A sign welcomes travelers to the Kenai Peninsula on Sept. 1, 2020. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

A sign welcomes travelers to the Kenai Peninsula on Sept. 1, 2020. (Photo by Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Alaska population steady for 2nd year; Kenai Peninsula sees growth

The Kenai Peninsula Borough is one of the nine that saw growth

For the second year in a row, the population of Alaska has remained steady, according to a Jan. 9 press release from the State Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

The release says that between July 2022 and July 2023, the state’s population grew by 304 and people. This comes after the department last year reported an increase from 2021 to 2022 of 451 people.

Though the state is seeing a small population increase, the department notes that net migration, the difference between the number of people moving to Alaska compared with those who are leaving the state, still represents a negative trend. Between July 2022 and 2023, the department says that the state saw a loss of 3,246 people. That number was offset by 3,550 births — a “natural increase.”

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

“Alaska has lost more movers than it has gained every year since 2013,” the release reads. “Losses have slowed in the last few years.”

The working population — those aged 18 to 64 — declined statewide by 0.2%, while the population aged 65 or older grew 3%, the release says. Similar changes were also reported last year, though both totals were greater — a 5% increase for those older than 65 and a 1% decline for those of working ages.

In the January edition of “Alaska Economic Trends Magazine,” published by the department, a statewide forecast for jobs describes an ongoing worker shortage being exacerbated by Alaska’s aging population and migration losses of working aged people.

Of the 30 boroughs and census areas in Alaska, state data indicates that 21 lost population over the year. The Kenai Peninsula Borough is one of the nine that saw growth; its gain of 898 people is the second largest in the state behind only the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.

Last year’s data also showed the Kenai Peninsula Borough as one of an even smaller group of only four boroughs to see growth — that year gaining 909 people.

The state estimates that as of July 2023, the Kenai Peninsula Borough has a population of 60,898.

For more information about population or job data, visit labor.alaska.gov.

Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.

More in News

Nets are extended from North Kenai Beach in Kenai, Alaska, during the first day of the Kenai River personal use dipnet fishery on Thursday, July 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
‘A really good day’

Kenai River personal use sockeye salmon dipnet fishery opens.

The entrance to the Kenai Peninsula Borough building in Soldotna is seen here on June 1. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough assembly to consider ordinance to increase residential property tax exemption

If approved by voters in October, the ordinance would increase the tax exemption by $25,000.

Vice President Kelly Cooper speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly in Soldotna, Alaska, on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Borough considers seasonal sales tax rate

Borough sales tax would be modified from a flat 3% to a seasonal model of 4% in summer months and 2% in winter months.

The Kasilof River is seen from the Kasilof River Recreation Area, July 30, 2019, in Kasilof, Alaska. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
King salmon fishing on Kasilof closes Thursday

If any king salmon is caught while fishing for other species, they may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

Un’a, a female sea otter pup who was admitted to the Alaska SeaLife Center in June 2025, plays with an enrichment toy at the center in Seward, Alaska. Photo courtesy of the Alaska SeaLife Center
SeaLife Center admits 2 seal pups, 1 orphaned otter

The three pups join the Alaska SeaLife Center’s ‘growing’ patient list.

James Wardlow demonstrates flilleting a salmon with an ulu during a smoked salmon demonstration, part of Fish Week 2023, on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Refuge to celebrate all things fish during weeklong event

Fish Week will take place July 16-19.

President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
School board finalizes budget with deep cuts to programming, classrooms

Multiple members of the board said they were frustrated by the state’s failure to fund education.

Former KPBSD Finance Director Liz Hayes speaks during a Kenai Peninsula Borough School District budget development meeting at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
School district finance department earns national awards

The two awards are based on comprehensive reviews of the district’s budget and financial reporting.

Most Read

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Clarion relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in