The Ins and Outs of Population Change in Eastern Oregon – 2019
September 2, 2020 Eastern Oregon’s population increased by 9,268 from 2010 to 2019. Natural increase (+4,717) combined with net migration (+4,551) to push the total number of residents to 191,400. The region’s population growth rate (5.1%) was less than half the state’s overall growth rate (10.6%) for the period. While natural increase (births minus deaths) and net migration (in-migrants minus out-migrants) were both positive for the region, the two components varied among individual counties, creating notable differences in population shifts over time.
In Baker, Grant, Harney, and Wallowa counties, deaths outpaced births from 2010 to 2019. The largest difference between births and deaths came in Grant and Wallowa with 1.4 deaths for every birth that occurred. Harney had the smallest difference with 1.1 deaths per birth. Deaths outpaced births primarily due to the large and growing share of residents 65 years or older and the small share of 18 to 34 year olds in each of the four counties. Residents 65 years or older represented 18.1 percent of the state’s population in 2019. This age group represented a much larger share of the population in Baker (28.0%), Grant (34.6%), Harney (25.8%), and Wallowa (31.3%). The 18 to 34 age group accounted for 22.5 percent of the state’s population in 2019. This age group accounted for a much smaller share of the population in Baker (14.5%), Grant (12.7%), Harney (16.3%), and Wallowa (12.5%).

Only two counties in the state experienced negative net migration from 2010 to 2019. Malheur County saw 388 more people choose to move out of, rather than into the county. Harney County saw one more person choose to exit rather than enter. For Harney County, negative net migration combined with negative natural increase for an overall population loss of 62 people since 2010. For Malheur County, positive natural increase outweighed negative net migration for an overall population gain of 717 people.