Bethel Census Area County Demographics

A map of Bethel Census Area County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
Native American/Other	15,297	15,601	83.2%	83.6%
White	1,529	1,628	8.3%	8.7%
Multiracial	782	945	4.3%	5.1%
Asian	288	201	1.6%	1.1%
Hispanic	270	207	1.5%	1.1%
Black	228	84	1.2%	0.5%

Bethel Census Area County, Alaska has an estimated population of 18,394, a slight decrease from the 18,666 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 83.2% Native American/Other, 8.3% White, 4.3% Multiracial, 1.6% Asian, 1.5% Hispanic, and 1.2% Black. This demographic dot map shows the population of Bethel Census Area County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Bethel Census Area has become slightly more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Alaska overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Bethel Census Area County, that probability was 29.1% in 2020 and 29.9% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Bethel Census Area County is ranked the 6th most populous county in Alaska, out of 30 counties. Bethel Census Area County was ranked the 6th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Bethel Census Area County's White Population

1,529 residents of Bethel Census Area County, or 8.3% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Bethel Census Area County is significantly lower than in Alaska overall, where 57.7% of the population is White. Bethel Census Area County ranks 29th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 30 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Bethel Census Area County's White population has declined by an estimated 6.1%. White residents' share of Bethel Census Area County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 8.3%.

Bethel Census Area County is more White than neighboring Kusilvak Census Area County (2.9% White). Bethel Census Area County is less White than neighboring Dillingham Census Area County (14.3% White), Bristol Bay County (48.6% White), Lake and Peninsula County (15.9% White), and Nome Census Area County (13.4% White).

Bethel Census Area County's Black Population

228 residents of Bethel Census Area County, or 1.2% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Bethel Census Area County is comparable to the share in Alaska overall, where 2.9% of the population is Black. Bethel Census Area County ranks 19th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 30 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Bethel Census Area County's Black population has grown by an estimated 171.4%. Black residents' share of Bethel Census Area County's population has increased from 0.5% to 1.2%.

Bethel Census Area County is more Black than neighboring Dillingham Census Area County (0.7% Black), Kusilvak Census Area County (1% Black), Bristol Bay County (0.5% Black), and Nome Census Area County (0.6% Black). Bethel Census Area County is less Black than neighboring Lake and Peninsula County (1.4% Black).

Bethel Census Area County's Asian Population

288 residents of Bethel Census Area County, or 1.6% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Bethel Census Area County is slightly lower than in Alaska overall, where 6.4% of the population is Asian. Bethel Census Area County ranks 19th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 30 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Bethel Census Area County's Asian population has grown by an estimated 43.3%. Asian residents' share of Bethel Census Area County's population has increased from 1.1% to 1.6%.

Bethel Census Area County is more Asian than neighboring Kusilvak Census Area County (0.3% Asian). Bethel Census Area County is less Asian than neighboring Dillingham Census Area County (1.8% Asian), Bristol Bay County (10% Asian), Lake and Peninsula County (1.9% Asian), and Nome Census Area County (1.7% Asian).

Bethel Census Area County's Hispanic Population

270 residents of Bethel Census Area County, or 1.5% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Bethel Census Area County is lower than in Alaska overall, where 7.3% of the population is Hispanic. Bethel Census Area County ranks 29th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 30 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Bethel Census Area County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 30.4%. Hispanic residents' share of Bethel Census Area County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 1.5%.

Bethel Census Area County is more Hispanic than neighboring Kusilvak Census Area County (1.3% Hispanic). Bethel Census Area County is less Hispanic than neighboring Dillingham Census Area County (3.7% Hispanic), Bristol Bay County (5% Hispanic), Lake and Peninsula County (2.8% Hispanic), and Nome Census Area County (2.2% Hispanic).

Bethel Census Area County's Native American/Other Population

15,297 residents of Bethel Census Area County, or 83.2% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Bethel Census Area County is significantly higher than in Alaska overall, where 15.5% of the population is Native American/Other. Bethel Census Area County ranks 2nd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 30 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Bethel Census Area County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 1.9%. Native American/Other residents' share of Bethel Census Area County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 83.2%.

Bethel Census Area County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Dillingham Census Area County (70.3% Native American/Other), Bristol Bay County (23.6% Native American/Other), Lake and Peninsula County (43.8% Native American/Other), and Nome Census Area County (73.5% Native American/Other). Bethel Census Area County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Kusilvak Census Area County (86.1% Native American/Other).

Bethel Census Area County's Multiracial Population

782 residents of Bethel Census Area County, or 4.3% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Bethel Census Area County is lower than in Alaska overall, where 10.3% of the population is Multiracial. Bethel Census Area County ranks 28th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 30 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Bethel Census Area County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 17.2%. Multiracial residents' share of Bethel Census Area County's population has decreased from 5.1% to 4.3%.

Bethel Census Area County is less Multiracial than neighboring Dillingham Census Area County (9.1% Multiracial), Kusilvak Census Area County (8.5% Multiracial), Bristol Bay County (12.2% Multiracial), Lake and Peninsula County (34.3% Multiracial), and Nome Census Area County (8.5% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.