Anchorage, Alaska Population 2023

291,073

Anchorage is a city located in Anchorage County Alaska. It is also the county seat of Anchorage County. With a 2023 population of 291,073, it is the largest city in Alaska and the 76th largest city in the United States.Anchorage is currently declining at a rate of -0.02% annually and its population has decreased by -0.06% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 291,247 in 2020. Spanning over 1944 miles, Anchorage has a population density of 171 people per square mile.

The average household income in Anchorage is $109,988 with a poverty rate of 10.86%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Anchorage is 33.9 years, 33 years for males, and 34.9 years for females.

Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in southcentral Alaska.

Anchorage Population Comparison

More than 40% of Alaska's population lives in the city. Of the 50 states, only New York has a higher percentage of residents living in its largest city. The Anchorage metropolitan area, which includes Anchorage and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, has a population estimated at 385,000, which is the 134th largest metro area in the United States.

Anchorage Common National Ancestries

Common national ancestries in Anchorage include German (17.3%), Irish (10.8%), English (9.1%), Scandinavian (6.9%), and French/French Canadian (5.6%). Of the Scandinavians in Anchorage, 3.6% are Norwegian, 2.2% are Sweden and 0.6% are Danish.

Anchorage Population Growth

Anchorage is currently preparing to experience the greatest growth spurt in its history, with growth that will relieve demand for office space and housing that has driven up rent and mortgage costs n the city. Modest population and economic growth is expected for Anchorage as employment goes up, population climbs steadily, personal income improves, and oil prices continue to rise.

The first description of Anchorage comes from an explorer in 1778, named Captain James Cook. While he first explored the area, Russians were the first to inhabit the space. Their inhabitation began in 1784 and Russia established a presence in the area in the 19th century, although the United States brokered a deal in 1867 to purchase the state from Imperial Russia for $7.2 million, or two cents per acre. In 1888, gold was discovered in the area, and Alaska became a U.S. territory in 1912. Anchorage itself did not have any essential metal minerals like gold, and only two white men were reported to have lived in the area in 1910 before a large group of settlers.

In 1914, railroad headquarters were built in the area and Anchorage quickly began growing in size. It was incorporated in 1920, and the Alaska Railroad was completed in 1923. By the 1930s and 50s, Anchorage went through substantial growth as the military and air transportation industries grew in importance. In the late 1960s, oil was discovered nearby, and an oil boom spurred more significant growth in the city.

Anchorage Demographics

According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Anchorage was:

  • White: 61.19%
  • Two or more races: 10.97%
  • Asian: 9.82%
  • Native American: 7.5%
  • Black or African American: 5.31%
  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 2.85%
  • Other race: 2.36%
The current population of Anchorage, Alaska is 291,073 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates.The last official US Census in 2020 recorded the population at 291,247.

Anchorage, Alaska Population 2023

Population by Race

White

Two or more races

Asian

Native American

Black or African American

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Other race

Anchorage Population by Race

Anchorage Population Pyramid 2023

Anchorage Median Age

33.9

Total

33

Male

34.9

Female

Anchorage Adults

There are 221,182 adults, (32,377 of whom are seniors) in Anchorage.

Anchorage Age Dependency

54.7

Age Dependency Ratio

17.1

Old Age Dependency Ratio

37.6

Child Dependency Ratio

Anchorage Sex Ratio

Female143,13649%
Male148,95451%

Anchorage Population by Age

Anchorage Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

3.22

Average Family Size

2.66

Average Household Size

62.2%

Rate of Home Ownership

Married

Male

Female

NonFamily

owner

renter

Anchorage Households and Families

Male

Female

Less Than 9th Grade

9th to 12th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Associates Degree

Bachelors Degree

Graduate Degree

Anchorage Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)

Anchorage Educational Attainment by Race

High School Graduation Rate

Bachelors Rate

The highest rate of high school graduation is among other race people with a rate of 86.32%.

The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among white people with a rate of 38.62%.

Anchorage Educational Attainment by Race

All

Male

Female

$50,877

Average Earnings

$57,791

Average Male

$43,531

Average Female

Anchorage Earnings by Educational Attainment

Anchorage Language by Age

Only English

Spanish

Other Indo-European Languages

Asian and Pacific Island Languages

Other Languages

Anchorage Language

82.36% of Anchorage residents speak only English, while 17.64% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Asian and Pacific Island languages, which is spoken by 8.31% of the population.

Anchorage Language

Anchorage Poverty by Race

rate

10.86%

Overall Poverty Rate

8.08%

Male Poverty Rate

9.64%

Female Poverty Rate

Poverty in Anchorage

The race most likely to be in poverty in Anchorage is Native, with 29.55% below the poverty level.

The race least likely to be in poverty in Anchorage is White, with 6.61% below the poverty level.

The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 1.59%. Among those working part-time, it was 12.03%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 15.74%.

Anchorage Poverty

Anchorage Poverty Rate by Education

Anchorage Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

Anchorage Income by Household Type

Households

Families

MarriedFamilies

NonFamilies

mean

median

Income by Household Type

Anchorage Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Marriage Rates

49.5%

Overall Marriage Rate

49.4%

Male Marriage Rate

49.6%

Female Marriage Rate

Anchorage Married by Age and Sex

male

female

Anchorage Marriage

The age group where males are most likely to be married is 55-64, while the female age group most likely to be married is 45-54.

Anchorage Marital Status by Race

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Anchorage Marital Status

Second Gulf War

First Gulf War

Vietnam

Korea

World War II

26,863

Number of Veterans

22,701

Male Veterans

4,162

Female Veterans

Anchorage Veterans by War

Anchorage Veterans by Age

count

Anchorage Veterans by Race

Anchorage Veterans by Education

Less Than 9th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Bachelors or Greater

4.8%

Veteran Poverty Rate

23.39%

Veteran Disability Rate

Anchorage Veterans by Education

LaborForceParticipation

71.2%

Labor Force Participation

63.8%

Employment Rate

5.2%

Unemployment Rate

Anchorage Employment by Age

LaborForceParticipation

Anchorage Employment by Race

LaborForceParticipation

Anchorage Employment by Education

Origin of Non-Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.

Origin of Naturalized Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

38.62%

Born in Anchorage

89.42%

Native Born

10.87%

Foreign Born

4.05%

Non Citizen

6.82%

Naturalized

Place of Birth

89.42% of Anchorage residents were born in the United States, with 38.62% having been born in Alaska. 4.05% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.

Anchorage Place of Birth

Note: data after 2020 is projected based on recent growth

Anchorage Population by Year