Alaska

Alaska by the Numbers:
Key Statistical Data and Facts

Key Details

• Alaska is the largest US state by area, with a population of 722,583. 
• Approximately 32.8% of Alaskans have a bachelor's degree or higher.  
• As of 2020, the life expectancy at birth for Alaskans was 77.7 years, with cancer being the leading cause of death in the state.  
• In May 2023, Alaska had an unemployment rate of 3.6%.  
• The median household income is $77,845, while the mean income is $100,519.  
• 49% of Alaskans aged 15+ were married, while 11.3 % divorced in 2021. 
• As of 2023, Mike Dunleavy serves as the Governor of the State. 

Alaska Population Demographics

The largest state by area, Alaska, supports a population of 722,583 residents, according to 2022 census estimates. Roughly 6.4% of Alaskans are under 5, while 24.1% are 18 years and under. Approximately 13.9% of residents are 65 and older, while 7.9% are foreign-born. In addition, 52.6% are male, while 47.4% are female. Alaska isn't bordered by any US state. Although it is the third least populous state in the US, the Last Frontier state covers more territory than California, Montana, and Texas combined.  

Alaska Housing

329,285 housing

Between 2017 and 2021, Alaska had an average of 329,285 housing units with a 65.7% owner occupancy rate and a median value of $282,800.

260,561 households

It included 260,561 households, with an average of 2.72 persons per household.

$617

In comparison, tenants paid a median gross rent of $617

$500,000

Housing values varied across the state. While 13.8% of housing units were valued at $500,000 or more

$200,000 and $299,999

In addition, one out of every four housing units was valued between $200,000 and $299,999.

Alaska Racial Demographics

Elections in Alaska

Between 2002 and 2022, Alaskans voted Republican. Four out of the five governors sworn into office were Republican (the lone victory going to Independent candidate Bill Walker).  As of 2023, Mike Dunleavy serves as the Governor of the State. In addition to the office of the governor, Republicans also control the attorney general's office as well as the state legislature.  Louise Stutes (R) is the State Speaker of the house, while Gary Stevens (R) serves as the state senate's president. 

2020 Presidential Election 

Republican candidate Donald Trump won the 2020 US presidential elections in Alaska. Trump secured 52.83% of the cast votes, while his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, won 42.77%.  

Donald Trump

Joe Biden

Alaska Voting Statistics

According to the  Alaska Division of Elections, Alaska has 590,422 registered voters across 441 precincts. Of these, 142,266 registered as Republicans, 78,664 registered as Democrats, and 17,861 registered for the Alaska Independence Party. In addition, 259,634 registrants had undeclared party affiliations.  

General Election Voter Turnout

How Educated is Alaska

According to Census estimates, 32.8% of Alaskans have a bachelor's degree or higher, which is lower than the national average of 35%. Among residents aged 25 years and older, 27.9% have only a high school degree or equivalent, while 24.3% attended some college. Approximately 8.3% have an associate's degree, 20.9% have a Bachelor's degree, and 11.9% have a graduate's degree.

Alaska has more than half a dozen institutions offering degrees, including three private colleges and universities. As of 2023, the University of Alaska Anchorage has the largest enrollment with 10,000+ students, followed by the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the University of Alaska Southeast with 6,500+ and 2,000+ students.

Alaska Employment Rate

In May 2023, Alaska's unemployment rate stood at 3.6%. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, out of a civilian labor force of 358,200 workers, 345,300 were employed, and 13,000 were unemployed. Government services provided the most employment, with 78,700  jobs, followed by Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, with 65,100 jobs.  

Between 2022 and 2023, Alaska recorded job expansions in multiple sectors, including Leisure and Hospitality, Financial activities, and Professional and Business Services. However, the manufacturing, construction, and mining sectors declined by -11.2% -1.2%, and -1.9%, respectively.  

Average Income in Alaska

According to the 2021 American Community Survey, Alaskan households earn a median income of $77,845 and a mean income of $100,519. Married couple families earned a median and mean income of $109,728 and  $133,300, In comparison, non-family households earned less, with a median income of $48,081 and a mean income of $64,656.

Grouped by income value, approximately 10.2% of households earned $200,000 and more, while 9.7% earned between $150,000 to $199,999. In contrast, 14.7% of households earned $24,999 or less. Roughly 50% of households earned between $50,000 and $149,000, and 16% earned between $25,000 and $49,999.

Families in Alaska

Alaska Marriage Rates

Alaska Divorce Rates

As of 2021, 11.3% of Alaskans aged 15 and older were divorced, while 1.6% were separated. Divorced residents included 10.7% of adult males and 12% of adult females. Among females, the divorce percentage was highest between the ages of 45 and 54 (19.9%), while the divorce rate for males peaked between 55 and 64 years (19.7%). In comparison, less than 5% of males and females between 20 and 34 were divorced. Grouped by race, 12.8% of whites were divorced, compared to 11.2% of blacks, 9.1% of Hispanics, and 6.6% of Asians.

Life Expectancy in Alaska

Alaska's life expectancy at birth is 77.7 years as of 2020. Male Alaskans have a life expectancy of 75.8 years, while females have a life expectancy of 79.9 years. In 2020, cancer was the leading cause of death, resulting in 1,093 mortalities, followed by heart disease with 1,011 deaths. Other leading causes include Covid 19, accidents, stroke, and chronic lower respiratory disease.

With a 64.9 fertility rate, the state recorded 9.367 births in 2020. Approximately 36.5% of births were to unmarried mothers. In addition, 17.5 births were recorded for every female teenager between 15 and 19. The state had a Cesarean delivery rate of 24.2 and a 10.15 preterm birth rate.

Alaska Crime Rates

15 059

3557

4344

1101

According to the 2019 Uniform Crime Reporting Program, Alaska has a violent crime rate of 867 per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2,911 per 100,000. In 2019, the state recorded 15,095 cases of larceny/theft and 3.557 burglary incidents. It also recorded 4,344 cases of aggravated assault, 1,101 rapes, and 70 homicides.  

Compared to the previous year, the total number of offenses declined by 10%. The state experienced a decrease in all crimes except for arson and murder. Year to year, violent crime declined by 2.6%, while property crime slid by 12.1%.

Alaska Incarceration Rate

244 inmates per 100,000 residents

Alaska has an incineration rate of 244 inmates per 100,000 residents, lower than the national average.

1,163 residents

According to a National Institutes of Corrections report, in 2020, 1,163 residents were on parole, while 2,100 were on probation.

As of 2023, Alaska operates with a unified corrections system that holds prisoners in both sentenced and pretrial status.

The state has a dozen prison facilities and 15 locally operated jails located across its boroughs

Alaska Bankruptcy Rate

2022

11 bankruptcy cases

In 2022, Alaskans filed 176 bankruptcy cases, the lowest recorded in a 20-year period. It was more than 50% fewer filings than recorded in 2018 and almost 80% fewer than recorded in 2010. In total, residents submitted 137 cases of Chapter 7 and thirty-nine Chapter 13 filings. Businesses also filed 11 bankruptcy cases, including 10 Chapter 7 filings and one Chapter 13. According to the American Banking Institute, between 2000 and 2022, the total number of filings relative to the population was 65% below the national average.

Weird Laws in Alaska

Every state has its share of laws that some might find strange, odd, or weird. Alaska is no different. For instance, whispering into someone's ear is illegal while on a moose hunt. Other unusual laws include: