Oregon population to grow through migration as births drop

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A new report from the state says that in future years, Oregon’s population will mostly grow through people moving into the state rather than from new births.

Oregon Public Broadcasting reports Wednesday that the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis predicts the state will see deaths outnumber births sometime in the next decade.

Josh Lehner, a state economist, predicts the flip will happen around 2026 or 2027.

It would be the first time in Oregon’s history that deaths outnumber births.

The trend is already affecting the state’s more rural counties, but now is spreading statewide.

As the trend continues, analysts say factors that negatively affect migration to Oregon from other states — such as housing affordability — will have a bigger impact on the economy and the size of public budgets.