Population & Household section gives reader an outlook. of general population profile, structure, and outlook.
Population Trend
Ketchikan Gateway Borough, AK, exhibits a modest population growth rate of 0.31% over the past 13 years, though it has seen a slight decline of 0.2% in the last year. The median age is 40.6, which is higher than the state average of 35.3, indicating an aging population. The borough has a relatively balanced sex ratio of 108.3 and a significant old-age dependency ratio of 26.8%, suggesting a growing elderly population compared to younger residents (21% under 18). Compared to other counties in Alaska, Ketchikan's demographic trends reflect a similar aging pattern, with higher old-age percentages than many regions, such as Anchorage and Fairbanks.
Total Population
13910
Sex Ratio
108.3 %
Population Growth (2021-2022)
-0.2 %
Population CAGR (2010-2022)
0.31 %
Population Growth Rate (%)
Source: Census.gov
Age Structure
Dependency Rate
60.5 %
Median Age
40.6 y.o.
% of Population > 65 y.o.
16.7 %
Active Aging Index
95.4 %
Old Dependency Rate
26.8 %
Young Dependency Rate
33.7 %
Age Structure (%)
Source: Census.gov
Population Structure
Source: Census.gov
Household Status
Ketchikan Gateway Borough, with a total of 5,568 households, exhibits a slightly declining household growth rate of -0.09% over the past few years, contrasting with the overall positive growth trend in Alaska (0.53%). The borough has a higher percentage of households with elderly residents (31.8%) compared to the state average (26%), indicating a potentially aging population. The average household size in Ketchikan is 2.45, which is lower than the state average of 2.67, suggesting smaller family units. Additionally, the proportion of married couples (48.2%) is notable, yet lower than in larger counties like Anchorage (47.7%). Overall, Ketchikan's demographic trends reflect unique local characteristics, particularly in elder population and household composition, compared to other regions in Alaska.
Total Households
5568
Married-couple Household
2682
Household CAGR (2010-2022)
-0.09 %
Household Growth (2021-2022)
1.48 %
Average Household Size
2.45 p
Average Family Size
2.97 p
Household with Children (%)
27.2 %
Household with Elder 65+ (%)
31.8 %
Household Size
Source: Census.gov
Household Structure
Source: Census.gov
Marriage
Never Married
30.5 %
Now Married
50.9 %
Widowed
5.1 %
Divorced
13.5 %
Marriage Status
Source: Census.gov
Marriage Status Breakdown
Source: Census.gov | S1201
Cultures
*Culture section contains several components: races, education, marriage and other factors.
Racial Profiiles
Ketchikan Gateway Borough, AK, exhibits a predominantly white demographic, with 64% identifying as white and 36% as non-white, reflecting a slightly higher diversity compared to the state average of 61.3% white. The Hispanic population stands at 5.6%, lower than both the national (18.7%) and state (7.5%) averages. Notably, the borough has a significant Asian representation at 8.5%, which is higher than the state average of 6.5%. Overall, Ketchikan's demographic profile indicates a unique blend of cultural influences, particularly in its Asian community, distinguishing it from other Alaskan counties.
One Race
89.5 %
Two or More Races
10.5 %
Non-White
36 %
Hispanic (Overlapping)
5.6 %
White
8909
Black
91
Asian
1180
Native American
2030
Race Structure (%)
Source: Census.gov
Racial Profile Breakdown
Source: Census.gov
Place of Birth
Ketchikan Gateway Borough, AK, has a population where 91% were born in the U.S., slightly below Alaska's 92.1% and significantly higher than the national average of 86.3%. Notably, 9% of its residents were born in different countries, which is higher than the state average of 7.9%. Among these foreign-born individuals, 68.8% are naturalized, indicating a relatively high integration level. Comparatively, Ketchikan's foreign-born population is more diverse than some nearby counties, such as Matanuska-Susitna Borough, which has only 3.5% foreign-born residents.
Native US Citizen
8909
Native US Citizen (%)
36 %
Born in Alaska (%)
42.9 %
Born in Other State (%)
47 %
Foreign Born (%)
9 %
Naturalized (% of Foreign Born)
68.8 %
Place of Birth Changes (2010-2022)
Source: Census.gov
Birthplace Breakdown (Outside of US)
Source: Census.gov
Migration
-
Migration Inflow (% of Population)
11.9 %
From Different County (% of Inflow)
28.9 %
From Different State (% of Inflow)
66.6 %
From Different Country (% of Inflow)
4.5 %
%
Source: Census.gov
Religion
Number of Congregations
25
Number of Adherents
4385
Adherents (% of Total Population)
31.5 %
Christian (% of Total Population)
27.3 %
Religion Breakdown
Source: Census.gov
Education Attainment
In Ketchikan Gateway Borough, AK, 28.5% of the population aged 25 and older holds a bachelor's degree, slightly below Alaska's average of 30.7% and significantly lower than Anchorage Municipality's 37%. Over the past decade, Ketchikan has seen a modest increase from 25.4%. The median earnings for residents aged 25 and older are $53,090, which is lower than the state median of $54,606. Notably, 48.9% of degree holders in Ketchikan are enrolled in STEM fields, aligning closely with the state average of 49.5%, indicating a strong interest in these areas despite lower overall educational attainment.