ISEGR RESEARCH NOTE

November 1971

Alaska Native Population Trends and Vital Statistics, 1950-1985

George W. Rogers

Institute of Social, Economic and Government Research
University of Alaska
Fairbanks, Alaska

Institute Research Notes are non-thematic presentations of research data by institute staff or associates. The Research Notes format allows authors to present without extensive analysis research findings which may be of interest to scholars, industries, agencies, communities, or other groups in Alaska.

George W. Rogers is a professor of economics at the Institute of Social, Economic and Government Research. He is the author of many works on Alaska, including Alaska in Transition: The Southeast Region, and The Future of Alaska: The Economic Consequences of Statehood, and edited the volume Change in Alaska. He holds a Ph.D. from Harvard and M.A. and B.A. degrees from the University of California at Berkeley.

Victor Fischer, Director of the Institute
James D. Babb, Jr., Editor

CONTENTS

Introduction

Present and Recent PastLong and Short-Term Change

Comparisons of Census Increases and Natural Increases

Vital Statistics 1950-1970

Native Population Projections 1970-1985

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. General Population Trends in Alaska, 1740-1960
Table 2. Significant Native Population Movement within Regions—1950-1970
Table 3. Comparison April 1, 1960, Census of Native Population and Vital Statistics Projection 1950-1960
Table 4. Comparison April 1, 1960, Census of Native Population and Other Estimates
Table 5. Estimated Total Native Population and Vital Statistics, 1950-1970: Southeast Alaska
Table 6. Estimated Total Native Population and Vital Statistics, 1950-1970: Southcentral Alaska
Table 6-A. Estimated Total Native Population and Vital Statistics, 1950-1970: Southcentral Alaska (AMO '70's Basis)
Table 7. Estimated Total Native Population and Vital Statistics, 1950-1970: Southwest Alaska
Table 7-A. Estimated Total Native Population and Vital Statistics, 1950-1970: Southwest Alaska (AMO '70's Basis)
Table 8. Estimated Total Native Population and Vital Statistics, 1950-1970: Interior Alaska
Table 9. Estimated Total Native Population and Vital Statistics, 1950-1970: Northwest Alaska
Table 10. Native Population Projections by Region—1970-1985

 

The original version of this analysis of Alaska Native population was made in 1964 at the request of the then area director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Robert L. Bennett, for guides in discussing bureau goals in relation to the new Economic Opportunity Act. The purposes were to provide a basis for estimating current (1964) Native population by areas to identify and measure the underlying dynamics of population change, and to make projections by areas in the year 2000 that could be related to projections of anticipated new employment and relocation requirements. The resulting analysis was updated and appeared in revised form in December 1967 as a part of a broader analysis of economic and social guidelines for the Washington-Alaska Regional Medical Program.

The present version was produced, not in response to such specific requests, but because of the need for a new look at Alaska's Native population and its future.

INTRODUCTION

A comparison of the 1970 census with past census reports indicates that Alaska's Native population continued to grow in numbers. As before, growth patterns differed between regions and there was evidence that trends toward greater geographic mobility were increasing. Most significant in 1970 was evidence of increasing urbanization of the Native population.

Even before publication of preliminary 1970 census data, annual birth records by race and area indicated that the underlying forces of net natural increase (excess of births over deaths) and net migration, which had operated in a fairly consistent manner for about two decades prior to the mid-1960's, were rapidly changing. Thus, projections made on the basis of past analysis of those forces are no longer valid and should be replaced by projections made on a new set of assumptions reflecting recent changes. In addition, comparison of preliminary 1970 census data with cumulative natural increase of the Native population, as reflected in vital records since the 1960 census, suggests that the use of 1970 census data must be carefully qualified.

 

PRESENT AND RECENT PAST—LONG AND SHORT-TERM CHANGE

Table 1 summarizes the long-run trends in Native and non-Native populations from the time of the first European contacts through the 1970 census. Between 1960 and 1970, the long-run upward trend in the number of Alaska Natives (which was first recorded in the 1929-1939 census reports) continued, but not at the same high rate recorded between 1950 and 1960.

TABLE 1.

General Population Trends in Alaska, 1740-1960

Total

Native

Non-Native

Year or Date

No. of Persons

Trenda No. of Persons Trenda No. of Persons Trenda
Circa

1740-80

74,000

24.5

74,000

100.0

––

––

1839

39,813

13.2

39,107

52.8

706

0.3

1880

33,426

11.1

32,996

44.6

430

0.2

1890

32,052

10.6

25,354

34.3

6,698

2.7

June

1900

63,592

21.0

29,536

39.9

34,056

13.6

Dec. 31,

1909

64,356

21.3

25,331

34.2

39,025

15.6

Jan. 1,

1920

55,036

18.2

26,558

36.0

28,478

11.4

Oct. 1,

1929

59,278

19.6

29,983

40.5

29,295

11.7

Oct. 1,

1939

72,524

24.0

32,458

43.8

40,066

16.0

Apr. 1,

1950

128,643

42.6

33,863

45.8

94,780

37.8

Apr. 1,

1960

226,167

74.8

43,081

58.2

183,086

73.1

Apr. 1,

1970

302,173

100.0

51,712b

69.9

250,461

100.0

aNumber of persons expressed as percentage of maximum for each series.

bPartly estimated: Eskimo and Aleut included with "other races" in 1970 census reports.

SOURCES: 1740-80 based on estimates in J.W. Swanton, The Indian Tribes of North America (1952) and W.H. Oswalt, Alaskan Eskimos (1967). 1839 based on estimates by Venianinov and others in "Resources of Alaska," 10th Census of the United States, 1880, Vol. VIII, pp. 36-38. Other data from U.S. Bureau of the Census reports 1880 through 1970. April 1, 1970, total population from PC(1)-A3, issued May 1971. Native and non-Native for 1970 as tabulated from census tapes by Bureau of Indian Affairs and Alaska Department of Labor, May 4, 1971.


The 1970 census data show that between 1960 and 1970 the average annual growth rate for Natives declined in four of Alaska's five regions—Northwest, Interior, Southwest, and Southeast (where it turned into an annual rate of decline)—and increased substantially in one, Southcentral (see Table 2).1 The rate of change in the Northwest Region declined from 2.0 per cent between 1950 and 1960 to 1.3 per cent between 1960 and 1970, in the Interior Region from 2.3 per cent to 1.8 per cent, in the Southwest Region from 2.8 per cent to 1.9 per cent, and in the Southeast Region from 1.0 per cent to minus 0.9 per cent. In the Southcentral Region, the rate of change increased from 3.8 per cent between 1950 and 1960 to 5.8 per cent between 1960 and 1970. Most of this latter growth occurred within the Anchorage District, where the number of Natives counted went from 659 in 1950 to 2,107 in 1960 and to 5,286 in 1970.

TABLE 2.

Significant Native Population Movement within Regions—1950-1970

 

April 1, 1950

April 1, 1960

April 1, 1970

April 1, 1950-60

April 1, 1960-70

(number of persons)

(average annual rate of change)

Southeast Region

7,929

9,242

8,354

1.0

(0.9)

  Sitka Districta

2,055

2,837

1,363

3.2

(7.9)

  Balance

5,874

6,405

6,991

0.9

0.9

             
Southcentral Region

3,788

5,514

9,723

3.8

5.8

  Anchorage Districtb

659

2,107

5,286

11.2

9.6

  Balance

3,129

3,407

4,437

0.8

2.6

             
Southwest Region

10,838

14,314

17,364

2.8

1.9

  Bethel City

467

977

1,870

7.7

6.7

  Balance

10,371

13,337

15,494

2.5

1.5

             
Interior Region

3,666

4,638

5,615

2.3

1.8

  Fairbanks District

1,299

1,453

1,818

1.1

1.9

  Balance

2,367

3,185

3,797

2.9

1.7

             
Northwest Region

7,663

9,373

10,656

2.0

1.3

  Nome City

929

1,608

1,522

5.6

(0.5)

  Barrow City

924

1,215

1,904

2.7

4.5

  Balance

5,810

6,550

7,230

1.2

1.0

aMt. Edgecumbe native population: 1950, 718; 1960, 1,432; and 1970, 464.

b1970 preliminary racial classification of correction in 1970 count not available.


The 1960-1970 decline in the Southeast Region was caused primarily by reductions in the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) education and U.S. Public Health Service programs at the Mt. Edgecumbe facility in the Sitka District. Native population there rose from 718 persons in 1950 to 1,432 in 1960 and then fell to 464 in 1970. If the Sitka District is abstracted from the Southeast Region, Native population there appeared to have maintained a constant average annual growth of 0.9 per cent for the two decades.

The remaining three regions experiencing declines in their annual growth rates had quite different patterns of concentration within their principal growth centers. For the two decades, annual growth in the Fairbanks District (1.1 per cent and 1.9 per cent) was lower than or approximately the same as the rates for the Interior Region as a whole (2.9 per cent and 1.7 per cent), indicating no relative increase of urbanization of Native population within the region. Native population in Bethel grew at a declining rate (from 7.7 per cent between 1950 and 1960 to 6.7 per cent between 1960 and 1970), but at one that was substantially above the rates for the balance of the Southwest Region (2.5 per cent and 1.5 per cent). Within the Northwest Region, Nome's Native population, which had risen at an annual average rate of 5.6 per cent between 1950 and 1960, declined at an average rate of 0.5 per cent between 1960 and 1970. This pattern suggests that Nome served during the decade either as a staging area for further migration of Native residents of the region to other parts of Alaska, principally Anchorage, or a return to villages.2 On the other hand, at Barrow—in the North Slope area of the Northwest Region—the concentration of Native population grew at an increasing rate, rising from an annual average of 2.7 per cent between 1950 and 1960 to 4.5 per cent between 1960 and 1970.

 

COMPARISONS OF CENSUS INCREASES AND NATURAL INCREASES

In the 1950's and the 1960's, the cumulative net natural increase of the Native population, as presented in vital records collected by the state's Department of Health and Social Services (formerly called the Department of Health and Welfare), exceeded the net increase computed from successive census accounts. Between 1950 and 1960, vital records indicated a net increase in the Native population of 12,465, while the 1960 census enumeration indicated a total increase of only 9,197 (see Table 3). Because the vital records projections do not include the immediate effects of migration during the decade, it is to be expected that, where a region had experienced a net out-migration, they would exceed the estimates of actual resident population.

TABLE 3.

Comparison April 1, 1960, Census of Native Population and Vital Statistics Projection 1950-1960

 

Total Alaska

Southwest

Southcentral

Southwest

Interior

Northwest

April 1, 1960, Census

43,081

9,242

5,514

14,314

4,638

9,373

April 1, 1950, Census plus natural increase, 1950-59

46,349

10,827

5,470

14,051

5,610

10,511

Difference (1960-1950 Census)

(3,268)

(1,585)

44

263

(972)

(1,138)

Average annual growth rates on  basis of:            
1960 Census

2.4

1.0

3.8

2.8

2.3

2.0

Vital statistics projection

3.1

3.1

3.7

2.6

4.3

3.2

NOTE: Parentheses = negative forms


In my 1964 analysis, I accordingly noted that the differences might in part reflect net out-migration from the state and from three of the regions and net in-migration to two regions, but I assumed that such movements could not be of the magnitude indicated by the census-vital statistics comparisons. I suggested, therefore, that the differences might be accounted for by variations in the reporting standards of the two agencies, errors, and, most important, changes in the racial classification procedures between the 1950 and the 1960 census. Prior to 1960, racial classification for the census was made on the basis of the enumerator's observations; in 1960, it was possible for the members of a household to classify themselves. However, racial classification for vital records has consistently been made by the attending doctor, U.S. Commissioner, or other official reporting the event. Thus, the disparities between census reports and vital records could be caused in part by people of Native or part-Native blood who lived in urban centers and no longer considered themselves as Native.3

The differences between the increases shown in the 1970 census and those reported as cumulative net natural increase reported for the decade of the 1960's were greater both in absolute and relative terms than in 1960. The 1970 census counted 6,453 fewer Natives than had been projected by the vital records. This amounts to 12.5 per cent of the 1970 count of Alaska's total Native population.

Native population by place as estimated by the Federal Field Committee for Development Planning in January 1967 and January 1969 provides a further basis of comparison. These were compilations of estimates made individually by BIA officials and teachers, public health personnel, and others having some direct knowledge of the places and the people. The results of these estimates projected to April 1970 differ from both the 1970 census enumeration and the projections made from the combined 1960 census and vital records data (see Table 4). They also indicate the probability of a significant undercount of Natives in the 1970 census.

TABLE 4.

Comparison April 1, 1960, Census of Native Population and Other Estimates

  Total Alaska Southeast Southcentral Southwest Interior Northwest
April 1, 1970 Censusa 51,712 8,354 9,723 17,364 5,615 10,656
 
April 1, 1960 Census plus Natural increase CY 1960 through 1969 58,165 11,974 8,308 19,282 6,316 12,285
 
Federal Field Committee Estimate January 1969 projected to April 1, 1970b 56,826 11,030 8,948 18,579 6,523 15,746
 
April 1, 1970 Census less:  
  Projection 2 (6,453) (3,620) 1,415 (1,918) (701) (1,629)
  Projection 3 (5,114) (2,676) 775 (1,215) (908) (1,090)
 
Average Annual Growth Rates:  
  April 1, 1970 Census

1.8

(0.9)

5.8

1.9

1.8

1.3

  Projection 2

3.0

2.5

4.2

3.0

3.1

2.6

  Projection 3

2.7

1.8

4.9

2.6

3.4

2.3

NOTE: Parentheses = negative forms

aPartially estimated.

bFederal Field Committee for Development Planning in Alaska, Estimates of Native Population, January 1969, plus national increase for calendar year 1969 and one-fourth national increase for calendar year 1970.


As was the case in the 1960 comparison, assimilation and net out-migration undoubtedly would count for some of the "lost" Native population, but if these were the only explanations, the magnitude is too great not to have aroused comment, if not concern. For the state as a whole, an out-migration of 6,453 persons, or 12.5 per cent of the total Native population, could not have happened without notice.

In the case of the 1970 census, error appears as a more likely cause of part of these differences than in past census reports. The Anchorage Division, for example, was originally reported as having 124,542 persons. Under the pressure of protests from local government and community organizations, the Census Bureau investigated and discovered that there were indeed areas within the division that had not even been canvassed. When these residences were picked up in a supplemental count, the final figure was revised to 126,333. Similarly, when residents of Tanana protested their original enumeration of 120 persons, investigation by the bureau raised the population to 406, a correction of 286 persons otherwise lost. The village of Napaskiak (188 persons) was missed entirely, and apparently only Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) employees and their families were counted at Northway. These are errors that have so far been authenticated and corrected. There may be others.

Anchorage has always had a considerable floating population—seasonally unemployed construction workers, new arrivals to Alaska without future plans or work, etc. More recently, as suggested in Table 2, Anchorage has increasingly become the destination of Alaska Natives who leave the rural areas. If the census enumerators were capable of such large errors in covering persons with clearly identifiable "usual places of residence," it is entirely possible that they might commit even larger omissions in covering the street people in Anchorage.

Increasing census underenumeration has been a matter of national concern since the depression-induced migrations of the 1930's, and of World War II and after. For two years, the National Research Council has been examining questions of the political implications, economic consequences, and methodological difficulties of census underenumeration.4 More important than the resulting study's finding that the country's population as underenumerated by an estimated 3 per cent in the 1950 and 1960 censuses were the much larger deficiencies in the counts of specific population subgroups (e.g., young black males). Two general probable causes of this differential undercounting were examined. These were the problems of techniques, particularly the inadequacy of the census image of social reality and the attitude of certain subgroups and individuals toward government and the census.

Underlying the entire census-taking process is the unstated assumption that:

. . . most people have regular occupations, belong to churches or clubs, borrow money from banks, pay taxes, and vote; they can reasonably be expected to have a primary place of residence at a particular point in time, to put out mail boxes, to list themselves in a telephone directory, and to leave forwarding addresses when they move.

The study suggests that present enumeration methods do not adequately recognize the fact that "social structure is continually being renegotiated by people" and, therefore, the assumption that all people live in accordance with common patterns of social organization and behavior results in causing those who do not conform to become "invisible" to the census process. The other side of the coin is that many "uncounted persons prefer not to become 'socially visible' in a census," and that this preference may "attest to a profound estrangement from the values and everyday life experiences of the counted majority."

The Native population "lost" in the 1960 and 1970 census can thus be partially explained. The loss is due to a combination of actual, but uncounted, out-migration from the State of Alaska, counting and recounting errors, Natives "passing" as non-Natives where the situation permitted and there was a motivation to do so, and an increasing movement of Natives from established village residences, where they could be located and counted, to the floating populations in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Seattle, and elsewhere. What is not presently available is a measure of the degree to which each of these factors (or some we do not even know of) contributed to the undercount. This is worthy of further study. As the National Research Council study points out, this undercounting "may be viewed as a symptom of some social problem or of anomalous social circumstances," and. it is critically important both to those who have become invisible and to the health of the society as a whole that "the missing individuals are found and their life circumstances are fully described." The meaning of this present comparison for Alaska Natives and for all Alaskans should be clear.

 

VITAL STATISTICS 1950-1970

In the years between 1950 and 1970, major demographic changes other than regional migrations were taking place in Alaska. Tables 5 through 9 (two of which present alternative regional units in conformity with those used in recent Alaska Department of Labor reports) analyze these changes through a summary of the resident birth and resident death statistics by major regions for calendar years 1950 through 1970. The annual population estimates from which rates were computed were arrived at by adding to the census year base the annual net natural increase and redistributing to each year as "adjustment for other factors" the annual average of regional differences between the 1960 and 1970 census enumerations and the census plus vital statistics projections.5 Because of their official status, the census data undoubtedly will stand as the basis for "authoritative" demographic analysis in spite of the questions raised above. Population estimates for the intervening years between decinial census, therefore, must relate to the official benchmarks. What might be an "accurate" series of annual population estimates and vital statistics rates is beyond the scope of this effort and is probably unattainable in any case. However, the analysis presented does have the lesser virtue of at least being comparable to official census reports as the adjustment factor includes not only the true (but undisclosed) migration reflected in a comparison of census enumerations, but also the errors, omissions, and interpretive differences.

During the period of the 1950's, death rates generally declined in the Southwest, Northwest, and Interior regions from 20 or more per 1,000 persons to 10 or less. In the Southeast and Southcentral regions, the decline was somewhat less dramatic going from 12 or 10 to 10 or 9 deaths per 1,000 persons. Crude birth rates remained relatively constant at extremely high levels in all regions (about 50 per 1,000 persons in Northwest and Southcentral, 40 in Southeast and Southwest, and 60 in Interior). The varying rates of decline in crude death rates in each of the major regions of the state gave evidence of stabilizing during the 1960's, and high crude birth rates of about 50 per 1,000 population remained constant in all regions into the early 1960's. Some suggestion of decline in birth rates appeared in 1964 and 1965 in all regions, and by 1966 and 1967, a dramatic drop was recorded. For the remaining years of the decade, a clear downward trend was registered.

As was the case of the decline in death rates during the 1940's and 1950's, the decline in birth rates in the last half of the 1960's can be attributed to public programs which had this as their objective. The only surprise is that the programs appear to have had such immediate and dramatic results.6

TABLE 5.

Estimated Total Native Population and Vital Statistics, 1950-1970

SOUTHEAST ALASKA

 

Calendar Year Vital Statistics

 

Calendar Year Crude Vital Statistics Rates

 

Resident Births

Resident Deaths

Natural Increase

Adjustment for Other Factors

Estimated Population April 1

Births

Deaths

Natural Increase
 

(per 1,000 persons)

1950

343

93

250

(129)

7,929

43.3

11.7

31.5

1951

347

111

236

(136)

8,050

43.1

13.8

29.0

1952

348

94

254

(154)

8,150

42.7

11.5

31.2

1953

355

81

274

(124)

8,250

43.0

9.8

33.2

1954

370

70

300

(150)

8,400

44.1

8.3

35.8

 
1955

401

101

300

(150)

8,550

46.9

11.8

35.1

1956

408

80

328

(178)

8,700

46.9

9.2

37.7

1957

399

94

305

(155)

8,850

45.1

10.7

34.4

1958

404

87

317

(217)

9,000

44.9

9.7

35.2

1959

419

85

334

(192)

9,100

46.1

9.3

36.7

 
1960

417

98

319

(261)

9,242

45.1

10.6

34.5

1961

438

97

341

(241)

9,300

47.1

10.4

36.7

1962

426

93

333

(433)

9,400

45.3

9.9

35.4

1963

419

98

321

(521)

9,300

45.1

10.6

34.5

1964

361

88

273

(373)

9,100

39.7

9.7

30.0

 
1965

391

89

302

(502)

9,000

43.4

9.8

33.6

1966

330

88

242

(542)

8,800

37.5

10.0

27.5

1967

297

79

218

(318)

8,500

34.9

9.3

25.6

1968

294

92

202

(302)

8,400

35.0

11.0

24.0

1969

264

83

181

(127)

8,300

31.8

10.0

21.8

 
1970

311

76

235

(189)

8,354

37.2

9.1

28.1

1971

na

na

na

na

8,400

     

na: Data not available.

SOURCE: Births and deaths adjusted to residence provided by Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Statistical Services and Vital Records. Total population for 1950, 1960, and 1970 from U.S. Bureau of the Census.


TABLE 6.

Estimated Total Native Population and Vital Statistics, 1950-1970

SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA

 

Calendar Year Vital Statistics

 

Calendar Year Crude Vital Statistics Rates

 

Resident Births

Resident Deaths

Natural Increase

Adjustment for Other Factors

Estimated Population April 1

Births

Deaths

Natural Increase
 

(per 1,000 persons)

1950

165

46

119

(7)

3,788

43.6

12.1

31.4

1951

164

61

103

(3)

3,900

42.0

15.6

26.3

1952

183

52

131

19

4,000

45.6

12.9

32.6

1953

179

40

139

11

4,150

43.1

9.6

33.5

1954

181

46

135

15

4,300

42.2

10.7

31.4

 
1955

216

30

186

(36)

4,450

48.7

6.8

41.9

1956

259

44

215

35

4,600

56.0

9.5

46.5

1957

238

42

196

4

4,850

49.1

8.7

40.5

1958

276

47

229

21

5,050

54.7

9.3

45.4

1959

268

39

229

(15)

5,300

50.8

7.4

43.4

 
1960

308

37

271

15

5,514

55.9

6.7

49.1

1961

310

53

257

43

5,800

53.4

9.1

44.3

1962

329

49

280

120

6,100

53.9

8.0

45.9

1963

366

64

302

198

6,500

56.3

9.8

46.5

1964*

355

104*

251

149

7,000

50.7

14.9

35.8

 
1965

357

75

282

218

7,400

48.2

10.1

38.1

1966

339

80

259

241

7,900

42.9

10.1

32.8

1967

345

54

291

209

8,400

41.1

6.4

34.6

1968

361

68

293

107

8,900

40.7

7.6

32.9

1969

393

85

308

115

9,300

42.3

9.1

33.1

 
1970

453

74

379

98

9,723

46.6

7.6

39.0

1971

na

na

na

na

10,200

     

na: Data not available.

*High number of deaths due to Good Friday earthquake and aftermaths.

SOURCE: Births and deaths adjusted to residence provided by Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Statistical Services and Vital Records. Total population for 1950, 1960, and 1970 from U.S. Bureau of the Census.


TABLE 6-A.

Estimated Total Native Population and Vital Statistics, 1950-1970

SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA (AMO '70's Basis)a

 

Calendar Year Vital Statistics

 

Calendar Year Crude Vital Statistics Rates

 

Resident Births

Resident Deaths

Natural Increase

Adjustment for Other Factors

Estimated Population April 1

Births

Deaths

Natural Increase
 

(per 1,000 persons)

1950

216

58

158

(3)

4,695

46.0

12.4

33.6

1951

229

90

139

11

4,850

47.2

18.6

28.6

1952

236

75

161

(11)

5,000

47.2

15.0

32.2

1953

230

58

172

(22)

5,150

44.7

11.3

33.4

1954

257

70

187

13

5,300

48.5

13.2

35.3

 
1955

279

39

240

(40)

5,550

50.7

7.1

43.6

1956

317

67

250

5,700

55.6

11.8

43.8

1957

307

57

250

5,950

51.6

9.6

42.0

1958

348

55

293

7

6,200

56.1

8.9

47.2

1959

346

59

287

(57)

6,500

53.2

9.1

44.1

 
1960

383

56

327

43

6,730

56.9

8.3

48.6

1961

386

71

315

85

7,100

54.4

10.0

44.4

1962

434

64

370

130

7,500

57.8

8.5

49.3

1963

455

84

371

129

8,000

56.9

10.5

46.4

1964

445

123b

322

178

8,500

52.4

14.5b

37.9

 
1965

427

103

324

276

9,000

47.4

11.4

36.0

1966

417

110

307

293

9,600

43.4

11.5

31.9

1967

398

75

323

277

10,200

39.0

7.4

31.6

1968

423

91

332

168

10,800

39.1

8.4

30.7

1969

449

107

342

191

11,300

39.8

9.5

30.3

 
1970

498

87

411

156

11,833

42.1

7.4

34.7

1971

na

na

na

na

12,400

     

aIncludes Aleutain Islands District to comply with regional definition in Alaska Department of Labor, Alaska's Manpower Outlook for the 1970's.

bDue to 1964 earthquake.


TABLE 7.

Estimated Total Native Population and Vital Statistics, 1950-1970

SOUTHWEST ALASKA

 

Calendar Year Vital Statistics

 

Calendar Year Crude Vital Statistics Rates

 

Resident Births

Resident Deaths

Natural Increase

Adjustment for Other Factors

Estimated Population April 1

Births

Deaths

Natural Increase
 

(per 1,000 persons)

1950

324

152

172

40

10,838

29.9

14.0

15.9

1951

430

243

187

13

11,050

39.0

22.0

16.9

1952

442

221

221

29

11,250

39.3

19.6

19.6

1953

449

191

258

42

11,500

39.1

16.6

22.4

1954

493

161

332

(32)

11,800

41.9

13.7

28.2

 
1955

450

125

325

25

12,100

37.1

10.3

26.8

1956

569

177

392

8

12,500

45.6

14.2

31.4

1957

541

156

385

15

12,900

41.9

12.1

29.8

1958

554

125

429

21

13,300

41.6

9.4

32.2

1959

644

132

512

52

13,750

46.8

9.6

37.2

 
1960

662

135

527

59

14,314

46.2

9.4

36.8

1961

702

155

547

(47)

14,900

47.1

10.4

36.7

1962

727

143

584

(84)

15,400

47.2

9.3

37.9

1963

717

144

573

(173)

15,900

45.1

9.1

36.0

1964

683

138

545

(245)

16,300

41.9

8.4

33.4

 
1965

675

179

496

(396)

16,600

40.7

10.8

29.9

1966

699

155

544

(344)

16,700

41.8

9.3

32.6

1967

559

134

425

(325)

16,900

33.1

8.0

25.1

1968

503

115

388

(188)

17,000

29.6

6.8

22.8

1969

446

107

339

(175)

17,200

25.9

6.2

19.7

 
1970

480

102

378

(242)

17,364

27.6

5.8

21.8

1971

na

na

na

na

17,500

     

na: Data not available.

SOURCE: Births and deaths adjusted to residence provided by Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Statistical Services and Vital Records. Total population for 1950, 1960, and 1970 from U.S. Bureau of the Census.


TABLE 7-A.

Estimated Total Native Population and Vital Statistics, 1950-1970

SOUTHWEST ALASKA (AMO '70's Basis)a

 

Calendar Year Vital Statistics

 

Calendar Year Crude Vital Statistics Rates

 

Resident Births

Resident Deaths

Natural Increase

Adjustment for Other Factors

Estimated Population April 1

Births

Deaths

Natural Increase
 

(per 1,000 persons)

1950

273

140

133

36

9,931

27.5

14.1

13.4

1951

365

214

151

49

10,100

36.1

21.2

14.9

1952

389

198

191

9

10,300

37.8

19.2

18.6

1953

398

173

225

25

10,500

37.9

16.5

21.4

1954

423

137

286

64

10,750

39.3

12.7

26.6

 
1955

387

116

271

29

11,100

34.9

10.5

24.4

1956

511

154

357

43

11,400

44.8

13.5

31.3

1957

472

141

331

69

11,800

40.0

11.9

28.1

1958

482

117

365

35

12,200

39.5

9.6

29.9

1959

566

112

454

44

12,600

44.9

8.9

36.0

 
1960

587

116

471

31

13,098

44.8

8.9

35.9

1961

626

137

489

(89)

13,600

46.0

10.1

35.9

1962

623

128

495

(195)

14,000

44.5

9.1

35.4

1963

628

120

508

(208)

14,300

43.9

8.4

35.5

1964

593

119

474

(374)

14,600

40.6

8.2

32.4

 
1965

605

115

454

(354)

14,700

41.2

10.3

30.9

1966

621

125

496

(396)

14,800

41.9

8.4

33.5

1967

506

113

393

(293)

14,900

34.0

7.6

26.4

1968

442

92

350

(250)

15,000

29.4

6.1

23.3

1969

390

85

305

(151)

15,100

25.8

5.6

20.2

 
1970

435

89

346

(200)

15,254

28.5

5.8

22.7

1971

na

na

na

na

15,400

     

na: Data not available.

aExcludes Aleutain Islands District to comply with regional definition in Alaska Department of Labor, Alaska's Manpower Outlook for the 1970's.


TABLE 8.

Estimated Total Native Population and Vital Statistics, 1950-1970

INTERIOR ALASKA

 

Calendar Year Vital Statistics

 

Calendar Year Crude Vital Statistics Rates

 

Resident Births

Resident Deaths

Natural Increase

Adjustment for Other Factors

Estimated Population April 1

Births

Deaths

Natural Increase
 

(per 1,000 persons)

1950

186*

72

114

(80)

3,666

50.7*

19.6

31.1

1951

218

82

136

(36)

3,700

58.9

22.2

36.7

1952

247

60

187

(87)

3,800

65.0

15.8

49.2

1953

229

46

183

(83)

3,900

58.7

11.8

46.9

1954

237

38

199

(99)

4,000

59.3

9.5

49.9

 
1955

237

36

201

(101)

4,100

57.8

8.8

49.0

1956

249

36

213

(113)

4,200

59.3

8.6

50.7

1957

235

49

186

(86)

4,300

54.7

11.4

43.3

1958

272

43

229

(129)

4,400

61.8

9.8

52.0

1959

229

53

176

(38)

4,500

50.9

11.8

39.1

 
1960

223

50

173

(111)

4,638

48.1

10.8

37.3

1961

239

39

200

(100)

4,700

50.9

8.3

42.6

1962

249

46

203

(103)

4,800

51.9

9.6

42.3

1963

239

40

199

(99)

4,900

48.8

8.2

40.6

1964

236

48

188

(88)

5,000

47.2

9.6

37.6

 
1965

227

43

184

(84)

5,100

44.5

8.4

36.1

1966

200

61

139

(39)

5,200

38.5

11.7

26.7

1967

176

53

123

(23)

5,300

33.2

10.0

23.2

1968

175

41

134

(34)

5,400

32.4

7.6

24.8

1969

176

41

135

(20)

5,500

32.0

7.4

24.5

 
1970

184

51

133

(48)

5,615

32.7

9.0

23.7

1971

na

na

na

na

5,700

     

na: Data not available.

*1950 births probably under-reported.

SOURCE: Births and deaths adjusted to place of residence from Alaska Department of Health and Social Services and Vital Records. Total population for 1950, 1960, and 1970 from U.S. Bureau of the Census.


TABLE 9.

Estimated Total Native Population and Vital Statistics, 1950-1970

NORTHWEST ALASKA

 

Calendar Year Vital Statistics

 

Calendar Year Crude Vital Statistics Rates

 

Resident Births

Resident Deaths

Natural Increase

Adjustment for Other Factors

Estimated Population April 1

Births

Deaths

Natural Increase
 

(per 1,000 persons)

1950

358

211

147

(60)

7,663

46.7

27.5

19.2

1951

375

126

249

(99)

7,750

48.4

16.3

32.1

1952

371

117

254

(104)

7,900

47.0

14.8

32.2

1953

370

139

231

(81)

8,050

45.9

17.3

28.7

1954

385

108

277

(77)

8,200

47.0

13.2

33.8

 
1955

425

87

338

(138)

8,400

50.8

10.4

40.4

1956

423

109

314

(114)

8,600

49.2

12.7

36.5

1957

433

98

335

(135)

8,800

49.2

11.2

38.1

1958

447

92

355

(155)

9,000

49.7

10.3

39.5

1959

455

107

348

(175)

9,200

49.5

11.7

37.8

 
1960

449

84

355

(228)

9,373

47.9

9.0

37.9

1961

422

88

334

(134)

9,500

44.4

9.3

35.1

1962

439

98

341

(141)

9,700

45.3

10.1

35.2

1963

411

95

316

(216)

9,900

41.5

9.6

31.9

1964

413

95

318

(218)

10,000

41.3

9.5

31.8

 
1965

434

63

371

(271)

10,100

43.0

6.2

36.8

1966

375

94

281

(181)

10,200

36.8

9.2

27.6

1967

325

85

240

(140)

10,300

31.6

8.3

23.3

1968

254

75

179

(79)

10,400

24.4

7.2

17.2

1969

240

63

177

(21)

10,500

22.9

6.0

16.9

 
1970

290

76

214

(70)

10,656

27.2

7.1

20.1

1971

na

na

na

na

10,800

     

na: Data not available.

SOURCE: Births and deaths adjusted to residence provided by Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Statistical Services and Vital Records. Total population for 1950, 1960, and 1970 from U.S. Bureau of the Census.

 

NATIVE POPULATION PROJECTIONS 1970-1985

In Table 10, Native population by regions has been projected on the basis of two extreme sets of assumptions and a short-hand methodology that probably define the limits within which actual change will take place. The first set is based on the assumption that there will be no out-migration of Native population from the state nor any migration between regions of the state. Net natural increase is assumed to be the only cause of change. Regional rates of annual net natural increase after 1971 are assumed to progressively decline from the annual average for the last five years of actual vital statistics in each region by 0.2 per cent for each five year period until a rate of 2.0 is reached.

TABLE 10.

Native Population Projections by Regions — 1970-1985

Year

Total Alaska

Southeast

Southcentral

Southwest

Interior

Northwest

 

Native Population Projection (thousands of persons) — No Migrationa

1970

51.7

8.4

9.7

17.4

5.6

10.7

1971

52.6

8.4

10.2

17.5

5.7

10.8

1975

58.6

9.5

11.4

19.5

6.3

11.9

1980

65.3

10.6

13.0

21.5

7.1

13.1

1985

72.3

11.7

14.6

23.7

7.8

14.5

 

Native Population Projection (thousands of persons) — On Non-Native Civilian Distributionb

1970

51.7

7.9

32.2

1.6

9.6

0.4

1971

52.6

8.0

32.8

1.6

9.8

0.4

1975

58.6

8.7

34.4

2.0

11.8

1.7

1980

65.3

10.3

37.5

3.4

12.1

2.0

1985

72.3

14.5

41.8

3.0

11.6

1.4

aPopulation 1975 through 2000 on assumption that average annual rate of net national increase for period 1965-69 progressively declines in each region 0.2 percent per five-year period until annual rate of 2 per cent.

bTotal Alaska population for each year allocation to region as follows: 1970 and 1971, same relative distribution as non-Native civilian population; 1975 through 1985, same relative distribution as civilian workforce projections in Alaska Department of Labor, Alaska Manpower Outlook—1970's, reports, minor up-dating on projection to 1985 by G.W. Rogers.


The second set of projections is made on the assumption that the total Native population within the entire state will be the same as in the first set, but regional allocations will be in proportion to the regional distribution of recent projections of civilian workforce.7 Thereby, the projections assume that statewide increase in Native population will be in response to a progressively declining rate of net natural increase, but that the resulting population will move in response to economic imperatives (i.e., job opportunities). The procedure abstracts completely from such hindrances to mobility as lack of education and training, cultural restraints, etc.

Both sets of projections are extreme and, in their absolute nature, unrealistic. Taken together, however, they do set probable limits within which actual change will take place. They serve a further purpose in indicating the degree to which actual change will take place. [ ] must be increased if Natives are to participate as fully in general economic development as other Alaskans. On this basis, for example, the Southwest and Northwest regions appear as areas of increasing population surplus, while the Southcentral Region is one of high population deficit. This suggests not only that the inter-regional movements indicated in the decade of the 1960's will continue and possibly accelerate, but that public programs should be designed to promote such mobility.

The base for these future estimates is the 1970 census enumeration. The discussion above has stressed the high probability of error and undercounting in the official reports. This would be reflected throughout Table 10. What is projected, in other words, is the census version of "Alaska Native Population." Enrollment under Native land claim settlements in the near future should provide new and more accurate bases for further analysis and projection.

Because of the sudden downturn in birth rates in all regions in the mid-1960's, the population-employment imbalance in the future does not appear to be as severe as predicted in my projections made in 1964 and 1967. In the earlier projections, it had been assumed that these low birth rates would not be approached for another decade or so. Because changes in these rates can have such profound effects, it is essential that studies such as this be made on an annual basis.


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