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Alaska's Population is 736,399 According to a New Estimate

The population of the State of Alaska increased by 3.7-percent according to new estimates from the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The new statewide population estimate is 736,399 individuals living in Alaska. That’s up from the 710.2-thousand people recorded in the 2010 Census. The increase of just over 26-thousand individuals puts the population growth rate for the state at 3.7-percent. That outpaces the national growth rate of 2.4-percent. The Department of Labor confirms that 26 of the boroughs and census areas in Alaska grew between 2010 and 2013. Anchorage increased by 9.3-thousand to just over 301-thousand. The Mat-Su Borough increased by 7-thousand up to just over 96-thousand people. The Fairbanks North Star Borough saw a population increase of just over 2-thousand up to 99.6-thousand. Juneau’s population increased by over 1.7-thousand people up to just over 33-thousand. The population in the Kenai Peninsula Borough jumped up by 1.4-thousand to 56.8-thousand people. The Department of Labor observes that Southwest Alaska saw a population increase of over 1.9-thousand people. The largest increase in Southwest Alaska was seen in the Bethel Census Area where the population increased by 861 individuals up to 17.8-thousand. The Wade Hampton Census Area has a population of 7.9-thousand. That’s up 489 compared to the 2010 Census number. The new estimate for the population in the Aleutians West Census Area is 5.8-thousand, which is up by 272 persons compared to the 2010 Census. The population in the Dillingham Census Area increased by 175, up to 5,022. The population estimate for the Lake and Peninsula Borough is 1,689, up 58 people. The estimate for the Aleutians East borough is 3,281, up 140 persons compared to the last Census. The only area in Southwest Alaska to record a decrease in population compared to the 2010 Census was the Bristol Bay Borough. The estimate is 933 persons, down 64. All told the Department of Labor and Workforce Development is estimating that 42,580 people live in Southwest Alaska. You can find additional information about the new population estimates for Alaska on the website of the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development.