Kenai, AK Demographics

A map of Kenai's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	5,287	5,151	69.2%	69.4%
Multiracial	1,047	904	13.7%	12.2%
Hispanic	596	420	7.8%	5.7%
Native American/Other	386	775	5.1%	10.4%
Asian	258	133	3.4%	1.8%
Black	67	41	0.9%	0.6%

Kenai, Alaska has an estimated population of 7,641, a slight increase from the 7,424 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 69.2% White, 13.7% Multiracial, 7.8% Hispanic, 5.1% Native American/Other, 3.4% Asian, and 0.9% Black. This demographic dot map shows the population of Kenai, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Kenai is about as racially diverse as it was in 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 Kenai, that probability was 48.9% in 2020 and 49.3% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Kenai is ranked the 14th most populous place in Alaska, out of 355 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Kenai was ranked the 14th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Kenai's White Population

5,287 residents of Kenai, or 69.2% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Kenai is considerably higher than in Alaska overall, where 57.7% of the population is White. Kenai ranks 124th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 355 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kenai's White population has grown by an estimated 2.6%. White residents' share of Kenai's population has remained roughly unchanged at 69.2%.

Kenai is less White than neighboring Salamatof (76.2% White), Kalifornsky (76.2% White), Nikiski (70.4% White), Soldotna (76.5% White), and Ridgeway (82.9% White).

Kenai's Black Population

67 residents of Kenai, or 0.9% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Kenai is comparable to the share in Alaska overall, where 2.9% of the population is Black. Kenai ranks 88th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 355 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kenai's Black population has grown by an estimated 63.4%. Black residents' share of Kenai's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.9%.

Kenai is more Black than neighboring Kalifornsky (0.5% Black), Nikiski (0.8% Black), and Ridgeway (0% Black). Kenai is less Black than neighboring Salamatof (1.4% Black), and Soldotna (1.3% Black).

Kenai's Asian Population

258 residents of Kenai, or 3.4% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Kenai is slightly lower than in Alaska overall, where 6.4% of the population is Asian. Kenai ranks 58th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 355 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kenai's Asian population has grown by an estimated 94.0%. Asian residents' share of Kenai's population has increased from 1.8% to 3.4%.

Kenai is more Asian than neighboring Salamatof (1% Asian), Kalifornsky (1.8% Asian), Soldotna (2% Asian), and Ridgeway (1.2% Asian). Kenai is less Asian than neighboring Nikiski (3.6% Asian).

Kenai's Hispanic Population

596 residents of Kenai, or 7.8% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Kenai is comparable to the share in Alaska overall, where 7.3% of the population is Hispanic. Kenai ranks 60th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 355 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kenai's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 41.9%. Hispanic residents' share of Kenai's population has increased from 5.7% to 7.8%.

Kenai is more Hispanic than neighboring Salamatof (3.6% Hispanic), Kalifornsky (3.2% Hispanic), Nikiski (6% Hispanic), Soldotna (6% Hispanic), and Ridgeway (0% Hispanic).

Kenai's Native American/Other Population

386 residents of Kenai, or 5.1% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Kenai is considerably lower than in Alaska overall, where 15.5% of the population is Native American/Other. Kenai ranks 224th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 355 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kenai's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 50.2%. Native American/Other residents' share of Kenai's population has decreased from 10.4% to 5.1%.

Kenai is less Native American/Other than neighboring Salamatof (12% Native American/Other), Kalifornsky (8.2% Native American/Other), Nikiski (9.4% Native American/Other), Soldotna (6.3% Native American/Other), and Ridgeway (11.8% Native American/Other).

Kenai's Multiracial Population

1,047 residents of Kenai, or 13.7% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Kenai is slightly higher than in Alaska overall, where 10.3% of the population is Multiracial. Kenai ranks 53rd statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 355 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Kenai's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 15.8%. Multiracial residents' share of Kenai's population has increased from 12.2% to 13.7%.

Kenai is more Multiracial than neighboring Salamatof (5.8% Multiracial), Kalifornsky (10.2% Multiracial), Nikiski (9.8% Multiracial), Soldotna (7.9% Multiracial), and Ridgeway (4.2% 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.