Oregon’s population increased by 29,304 between April 1, 2020 (the 2020 Census date) and July 1, according to new preliminary 2021 estimates from Portland State University’s Population Research Center.
The new estimates are the first to be released since the results of the 2020 Census were published and incorporate revisions based on new housing and population counts. The revised population estimates indicate that Oregon’s population grew from 4,243,791 on July 1, 2020 to 4,266,560 on July 1, 2021, 0.54% increase.
Population growth is driven by births, deaths, and migration. Oregon experienced negative "natural increase" over the past year — 2,210 more deaths than births. Therefore, population growth was driven entirely by net migration of new residents to the state (around 25,000 moved to Oregon during the last year).
COVID-19 depressed migration to or from the state during 2020, but migration has begun to recover in 2021. In the 12 months preceding July 1, 2021, there were more than 2,500 deaths attributable to COVID19 (around 6% of total deaths for all causes). Many dormitories and other group quarters reduced capacity during the pandemic: the population in all types of group quarters fell by approximately 9,000 persons statewide (a 9% decline), with especially significant declines in Corvallis and Eugene.
During the last year, eight counties lost significant numbers of housing units from wildfires during September, 2020. More than 2,300 homes were destroyed in Jackson county, while Marion County and Lane County had more than 500 destroyed homes in each. Douglas, Klamath, Lincoln, and Linn counties also had housing losses attributable to wildfires.
Oregon’s three most populous counties (Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas) are home to nearly 1.9 million people and accounted for more than half of the state's population growth between 2020 and 2021. Multnomah and Washington counties each added more than 4,000 residents, and Clackamas County added more than 3,000. Other counties with large numeric growth included Deschutes (+4,131), Linn (+1,511), and Polk (+1,000).
Population aging is being felt in many parts of the state. Among Oregon’s 36 counties, 27 experienced natural decrease, meaning there were more deaths than births. In many, but not all counties, net in-migration — more people moving in than out — offsets these decreases.
Among incorporated cities and towns, Portland continued to add more residents than other cities in Oregon. Its population increased by more than 5,000 people to 658,773 (+0.8%) between 2020 and 2021. Salem had the second biggest population among Oregon cities, adding 1,479 residents (+0.84%) to reach a population of 177,694 in 2021. Redmond and Hillsboro also grew by over 1,500.
The Population Research Center produces annual population estimates for Oregon and its counties and incorporated cities using the most recent available data. If a city has not submitted recent data, its population remains unchanged from its previously certified estimate.
These estimates are based on the 2020 census, changes in housing units and group quarters; births and deaths; public school enrollment; employment, health insurance, tax returns, and driver’s licenses as well as other administrative data indicative of population change.
The preliminary population estimates are subject to revision during a month review period. The final July 1, 2021 population estimates will be certified by December 15, 2021. The annual population estimates are revised quarterly to account for annexations throughout the year.
For more information and to view the preliminary population estimates, visit the Population Research Center’s website.