Portland bucks national immigration slump
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Population growth is slowing in most counties nationwide amid a massive drop in immigration, new U.S. Census data shows.
- Portland, however, ever so slightly bucked the trend.
Why it matters: The new data offers the best look yet at how tighter immigration enforcement is affecting America's demographic makeup.
Driving the news: International migration fell in nine out of 10 U.S. counties between 2024 and 2025 compared to the prior period, the Census Bureau says.
- Other counties stayed flat.
Zoom in: Multnomah County's population grew over that time period, but barely.
- Total county population grew by 919, with 619 people immigrating internationally, per the Census Bureau.
Zoom out: The U.S. overall still grew by 0.5% between 2024-25.
- But that's down from 1% over the previous period.
Nationwide natural change (births minus deaths) held steady, while international migration plummeted from about 2.8 million people to 1.3 million — about a 55% drop.
- Caveat: The Census' international migration data include both foreigners and Americans coming home from abroad, including military service members.