Portland, Oregon Population 2024

616,840

Portland is a city located in Clackamas County, Multnomah County, and Washington County Oregon. Portland has a 2024 population of 616,840. It is also the county seat of Multnomah County. Portland is currently declining at a rate of -1.46% annually and its population has decreased by -5.58% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 653,294 in 2020.

The average household income in Portland is $117,687 with a poverty rate of 12.18%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Portland is 38.3 years, 38.3 years for males, and 38.4 years for females.

Portland is the most populous city in the state of Oregon and the third most populous city in the Pacific Northwest, after Seattle and Vancouver. With its many rose gardens, Portland is known as the City of Roses, and it has been incorporated since 1851.

Portland is currently the 26th largest city in the US, just a few spots behind Seattle, the largest city in the Northwest. When the entire metro area of Portland (five counties in Oregon, and two counties in Washington) is tallied, and the total is nearly 2.4 million. There are about 4,375 Portlanders per square mile.

Portland Diversity

The African American population of Portland was just 2,000 in 1940, comprised mostly of railroad employees, many of whom were drawn to the area during the wartime ship construction boom. Many black people who came to the city settled in certain neighborhoods, including Vanport and Abina. Today, the African American population of Portland (6.3%) is more than three times the Oregon average, with more than two-thirds of all African American residents of Oregon living in the city.

Vietnamese Americans makeup 2.2% of the city's total population and represent the largest Asian ethnic group, followed by Chinese (1.7%), Filipino (0.6%), Korean (0.4%), Laotian (0.4%), Hmong (0.2%) and Cambodian (0.1%). There are two Chinatowns in Portland. About 12,000 Vietnamese people live in the city, which is one of the largest Vietnamese populations in the country.

Portland does remain a predominantly white city, although the percentage has dropped over the last fifty years. In 1940, 98% of the population was white. In 2009, Portland still had the 5th highest percentage of white residents among the 40 largest metropolitan areas in the country, while a study in 2007 found that Portland's urban area has the highest rate of white people in the United States.

The most significant influx of minorities into Portland occurred during World War II when the African American population grew more than ten times. After the war, a flood in Vanport displaced many. Issues like police hostility, mortgage discrimination, and job discrimination led to half of the black population leaving Portland after the war.

Portland Population Growth

's population grew more than 10% from 2000 and 2010, and population growth in the Portland metro area has outpaced the national average for the last decade. This trend is expected to continue for the next five decades. Since the 2010 census, the population has grown an additional 8.3%.

A recent Forbes article found that Portland is the 10th fastest growing metropolitan area in the United States with a stable growth rate of 1.8% per year. Portland also leads Oregon's population growth, with numbers declining in many rural and eastern areas in favor of the city.

In October 2015, Oregon Metro released its urban growth report, which contains their population projections for the next twenty years. Metro is projecting continued growth until 2040, albeit at a slower rate than in previous forecasts. The metro area is anticipated to cross 3 million residents by 2040.

Oregon's population growth temporarily declined during the recession, which hit the region harder than most areas of the country, but it has already started to pick up with home values rising and job opportunities improving. The state still has higher-than-average unemployment and underemployment.

The area that is now Portland was occupied for centuries by two different bands of Upper Chinook Indians, who fished and traded along the river. The Tualatin Plains eventually became a settlement of Portland. In 1843, a man named William Overton saw commercial potential but lacked the money for a land claim. He made a deal with his partner, Asa Lovejoy, and Boston, for $0.25 to share the claim of 640 acres of land.

Overton eventually sold his half to Francis Pettygrove of Portland, Maine. Pettygrove and Lovejoy both wanted to name the new city after their home towns. This was settled in 1845 by a coin toss, which Pettygrove of Portland, Maine won.

When it was incorporated in 1851, Portland had more than 800 inhabitants, which grew to 17,500 by 1879.

Portland Demographics

According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Portland was:

  • White: 72.11%
  • Two or more races: 9.22%
  • Asian: 8.44%
  • Black or African American: 5.88%
  • Other race: 2.82%
  • Native American: 0.97%
  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.56%
State
Oregon
Land Area (mi²)
133.4 sq mi
Density (mi²)
4,623.30/sq mi
Growth Since 2020
-5.58% (-36,454)
The current population of Portland, Oregon is 616,840 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates.The last official US Census in 2020 recorded the population at 653,294.

Portland, Oregon Population 2024

Population by Race

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Race
Population
Percentage (of total)
White465,87872.11%
Two or more races59,5989.22%
Asian54,5168.44%
Black or African American37,9865.88%
Other race18,2432.82%
Native American6,2920.97%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander3,5880.56%

White

Two or more races

Asian

Black or African American

Other race

Native American

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Portland Population by Race

Portland Population Pyramid 2024

Portland Median Age

38.3

Total

38.3

Male

38.4

Female

Portland Adults

There are 537,726 adults, (90,316 of whom are seniors) in Portland.

Portland Age Dependency

44.4

Age Dependency Ratio

20.2

Old Age Dependency Ratio

24.2

Child Dependency Ratio

Portland Sex Ratio

Female324,12050.17%
Male321,98149.83%

Portland Population by Age

Portland Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

Household Type
Count
Average Size
Owner
Renter
All283,8962.2153.346.7
Non Family144,9691.4336.463.6
Married105,290377.422.6
Female22,9013.1647.952.1
Male10,7363.0856.743.3

2.91

Average Family Size

2.21

Average Household Size

53.3%

Rate of Home Ownership

Married

Male

Female

NonFamily

owner

renter

Portland Households and Families

Male

Female

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Less Than 9th Grade

9th to 12th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Associates Degree

Bachelors Degree

Graduate Degree

Portland Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)

Portland Educational Attainment by Race

High School Graduation Rate

Bachelors Rate

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The highest rate of high school graduation is among white people with a rate of 96.55%.

The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among white people with a rate of 57.59%.

Portland Educational Attainment by Race

All

Male

Female

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$54,406

Average Earnings

$58,044

Average Male

$50,103

Average Female

Portland Earnings by Educational Attainment

Portland Language by Age

Only English

Spanish

Other Indo-European Languages

Asian and Pacific Island Languages

Other Languages

Portland Language

82.12% of Portland residents speak only English, while 17.88% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Asian and Pacific Island languages, which is spoken by 6.31% of the population.

Portland Language

Portland Poverty by Race

rate

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Name
Total
In Poverty
Poverty Rate
White432,84242,6009.84%
Hispanic64,54210,42516.15%
Black37,0889,75026.29%
Multiple58,1558,16714.04%
Asian53,4807,33013.71%
Other18,0603,95221.88%
Native5,9681,21920.43%
Islander3,55890225.35%

12.18%

Overall Poverty Rate

11.86%

Male Poverty Rate

12.49%

Female Poverty Rate

Poverty in Portland

The race most likely to be in poverty in Portland is Black, with 26.29% below the poverty level.

The race least likely to be in poverty in Portland is White, with 9.84% below the poverty level.

The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 1.73%. Among those working part-time, it was 16.49%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 25.84%.

Portland Poverty

rate

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Rate
Poverty
Less Than 9th Grade27.96%
High School18.93%
Some College12.95%
Bachelors or Greater5.37%

Portland Poverty Rate by Education

rate

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Rate
Poverty
Female Unemployed34.51%
Male Unemployed27.48%
Female Employed6.72%
Male Employed5.08%

Portland Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

Portland Income by Household Type

Households

Families

MarriedFamilies

NonFamilies

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mean

median

Income by Household Type

Portland Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Marriage Rates

40.6%

Overall Marriage Rate

41.2%

Male Marriage Rate

40.1%

Female Marriage Rate

Portland Married by Age and Sex

male

female

Portland Marriage

The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 45-54.

Portland Marital Status by Race

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Portland Marital Status

Second Gulf War

First Gulf War

Vietnam

Korea

World War II

25,627

Number of Veterans

22,813

Male Veterans

2,814

Female Veterans

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Portland Veterans by War

count

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Portland Veterans by Age

count

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Portland Veterans by Race

Portland Veterans by Education

Less Than 9th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Bachelors or Greater

10.12%

Veteran Poverty Rate

30.26%

Veteran Disability Rate

Portland Veterans by Education

LaborForceParticipation

70.9%

Labor Force Participation

66.9%

Employment Rate

5.6%

Unemployment Rate

Portland Employment by Age

LaborForceParticipation

Portland Employment by Race

LaborForceParticipation

Portland Employment by Education

Origin of Non-Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.

Origin of Naturalized Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

38.24%

Born in Portland

87.36%

Native Born

12.64%

Foreign Born

5.33%

Non Citizen

7.31%

Naturalized

Place of Birth

87.36% of Portland residents were born in the United States, with 38.24% having been born in Oregon. 5.33% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.

Portland Place of Birth

Note: data after 2022 is projected based on recent change

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Year
Population
Growth
Growth Rate
2029571,272-9,114-1.57%
2028580,386-9,113-1.55%
2027589,499-9,114-1.52%
2026598,613-9,113-1.5%
2025607,726-9,114-1.48%
2024616,840-9,113-1.46%
2023625,953-9,114-1.44%
2022635,067-8,308-1.29%
2021643,375-9,919-1.52%
2020653,294-1,084-0.17%
2019654,3783,2240.5%
2018651,1542,9780.46%
2017648,1765,1110.79%
2016643,06511,1201.76%
2015631,94510,9701.77%
2014620,97510,7211.76%
2013610,2545,7330.95%
2012604,5218,9111.5%
2011595,61010,1341.73%
2010585,476
2000529,12191,80220.99%
1990437,31969,17118.79%
1980368,148-11,819-3.11%
1970379,9677,2911.96%
1960372,676-952-0.25%
1950373,62868,23422.34%
1940305,3943,5791.19%
1930301,81543,52716.85%
1920258,28851,07424.65%
1910207,214116,788129.15%
190090,42644,04194.95%
189046,38528,808163.9%
188017,5779,284111.95%
18708,2935,419188.55%
18602,874-568,398-99.5%
showing: 35 rows

Portland Population by Year