Population Growth Faster Among Minority Groups

Oregon's total population reached roughly 3.93 million in 2013, an increase of 10.8 percent (+383,000) since 2003. Among different race and ethnic groups, minority groups grew much faster than the statewide rate of 10.8 percent, and those reporting Hispanic ethnicity grew faster than non-Hispanics.

In 2013, 12.3 percent (483,758) of Oregonians were of Hispanic ethnicity, which was less than the 17.1 percent nationwide. This was, however, an increase from the 9.3 percent figure for the 2003 Oregon population. Over the same period, the entire Oregon Hispanic population grew by 47.1 percent.

Data from the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program distinguish between race and ethnicity. In studying population trends in Oregon and across the United States, it is important to know that the term Hispanic is in reference to ethnicity. Identifying as a certain ethnicity is separate from race identification. For example, one who identifies as an American Indian can be of Hispanic or non-Hispanic ethnicity.

Race is broken into six major groups by the Census Bureau: White alone; Black or African American alone; Asian alone; American Indian and Alaska Native alone; Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone; and Two or More Races. Since White alone makes up the majority of the Oregon population, we refer to the other five categories as minority groups.

Here are the population counts by race for Oregon:

Fore more on Oregon's population, read the full article: Population Growth Faster Among Minority Group.