Alaska Financial Distress Profile
Composite distress data for 30 counties, updated quarterly from federal sources. Household debt, delinquency, foreclosure law, and county-level distress scores compared to national averages.
· Data from NY Fed, CFPB, BLS, US Courts, Q4 2025
Behind on your mortgage in Alaska? See your options under Alaska law →
Alaska ranks #35 nationally for household financial distress. County Distress Index details are listed separately for its 30 counties. The national State Distress Index average is 50.0.
How Does Alaska Compare to the National Average?
Alaska is above the national average on 2 of 5 key household distress metrics. Credit card delinquency stands at 9.8% (below the 12.4% national rate), auto loan delinquency at 2.9%, and total debt per capita at $69,460.
Since 2019, credit card delinquency in Alaska has risen 3.2pp and total household debt has grown 16.5%. The state shows a mixed distress picture across different debt categories.
Key Statistics at a Glance
State Distress Index: Alaska
Domain Breakdown
The national American Distress Index reads 44.6 (Typical). On average, its inputs sit higher than in 45% of their own quarterly histories since 2005. Alaska's State Distress Index of 38.4 (Second-least distressed fifth) is computed from 4 equal-weighted domains covering delinquency, default and legal signals, labor, and the safety-net buffer.
Alaska vs. National Average
Delinquency rates measure the share of loan accounts 30 or more days past due. Higher rates signal greater household financial stress. Debt and balance figures are per capita, adjusted for state population.
Download all states (CSV)Alaska vs. National: 5 Key Metrics (Q4 2025)
Source: NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax, Q4 2025.
Similar States by Distress Level
States ranked closest to Alaska (#35) on the State Distress Index. Peer comparison reveals whether distress patterns are regional or structural.
Change Since 2019
Pre-pandemic 2019 values provide a baseline for how distress has evolved. Credit card and auto loan delinquency have risen sharply in most states since pandemic-era forbearance protections expired.
| Metric | 2019 | 2025 | Change | Nat'l 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Card Delinquency | 6.6% | 9.8% | +3.2pp | 12.4% |
| Auto Loan Delinquency | 2.5% | 2.9% | +0.4pp | 5.2% |
| Mortgage Delinquency | 0.60% | 0.72% | +0.1pp | 0.94% |
| Total Debt per Capita | $59,630 | $69,460 | +16.5% | $63,200 |
| CC Balance per Capita | $4,440 | $5,250 | +18.2% | $4,350 |
Alaska Foreclosure Law Summary
Understanding your state's foreclosure process is critical if you fall behind on mortgage payments. Alaska primarily uses non-judicial foreclosure.
Alaska has two foreclosure tracks: (1) non-judicial trustee's sale under AS 34.20.070 et seq., the standard and most common path for residential foreclosures using deeds of trust; and (2) judicial foreclosure under AS 09.45.170 et seq.
Full Alaska foreclosure law guide →State-Level Divergence
National averages mask wide variation across states. Alaska's credit card delinquency of 9.8% falls below the national 12.4%, but other metrics tell a more nuanced story. With 2 of 5 tracked metrics above national averages and a Distress Index of 38.4 (Second-least distressed fifth), the pressure on Alaska households is real. The Household Debt by State roundup tracks all 51 jurisdictions.
Distress by County
The County Distress Index scores every county in Alaska on a 0-100 scale using five equal-weighted domains: delinquency, default and legal, debt burden, labor, and safety net and buffer. Alaska's 30 counties average 42.4 — below the national county mean of 50.0.
Distress Fifth Distribution
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Most Distressed Counties
| County | Score | Distress Fifth | Top Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Arctic Borough | 64.9 | Second-most distressed fifth | Labor |
| Bethel Census Area | 59.5 | Second-most distressed fifth | Labor |
| Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area | 58.2 | Second-most distressed fifth | Labor |
| Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area | 57.9 | Second-most distressed fifth | Labor |
| Kusilvak Census Area | 57.4 | Second-most distressed fifth | Labor |
Northwest Arctic Borough ranks #739 most distressed nationally out of 3,144 counties.
Least Distressed Counties
| County | Score | Distress Fifth | Top Domain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Juneau City and Borough | 25.9 | Least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Sitka City and Borough | 27.9 | Least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Denali Borough | 28.0 | Least distressed fifth | Labor |
| Aleutians West Census Area | 30.9 | Least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Chugach Census Area | 31.2 | Least distressed fifth | Labor |
The gap between Alaska's most and least distressed counties is 39.0 points — Northwest Arctic Borough (64.9, Second-most distressed fifth) vs. Juneau City and Borough (25.9, Least distressed fifth). That spread reveals two very different economic realities within the same state.
Explore all 30 Alaska counties →CFPB Mortgage Complaints in Alaska
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has received 506 mortgage complaints from Alaska since 2012 — 69.0 per 100,000 residents, below the national rate of 129.3 per 100K. Alaska ranks #38 of 51 jurisdictions for complaint density.
| Year | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complaints | 30 | 37 | 48 | 35 | 35 | 42 |
Source: CFPB Consumer Complaint Database. Filed a mortgage complaint? Search the complaint database.
Bankruptcy Filings: Alaska
Bankruptcy filings reflect the downstream consequence of sustained financial distress — when households exhaust savings, fall behind on debt, and run out of alternatives. Alaska's filing rate is below the national average.
Source: U.S. Courts, Administrative Office. Table F-2: Cases Commenced by Chapter. Per-capita rates use 2024 Census population estimates.
Credit Distress: Alaska
The Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer tracks credit health metrics from Equifax data. 11.5% of Alaska residents have debt in collections — below the national rate of 13.9%. 12.1% have subprime credit scores (below 620), and 32.4% are credit-constrained.
Source: Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer. Data from NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax. 2025 Q1.
Economic Context: Alaska
SNAP enrollment and unemployment rates provide upstream context for household debt distress. Higher food assistance enrollment signals that more families are struggling with basic expenses, while elevated unemployment directly reduces income available for debt service.
Sources: USDA Food and Nutrition Service, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics. Population: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 estimates.
Safety Net Strength: Alaska
The Safety Net Index measures how much support infrastructure is available to households in financial distress — combining healthcare coverage, food assistance, emergency housing funds, and legal protections. Alaska scores 47 out of 100 (Weak), ranking #29 of 51 jurisdictions.
Component Breakdown
Sources: Kaiser Family Foundation (Medicaid, 2024), USDA FNS (SNAP, 2025), U.S. Treasury HAF program status, state foreclosure statutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the credit card delinquency rate in Alaska?
The credit card delinquency rate in Alaska is 9.8% as of Q4 2025, ranking #40 among all states and DC. The national average is 12.4%. This rate has risen from 6.6% in 2019.
How does Alaska's household debt compare to the national average?
Alaska residents carry $69,460 in total debt per capita, above the national average of $63,200. Debt per capita has grown 16.5% since 2019. Alaska ranks #14 nationally for total household debt per capita.
What is the auto loan delinquency rate in Alaska?
Auto loan delinquency in Alaska stands at 2.9% as of Q4 2025, below the national rate of 5.2%. This ranks #48 nationally. The rate has risen from 2.5% in 2019.
What type of foreclosure process does Alaska use?
Alaska primarily uses non-judicial foreclosure. This allows lenders to foreclose without court proceedings, resulting in a faster process. See our full Alaska foreclosure law guide for timelines, protections, and legal resources.
Is Alaska above or below the national average for financial distress?
Alaska scores 38.4 on the State Distress Index (Second-least distressed fifth), ranking #35 of 51 jurisdictions. That is 11.6 points below the national state average of 50.0. This composite score is built from 4 domains: delinquency, default and legal, labor, and safety net and buffer. Separately, the national American Distress Index reads 44.6 (Typical) for the country over time. On average, its inputs sit higher than in 45% of their own quarterly histories since 2005.
How many CFPB mortgage complaints have been filed in Alaska?
The CFPB has received 506 mortgage complaints from Alaska since 2012, a rate of 69.0 per 100,000 residents. This ranks #38 of 51 jurisdictions. The national average is 129.3 per 100K. Companies responded to 99% of Alaska complaints within the required timeframe.
What is the bankruptcy filing rate in Alaska?
Alaska had 238 bankruptcy filings in the 12-month period ending Dec 2025, a rate of 32.4 per 100,000 residents — below the national rate of 169.1 per 100K. This ranks #51 of 51 jurisdictions. Chapter 7 filings account for 72.3% and Chapter 13 for 26.1%. Filings changed +10.2% year-over-year.
What percentage of people in Alaska have debt in collections?
11.5% of individuals in Alaska have debt in collections, below the national rate of 13.9%. This ranks #28 of 51 jurisdictions. Additionally, 12.1% of Alaska residents have subprime credit scores (below 620), compared to 16.9% nationally. Data from the Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer (NY Fed / Equifax).
What is the SNAP enrollment rate in Alaska?
66,344 residents of Alaska receive SNAP benefits, an enrollment rate of 9.0% — below the national rate of 11.2%. This ranks #33 of 51 jurisdictions. SNAP participation has changed +4.2% year-over-year. The pre-pandemic rate was 10.8%.
How strong is Alaska's financial safety net?
Alaska scores 47 out of 100 on the Safety Net Index, ranking #29 of 51 jurisdictions (Weak). The score combines Medicaid coverage (21.5% enrollment rate, expansion state), SNAP enrollment (9%), Homeowner Assistance Fund status (winding down), and foreclosure legal protections. The national average is 48.1.
Which Alaska counties have the highest financial distress?
Northwest Arctic Borough is the most distressed county in Alaska with a County Distress Index score of 64.9 (Second-most distressed fifth), ranking #739 nationally out of 3,144 counties. Bethel Census Area (59.5), Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area (58.2), Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area (57.9) round out the top distressed counties. Juneau City and Borough is the least distressed at 25.9 (Least distressed fifth). See all 30 counties at /counties/alaska/.
How long can foreclosure take in Alaska?
Alaska uses non-judicial foreclosure, which allows lenders to foreclose without court proceedings. Timeline varies by county and complexity. Homeowners have a right to cure: You can cure the default and reinstate the loan at any time before the trustee's…. The homestead exemption is $72,900. Full details at /help/foreclosure/alaska/.
Where does Alaska rank for financial distress?
Alaska scores 38.4 on the State Distress Index (Second-least distressed fifth), ranking #35 of 51 jurisdictions. 2 of 5 key metrics exceed national averages. The highest SDI domain is Labor. County Distress Index details are listed separately by county. The safety net ranks #29 (Weak).
Data Sources
NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel
State-level household debt and delinquency statistics from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, based on Equifax credit bureau data. Updated quarterly.
American Distress Index
Composite index tracking U.S. household financial distress across five equal-weighted domains. National score as of the latest available quarter.
Alaska Foreclosure Statutes
State foreclosure law data compiled from primary statutory sources and validated against legal databases. Last verified 2026-03-10.
CFPB Complaint Database
Mortgage complaints filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 2012–present. Density calculated using 2024 Census population estimates.
USDA SNAP State Activity
Monthly SNAP participation by state from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. Enrollment rates computed against 2024 Census population estimates.
U.S. Bankruptcy Courts
Annual bankruptcy filings by chapter and district from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Per-capita rates computed against 2024 Census population estimates.
Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer
Quarterly credit health metrics (collections, subprime share, delinquency, credit-constrained rates) from Equifax via the NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel.
Safety Net Index
Composite score from KFF Medicaid enrollment (2024), USDA SNAP participation (2025), U.S. Treasury HAF program status, and state foreclosure legal protections.