The Black population in Portland, Oregon is roughly 5–6% of the city’s residents , which equals about 40,000–45,000 people today , depending on the specific estimate and year used.

Quick Scoop: Black population in Portland, Oregon

Current share of Black residents

  • Several recent demographic summaries put Black or African American residents at around 5.5–5.9% of Portland’s population , not counting people who identify as multiracial.
  • When people who are partially Black (multiracial) are included, the share rises to around 7–8% of the city’s residents.
  • One widely cited breakdown of Portland’s racial composition lists about 5.7% Black or African American , alongside larger White and Asian populations.

In practical terms, given Portland’s total population in the low 700,000s in recent estimates, this translates to tens of thousands of Black residents, on the order of forty-plus thousand people.

Historical and neighborhood context

  • Historically, Portland has been known for its low racial diversity and relatively small Black population , especially compared with many other major U.S. cities.
  • Much of Portland’s Black community has long been concentrated in North and Northeast Portland , where some neighborhoods and zip codes reach 15–30% Black residents.
  • The modern distribution is heavily shaped by Vanport-era migration , post–World War II housing patterns, and exclusionary laws that restricted where Black residents could live.

These patterns are why you’ll often see the city described as having a small overall Black share but strong local concentrations in certain parts of town.

Why numbers vary between sources

You might see slightly different figures depending on:

  1. Year of the data.
    • Earlier sources cite about 6% Black in the city overall.
 * More recent statistical summaries show **around 5.7% Black or African American** in updated racial composition tables.
  1. Definition of “Black population.”
    • Some datasets count only people who select “Black or African American” alone.
 * Others include people who identify as **Black plus another race** , leading to totals closer to **7–8% including partially Black residents**.
  1. City limits vs. metro area.
    • Metro-area numbers can differ from City of Portland figures because surrounding suburbs have different racial makeup.

So when someone asks “what is the Black population in Portland, Oregon?” , the most reasonable short answer is: around 5–6% of residents, or roughly forty thousand people, with closer to 7–8% if multiracial Black residents are included.

Mini FAQ

Is Portland still considered a low-diversity city for Black residents?
Yes. Even recent analyses describe Portland as having a relatively small Black population compared with many similarly sized U.S. cities, despite a rich Black cultural and historical presence.

Where is the largest concentration of Black residents in Portland?
North and Northeast Portland—especially areas like King and the Alberta Arts District —continue to have some of the city’s highest percentages of Black residents.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.