How many people live in Bethel Census Area, AK?
Updated Apr. 6, 2026Refreshed annually
In 2024, there were about 18,200 people living in Bethel Census Area, AK. That makes Bethel Census Area the sixth-most populous borough or district in Alaska. It is home to 2.5% of people living in the state.
18.2K
population of Bethel Census Area, AK (2024)
2.5%
County share of the Alaska population (2024)
About 18,200 people lived in Bethel Census Area, AK in 2024.
Population estimates, 2000–2024
What are Bethel Census Area, AK’s age demographics?
About 1,700 Bethel Census Area, AK residents are aged 65 and older in 2024. That represents 9.4% of its population. For comparison, the age group represents 15.2% of Alaska’s population and 18% in the US overall.
Another 6,500 Bethel Census Area, AK residents, or 35.4% of the population, were children under 18. For comparison, the age group represents 24.3% of Alaska’s population and 21.6% in the US overall.
A higher share of Bethel Census Area, AK's population is aged under 18 than the US as a whole.
Population estimates by age group, (2024)
What are Bethel Census Area, AK’s racial and ethnic demographics?
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native residents make up 83.8% of the Bethel Census Area, AK population, higher than the national share of 0.72%. Bethel Census Area, AK also has a larger share of people identifying as non-Hispanic two or more races (4.3%) than the US overall (2.5%).
In contrast, Bethel Census Area’s non-Hispanic white population accounts for 7.9%, below the 57.5% nationwide, and the Hispanic population makes up 1.7% of the area, compared with 20% nationally.
Racial and ethnic make up differ based on location. These figures reflect how people identified their race alone (not in combination with other races), and separate out Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, following Census reporting standards.
Bethel Census Area, AK has a higher share of a non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native population than Alaska as a whole.
Population estimates by race and ethnicity, (2024)
The largest city or town in Bethel Census Area, AK is Bethel with about 6,300 residents in 2024.
Cities and towns in Bethel Census Area, AK ranked by population
Population (2024), includes only portions within boroughs or census area
| City or town | Population | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Bethel | 6,335 |
| 2. | Kwethluk | 780 |
| 3. | Quinhagak | 744 |
| 4. | Toksook Bay | 632 |
| 5. | Nunapitchuk | 578 |
| 6. | Aniak | 492 |
| 7. | Napaskiak | 491 |
| 8. | Chefornak | 490 |
| 9. | Akiak | 447 |
| 10. | Eek | 388 |
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
