largest Cities in Alaska

Anchorage municipality — population 289,069
Fairbanks city — population 32,242
Juneau city and borough — population 31,969
Badger Cdp — population 19,033
Knik-Fairview Cdp — population 18,921

Largest Counties in Alaska

Anchorage Municipality — population 289,069
Matanuska-Susitna Borough — population 110,677
Fairbanks North Star Borough — population 95,555
Kenai Peninsula Borough — population 59,843
Juneau City and Borough — population 31,969

How Alaska Compares Nationally

By population: ranked 48th of 50 states. By median household income: see the richest states ranking. By population growth: see fastest growing states. By cost of living: see cheapest states to live.

See the complete Alaska state page with full demographic breakdown, age pyramid, languages, education, housing, and commute data →

Frequently Asked Questions

Alaska has a population of 733,971 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, ranking 48th among the 50 states. Population density is 1 people per square mile.

Alaska is gaining population, with a +1050.1% change since 1910 (64,356 → 733,971). This is reported via Census ACS rolling 5-year estimates; for monthly/annual estimates between Census years, see the Census Population Estimates Program.

60.7% of Alaska's population identifies as White, 3.1% as Black or African American, 0.0% as Asian, and 20.2% as Hispanic or Latino (any race). Hispanic/Latino is counted as an ethnicity separate from race under Census methodology, so totals may exceed 100%.

Median household income in Alaska is $89,336 per the 2023 ACS. Per-capita income: $44,928. 6.8% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

The median age in Alaska is 35.6 years. The population is 52.5% male and 47.5% female. Age distribution and population pyramids by 5-year age bands are visible on the Alaska state page.

The largest cities in Alaska by population: Anchorage municipality (289,069), Fairbanks city (32,242), Juneau city and borough (31,969), Badger Cdp (19,033), Knik-Fairview Cdp (18,921).

California is the most populous US state at roughly 39 million, followed by Texas (~30M), Florida (~22M), New York (~20M), and Pennsylvania (~13M). Alaska ranks 48th. Detailed rankings update each ACS release cycle.

Across recent Census Population Estimates, West Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Illinois have shown the largest sustained population declines. Alaska's own trend is gaining. National state-by-state rankings are published annually by the Census Population Estimates Program.

All demographic data on this page comes from the US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, currently the 2023 release. Historical population figures use Census Population Estimates Program annual estimates. Data is public domain and freely available at census.gov.