Is Alaska's population growing or shrinking?
Updated annually
It grew by 3,600 between 2023 and 2024. That’s more than the population of Kotzebue. Changes in population reflect birth and death rates, immigration patterns, regional shifts, and even the overall health of the economy. Alaska’s 0.49% annual increase was primarily driven by immigration to the state. In the decade between 2014 and 2024, Alaska’s population grew by 0.34%.
+3.62K
population change (2023 to 2024)
+0.49%
percent change in population (2023 to 2024)
Since 2000, Alaska's population increased in 19 of 24 years. The largest increase occurred between 2009 and 2010, when it gained 15,100 residents. The state's largest decline during the 21st century occurred between 2017 and 2018 when it lost 4,200 residents.
Alaska gained 3,600 residents between 2023 and 2024.
Annual population change
A state’s population is influenced by three factors:
- Natural population change: If births outnumber deaths in a given year, natural population growth is positive. If deaths exceed births, it is negative. Between 2023 to 2024 natural population change was positive in Alaska, with births exceeding deaths by 3,400.
- Immigration: international migration directly into or out of a state. If more people move in than move out, population change from immigration is positive. If more people move out than move in, it’s negative. Alaska’s population change from immigration was positive, with about 4,000 more people coming from another country to Alaska than leaving.
- Domestic migration, moving between states: Alaska’s population change from domestic migration was negative, with about 3,800 more people leaving for another state than moving in.
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Between 2023 and 2024, immigration was the primary driver of population growth in Alaska.
Components of population change
Among 30 county equivalents, Matanuska-Susitna Borough had the largest population growth in Alaska, welcoming 2,317 new residents. Fairbanks North Star Borough lost the most, with a loss of 749 residents.
Aleutians West Census Area led Alaska in percent population increase between 2023 and 2024 at 3.2%. Chugach Census Area ranked last with a 2.1% decline.
Between 2023 and 2024, Aleutians West Census Area gained 3.2% in population, the largest increase in Alaska.
Population change
Between 2014 and 2024, Alaska’s population has increased by 0.34%. During that same period, the US population grew by 6.5%. Alaska ranks 45th among states in population growth over that decade.
Alaska ranked 45th in population growth between 2014 and 2024.
Percent change in population
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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.
