Like the rest of the Country, Portland is changing. Overall, the proportion of residents in the city who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or as People of Color (BIPOC) continues to increase over time, demonstrating an increase in the racial and ethnic diversity of our city.

Rising diversity is a tremendous asset. Racial and cultural diversity creates thriving, resilient, and prosperous communities. Dismantling structural racism, reducing barriers, and achieving equity – just and fair inclusion – is an already urgent imperative that will grow in importance as our population grows more diverse.

Data about the racial and ethnic diversity of our city helps us to monitor population changes. Analyzed or used alongside other data, it can help us to better understand outcomes and disparities, and guide equitable decision-making, planning, and service delivery.

Our demography is changing, and our economic and social future depends on how we respond to these changes.

The proportion of BIPOC Portlanders is an important demographic indicator because it serves as a benchmark for citywide performance metrics and compliance obligations. Historically less diverse than other parts of the Country, Portland’s rate of change now mirrors state and national trends. Portland’s ratio is more diverse than the state of Oregon, though less than the national average (FIG 2.)

FIG2: 

The population of Portland in 2024 is estimated at 639,448 residents. Though the overall growth of Portland has slowed in recent years, with only a small overall population increase of roughly 1% between 2014 and 2024, the percentage of Portlanders who identify as BIPOC has steadily grown. In 2024, more than one-third of Portland identified with a racial or ethnic marker other than “white-alone,” representing roughly a 20% increase in BIPOC-identification within Portland over the past decade (FIG 1.)

FIG 1: 

In 2024, the most common racial or ethnic identity in Portland was white-alone, non-Latine or Hispanic, accounting for 65% of all residents (FIG 3.) Latine or Hispanic-identified Portlanders, all races, made up the next largest group at 13%, followed by Asian Portlanders representing 7.8% of our population. The percent of Black or African American Portlanders with a single race/ ethnicity appears to have declined slightly over the past decade, though taking margins of error into consideration, statistical review shows there’s no significant change. Slightly less than 1% of our population identifies with a single unlisted race or ethnicity. Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander Portlanders make up approximately 0.8% of the population, while Native American Portlanders represent roughly 0.2% of our population.

FIG 3: 

Fueling the growth of Portlanders who identifying as BIPOC are people with multi-racial identities (“two or more race/ethnicities), and with identities not captured within the dominant categories (“race-other, not specified”). In particular, Portlanders who identify with two or more races rose to almost 8% of our population (FIG 4.) 

FIG 4:

The data is from the American Community Survey, Decennial Census, and the National Equity Atlas. We rely on ACS table B03002. Our population figures come from the PSU Population Research Center.

The Census collects Race and Ethnicity data separately, allowing respondents to select one or multiple races, while also indicating if they identify as Latine or Hispanic. Latine or Hispanic individuals of all racial identities were included in our count of BIPOC Portlanders.

The disaggregated portrait of BIPOC Portland displays the proportion of race/ethnic groups selected by multi-racial Portlanders. Because respondents may select many races, the total count of race/ethnicities will be larger than the total distinct count of respondents.

When working with Census numbers, there is a choice between current and certain numbers. Viewing sample data as percentages of a whole, rather than an absolute count, is recommended by the Census. Also, samples may be skewed based on a population’s willingness to engage with government agencies. Whenever possible, it is important to verify and augment Census samples with community-centered data collection efforts

Information on: PORTLAND’S POPULATION: Number of residents in the city of Portland

Information on:

• Portland Housing Bureau’s State of Housing Report
• Portland Civic Life’s Neighborhood Profiles
• Population Research Center at Portland State University
• National Equity Atlas
• US Census Bureau

These resources provide a more complete picture of Portlanders and include information on different demographics, geographical context, and trends within intersectional demographics related to population health or well-being. Additional breakdown via other categories, such as rates of international or state to state migration to Portland, could also help explain motivators behind population trends.