Northern lights over the Brooks Range
County in Alaska

North Slope Borough

North Slope Borough has the 2nd lowest homeownership rate in Alaska (49.1%) and the 2nd largest economy ($8.1 billion GDP).

North Slope Borough is home to 10,663 people (2024 estimate) on 88,824 square miles of land. This page brings together official U.S. Census Bureau population estimates since 2000, the components of change—births, deaths and migration—American Community Survey indicators on income, housing, poverty and education, BEA economic accounts and BLS unemployment.

Key indicators

Population
10,663
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
11,037
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
−3.4%
2020–2024
Land area
88,824 mi²
230,052 km²
Population density
0.1 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
125
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
65
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
+60
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
−19
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$92,214
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$8.1 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$95,694
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
11.1%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
15.6%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
6.8%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$218,300
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
3.2%
BLS annual average, 2024

Historical data

Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.

Population

2000–2024
10,663▲ 44%

U.S. Census Bureau: intercensal estimates 2000–2009, Vintage 2020 (2010–2019) and Vintage 2024 (2020–2024), July 1.

Data summary

IndicatorValueYear and source
Population estimate10,6632024 · U.S. Census Bureau
Population, 2010 Census9,4302010 · U.S. Census Bureau
Population, 20007,420July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal
Change since 2000+43.7%2000–2024 · Census
International migration+322024 · Census Vintage 2024
Domestic migration−512024 · Census Vintage 2024
Birth rate11.7 per 1,0002024 · calculated
Death rate6.1 per 1,0002024 · calculated
Population rank in Alaska9th of 302024 · calculated
Per capita personal income$92,214BEA, 2024 · official
Gross domestic product$8.1 billionBEA, current dollars, 2024 · official
Median household income$95,694ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Poverty rate11.1%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Bachelor’s degree or higher15.6%Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Foreign-born residents6.8%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median home value$218,300ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median gross rent$1,254/monthACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median age35.0 yearsACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Households2,281ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Owner-occupied homes49.1%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official

North Slope Borough in context

Comparable indicators for North Slope Borough, Alaska and the United States.

IndicatorCountyAlaskaU.S.Reference
Population change 2020–2024−3.4%+0.9%+2.6%Census Vintage 2024
Birth rate (per 1,000)11.712.210.62024
Death rate (per 1,000)6.17.69.12024
Net migration rate (per 1,000)-1.80.38.22024
Population density (/mi²)0.11.396.32024
Per capita personal income$92,214$76,234$73,204BEA, 2024
Median household income$95,694$92,788$80,734ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate11.1%10.1%12.5%ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher15.6%31.7%35.7%Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents6.8%7.7%14.1%ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value$218,300$352,900$332,700ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median gross rent$1,254/month$1,419/month$1,413/monthACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median age35.0 years35.8 years38.9 yearsACS 2020–2024 5-year
Owner-occupied homes49.1%66.8%65.2%ACS 2020–2024 5-year

Did you know? North Slope Borough

9th most populous of 30

With 10,663 residents in 2024, North Slope Borough ranks 9th by population among Alaska's 30 boroughs and census areas and is home to 1.4% of the state's residents.

A quarter century of change

Its population went from 7,420 in 2000 to 10,663 in 2024, a change of +43.7%, compared with +17.9% for Alaska as a whole.

Births and deaths

In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 125 births and 65 deaths, so births outnumbered deaths by 60.

Peak population in 2020

Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population at 11,006 in 2020. The 2024 figure is 343 lower.

26th in density

North Slope Borough has about 0.1 residents per square mile of land, ranking 26th of 30 boroughs and census areas; Alaska averages 1.3.

Household income rank

With a median household income of $95,694 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 5th of 30 Alaska boroughs and census areas; the state median is $92,788.

Size of the economy

Its economy produced $8.1 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 2nd largest among 30 Alaska boroughs and census areas.

Latest economic growth

Real GDP grew 8.3% in 2024, adjusted for inflation (BEA, chained 2017 dollars).

Sources and methodology