Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Foreign-born share
1900–2023Census/ACS.
Foreign-Born Population
About 60,000 Alaska residents, or 8.1% of the population, are foreign-born, a lower share than the national average of 13.9%.
Foreign-born residents
2006–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, share of total population, B05002 (2020 not released).
Foreign-born population
2006–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, B05002 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign-born share (%) | 8.1 | 13.9 |
- •Filipino Americans form the largest immigrant group in Alaska, reflected in its Asian population being mostly Filipino.
- •About 33,000 of Alaska's foreign-born residents have become naturalized US citizens.
Countries of Origin
The Philippines is by far the top country of origin for Alaska's immigrant population, followed by Mexico, South Korea, Thailand, and Pacific Island nations.
Foreign-born residents who are naturalized citizens
2006–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, B05002 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign-born population (thousands) | 60 | 47800 |
- •Alaska's Filipino community is one of the largest and longest-established Asian communities in the state.
- •Pacific Islander immigrants make Alaska one of the top three states for that population share.
Migration Flows
Alaska's overall migration pattern combines negative domestic migration with modest positive international migration, resulting in near-zero total population growth.
Total net migration
2011–2025Census Bureau Population Estimates Program, international plus domestic net migration, July–June years (2020 partial year omitted).
Net international migration
2011–2025Census Bureau Population Estimates Program, net international migration, July–June years (2020 partial year omitted).
| Indicator | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Net migration total (annual) | -1400 | 1200000 |
- •Natural increase from births, not migration, is the main factor still supporting Alaska's population.
- •Seasonal labor migration for fishing and tourism adds further complexity to Alaska's migration statistics.
International Migration
Alaska gains roughly 2,600 new immigrants per year, a modest but steady inflow that helps offset negative domestic migration.
Net international migration
2011–2025Census Bureau Population Estimates Program, net international migration, July–June years (2020 partial year omitted).
| Indicator | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Annual international migrants | 2600 | 1200000 |
- •International migration has remained relatively steady even as domestic migration has turned sharply negative since 2013.
- •Many international arrivals settle in Anchorage, the state's economic and immigrant hub.
Domestic Migration
Alaska has experienced negative net domestic migration every year since roughly 2013, losing about 4,000 residents annually to other states.
Net domestic migration
2011–2025Census Bureau Population Estimates Program, net domestic migration to/from other states, July–June years (2020 partial year omitted).
| Indicator | Alaska | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Net domestic migration (annual) | -4000 | 0 |
- •Alaska is one of only a few states with more than a decade of continuous negative domestic migration.
- •High cost of living and limited job diversity outside resource industries contribute to out-migration.