How many people live in Northwest Arctic Borough, AK?
Updated Apr. 6, 2026Refreshed annually
In 2024, there were about 7,100 people living in Northwest Arctic Borough, AK. That makes Northwest Arctic Borough the 14th-most populous borough or district in Alaska. It is home to 0.97% of people living in the state.
7.13K
population of Northwest Arctic Borough, AK (2024)
0.97%
County share of the Alaska population (2024)
About 7,100 people lived in Northwest Arctic Borough, AK in 2024.
Population estimates, 2000–2024
What are Northwest Arctic Borough, AK’s age demographics?
About 666 Northwest Arctic Borough, AK residents are aged 65 and older in 2024. That represents 9.3% of its population. For comparison, the age group represents 15.2% of Alaska’s population and 18% in the US overall.
Another 2,700 Northwest Arctic Borough, AK residents, or 37.7% 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 Northwest Arctic Borough, AK's population is aged under 18 than the US as a whole.
Population estimates by age group, (2024)
What are Northwest Arctic Borough, AK’s racial and ethnic demographics?
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native residents make up 79.9% of the Northwest Arctic Borough, AK population, higher than the national share of 0.72%. Northwest Arctic Borough, AK also has a larger share of people identifying as non-Hispanic two or more races (6.3%) than the US overall (2.5%).
In contrast, Northwest Arctic Borough’s non-Hispanic white population accounts for 8.5%, below the 57.5% nationwide, and the Hispanic population makes up 2.7% of the borough, 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.
Northwest Arctic Borough, 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 Northwest Arctic Borough, AK is Kotzebue with about 2,900 residents in 2024.
Cities and towns in Northwest Arctic Borough, AK ranked by population
Population (2024), includes only portions within boroughs or census area
| City or town | Population | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Kotzebue | 2,889 |
| 2. | Selawik | 737 |
| 3. | Noorvik | 625 |
| 4. | Buckland | 499 |
| 5. | Kiana | 408 |
| 6. | Kivalina | 400 |
| 7. | Ambler | 247 |
| 8. | Shungnak | 246 |
| 9. | Kobuk | 167 |
| 10. | Deering | 162 |
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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.
