Mat-Su again outpaces state in population growth, state data shows

Alaska’s population growth is near zero or negative across most of the state’s larger communities. Mat-Su is again an exception.

Population in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough was up 1.5% from 2024 to 2025 to a total of 117,412, according to a state demographers report issued Jan. 28. The rate of growth has slowed slightly from the five-year average of 1.75%. In 2020 the Matanuska-Susitna Borough’s population was 107,081, according to the report.

For years Mat-Su has outpaced Anchorage and all other parts of that in its rate of growth, with much of that fueled by more affordable land and housing than in Anchorage, the largest community in Southcentral Alaska. Anchorage actually lost population from 2024 to 2025, declining 0.04% for the year and dropping 0.13% yearly from 2020 to 2025. In 2020 Anchorage had a population of 291,247. In 2025 that had dropped to 289,221, the demographer’s report said.

Fairbanks showed a small population increase between 2024 and 2025, growing 0.18% for the year to 97,083 residents in the Fairbanks North Star Borough. This was slightly down from the five-year average from 2020 of 0.28% per year. In 2025 Fairbanks’ population was 97,083, compared with 95,655 in 2020.

The population count, reflecting U.S. census data, is the net result of new births with the number of deaths subtracted. It is also influenced by migration, or the number of people moving into and out of Alaska. In recent years out-migration has exceeded in-migration, with more Alaskans leaving the state than coming in. The continuing out-migration, which is a trend underway for years, is a concern to community leaders because it is mostly working age adults, most with families.

Fewer families has an impact on the number of children in schools, and the long-term trend has led to closures of schools in many larger Alaska communities. The fact that working adults are continuing to move out of Alaska is important to employers because it means fewer able-bodied people available for jobs.

In contrast to this, the number of older Alaskans is increasing. This has both positive and negative effects for the state’s economy. On one hand the demand for specialized senior services is increasing, affecting needs for medical service and senior housing. However, increased services adds to costs for the state budget as well as federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

Statewide, the number of Alaskans aged 65 and older increased 3.2 percent over the year while the working-age population — ages 18 to 64 — declined by 0.1 percent. The number of children from birth to age 17 decreased by 0.8 percent. The state’s oldest borough was Haines, with a median age of 50.8. The Kusilvak Census Area in western Alaska was the youngest at 24.6.

Fourteen of Alaska’s 30 boroughs and census areas lost population over the year, although each loss by area was relatively small. The biggest decline was -138 in the Chugach Census Area. The Matanuska-Susitna Borough grew the most (1,696) followed by the Kenai Peninsula Borough (287).