Table of Contents Show
When you think of Alaska, you probably immediately think of its size. After all, it’s the biggest state in America by far. Likely, you don’t think about the number of people who call Alaska home. But that raises an intriguing question. What is the Alaska population?
New York City has approximately 8.8 million residents. Does the entire state of Alaska even come close? Let’s dive in and learn more about how many people live in The Last Frontier State!
Pro Tip: You don’t want to miss out on Where the Biggest Glaciers in Alaska are! Be sure to read this article before planning out your next Alaskan adventure!
How Many People Live In Alaska?
As of the 2020 Census, approximately 736,000 people live in Alaska. That’s less than 1/10 of the population of New York City. Although it’s the largest state by area, it’s far from the most populous. In fact, the Alaska population ranks 50th in density, with 1.26 people per square mile.
How Many People Visit Alaska Annually?
More than half of the visitors to Alaska arrive via cruise ship. Over one million people dock at ports yearly, usually along the Inside Passage. An estimated 100,000 visitors are roadtrippers traveling via the Alaska Marine Highway System or highways from Canada.
Many visitors head to Alaska’s national parks. Although the numbers include locals and tourists, Denali and Glacier Bay welcome over 600,000 people each year. Overall, about 1.8 million guests visit the national parks here annually.
How Does the Alaska Population Compare To Other States?
Almost every other state has more residents than Alaska has. Only Vermont and Wyoming have a smaller population. Vermont is home to approximately 647,000 people and ranks 49th in total population.
Wyoming is the least populous state in the U.S., home to about 577,000 people. On the other side of the spectrum, California has the highest population of any state, with 39.5 million.
How Big Is Alaska?
The Alaska population may be small, but the state is not. Alaska is bigger than about 180 countries. It would rank in the top 50 countries according to land area in the entire world if it were a country. As the largest U.S. state, it’s bigger than the next three – Texas, California, and Montana – combined. Its total area is over 665,000 square miles.
What Is Alaska Known For?
Not only is Alaska known for its small population and immense size, but it’s also known for its wilderness and natural beauty. Alaska has eight national parks, including the four largest parks in the country. Wrangell-St. Elias is the largest by far, with over 13 million acres.
Gates of the Arctic is second with 7.5 million acres. Denali National Park is the third-largest in size and home to North America’s tallest peak. Katmai National Park rounds out the top four largest national parks in America.
As already mentioned, Alaska is a popular cruise destination. These cruises offer breathtaking scenery, including islands, glaciers, peaks, waterfalls, and more. Road trippers also enjoy trekking to Alaska to view its stunning landscapes. Most visitors hope to catch sightings of bears, whales, moose, seals, bald eagles, and more since wildlife is abundant in this vast wilderness.
What Do People Do For Work In Alaska?
Because so few people live in Alaska, the state has a small economy. However, many locals are involved in commercial fishing and extracting natural gas and oil. More than 80% of the state’s revenues are derived from petroleum extraction. Besides oil and natural gas, Alaska’s main export product is seafood.
Tourism is another important industry for the Alaska population. Local lodging, souvenir shops, dining establishments, tours, and attractions all support Alaska’s economy.
Mining, timbering, and military bases also provide additional revenue for the state. Even though Alaska’s gross state product is 48th in the country at around $55 billion, its per capita personal income is 7th at approximately $73,000.
Why Is Alaska Called the Last Frontier State?
Alaska’s state nickname is The Last Frontier. This is because of the state’s low population and vast wilderness. Of Alaska’s 222 million acres of federal lands, about 57.5 million acres are designated wilderness. Another 16.5 million acres are proposed wilderness areas.
It’s mind-boggling to consider how much natural landscape is in The Last Frontier State. Sixty percent of the state is wilderness, where wildlife roams freely, and natives enjoy the lifestyle they’ve always had.
Does the Alaska Population Surprise You?
For some of you, the Alaska population may surprise you that it’s so large. You might have thought even fewer people lived in this remote state. For others, the Alaska population may surprise you that it’s so tiny. You might have thought more people would live here because it’s so massive.
The facts tell us that less than one million people live in a state that covers over 366 million acres of land. Wildlife far outnumbers the Alaska population. But it’s a state of supreme natural beauty, which is why so many people have Alaska on their bucket list. Whether you arrive via plane, cruise ship, or RV, it’s well worth the time, money, and effort to get there.
How many people did you think lived in Alaska?
