Race and Ethnicity in Oregon 2024

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Oregon Population by Race and Ethnicity

Oregon the 27th largest U.S. state by population has a racially and ethnically diverse population. As of 2020, White (Non-Hispanic) are the largest group in California followed by Hispanic or Latino Americans.

also read about the Population of Oregon

Ethnic and Racial Composition

In 2020, the White alone (non-Hispanic) population was the largest racial or ethnic group in Oregon, comprising 71.65% of the total population. It was followed by the Hispanic or Latino population whose share was 13.89%.

Two or more races population was the third largest at 6.11%. The Asian Population is at 4.53% and African Americans at 1.86%.

The ethnic composition of Oregon is as follows

Race and Origin	Actual Population	Percentage 2020
White alone	3,036,158	71.65%
Hispanic or Latino	588,757	13.89%
Two or more races	258,685	6.11%
Asian alone	191,797	4.53%
Black or African American alone	78,658	1.86%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone	42,042	0.99%
Some Other Race alone	22,962	0.54%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	18,197	0.43%
Total:	4,237,256

Source: US Census 2020

Ancestry in Oregon

As per Census Studies and estimate German, English, Irish, American, and Italian have made the five largest ancestry groups in Oregon. In 2020, 5.1% of the population considered themselves to be of only American ancestry (regardless of race or ethnicity). Many were of Multi race, English, Scotch-Irish, or European descent; however, their families have lived in the state for so long that they choose to identify as having “American” ancestry or do not know their ancestry.

The Largest Ancestry in Oregon is as follows

#	Ancestry	Estimate	Percentage
1	German	683,842	16.2%
2	English	450,646	10.7%
3	Irish	438,094	10.4%
4	American	214,059	5.1%
5	Italian	152,161	3.6%
6	Norwegian	141,848	3.4%
7	French (except Basque)	115,227	2.7%
8	Scottish	110,543	2.6%
9	Swedish	96,361	2.3%
10	Dutch	71,187	1.7%
11	Polish	67,787	1.6%
12	Scotch-Irish	49,563	1.2%
13	Welsh	44,134	1.0%
14	Russian	40,289	1.0%
15	Danish	37,517	0.9%
16	Swiss	29,712	0.7%
17	French Canadian	28,563	0.7%
18	Subsaharan African	24,159	0.6%
19	Ukrainian	18,417	0.4%
20	Portuguese	17,945	0.4%
21	Arab	16,951	0.4%
22	Greek	16,556	0.4%
23	Czech	15,856	0.4%
24	Hungarian	13,844	0.3%
25	Lithuanian	6,082	0.1%
26	West Indian	4,853	0.1%
27	Slovak	4,075	0.1%

Source: US Census 2020

also read about Cities and Counties in Oregon

Europeans in Oregon

Non-Hispanics Whites account for nearly 71.65% of Oregon’s population. German, English, Irish, and Italian Americans have made up the largest European ancestry groups in Oregon. As per the Census report, German Americans made up 16.2% of the population and numbered 683,842 members. English Americans made up 10.7% of the population and numbered over 450,646

Irish Americans made up 10.4% of the population and number close to 438,094 followed by Italian ancestry at 3.6% of population and number close to 152,161.

Besides them, Europeans who make good numbers are Norwegian (3.4%). French (2.7%), Scottish (2.6%), Swedish (2.23%), and Dutch (1.7%)

Hispanics and Latinos in Oregon

Hispanics and Latinos are the second-largest groups in Oregon after non-Hispanic white. Around 13.89% of Oregon’s Population claim Hispanic or Latin American ethnicity. The majority of the Hispanic population is of Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Cubans origin. About 40% of Oregon Latinos were born in the state, while 28% were born elsewhere in the U.S. and roughly 30% were born in other countries.

More than half of Oregon’s Latino population lives in Multnomah, Washington, and Marion counties. All three saw their Latino populations grow by at least 25% in the last decade. Washington County has the largest Latino population, 107,000, while the relatively small Morrow County had the largest share, at 41% of its 12,000 residents. In Clackamas County, the Latino population grew by 38.5% in the last decade to more than 40,000 residents.

African Americans in Oregon

As of 2020, those of African ancestry accounted for 1.86% of Oregon’s population. The Black population rose from 1.6% in 1990 to 1.86% in the 2020 Census report. Black in combination with other races are at 3% of Oregon’s population.

Oregon’s Black residents are centered in the state’s urban core, with seven out of 10 (71%) living in the Portland Tri-County area. Outside the state’s largest metro area, Lane County is home to the second-largest share of Black people at roughly 7%, followed by Marion County (6%). The share of the Black population living in these five counties differs considerably from the state’s overall population, with 84% of Black people living in one of those five counties compared with just 61% of all Oregon residents.

Asian Americans in Oregon

Asian Americans are a sizable minority group in Oregon. Americans of Asian descent formed 4.53% percent of the population. Its ethnic Asian population has grown rapidly since the late 1990s; the majority are Indians, Filipinos, Vietnamese, and ethnic Chinese.

Since the 2010 Census, the Asian population increased 26 percent, according to 2016 population and housing estimates.

Oregon’s Asian population has surpassed Hispanics as the state’s fastest-growing demographic, new census figures show. The Asian population notably increased throughout the Willamette Valley, from Corvallis and Eugene to Yamhill and Marion counties as well as in the Portland metro area.\

The Portland metro area–consisting of Washington, Multnomah, and Clackamas counties–saw the biggest increase, both in percent change and absolute increase in the number of Asian residents. Washington County saw its Asian population grow by 29 percent, or more than 16,000 residents, in the past 6 years. Since 2010, Lane, Marion, Benton, Deschutes, and Jackson counties have seen their Asian populations increase by at least 1,000, with growth rates in the mid-20 percent range.

Native Americans in Oregon

Native Americans are a smaller minority in the state. Native Americans made up 0.99% of Oregon’s population and number over 42,042 individuals as of 2020.

Pacific Islanders in Oregon

Americans with origins from the Pacific Islands are the smallest minority in Oregon. They made up 0.43 percent of Oregon’s population and number over 18,197 individuals as of 2020.

Multi-Race in Oregon

Multiracial individuals are also a visible minority in Oregon. People identifying as multiracial form 6.11% percent of the population, and number around 258,685 people.

Sources

Race and Ethnicity in Oregon 2024 | Ancestry in Oregon