Sexual orientation in the UK by region, sex, age, legal partnership status, and ethnic group. These are official statistics in development.

Data on a range of characteristics of people of different sexual orientations from Census 2021 in England and Wales.

Important notice

The Office for Statistics Regulation confirmed on 12/09/2024 that the gender identity estimates from Census 2021 are no longer accredited official statistics and are classified as official statistics in development.

For further information please see: Sexual orientation and gender identity quality information for Census 2021

This dataset provides Census 2021 estimates that classify usual residents aged 16 years and over in England and Wales, by gender identity and sexual orientation. The estimates are as at Census Day, 21 March 2021.

Particular care must be taken in interpreting census results on gender identity. Please read the Sexual orientation and gender identity quality information for Census 2021 before using this data. Read more about this quality notice.

Some sub-populations have age and geographic profiles that may affect the relationships with other variables such as education, employment, health and housing. Take care when using this variable with others. We will publish more detailed commentary and guidance later this year. Read more about this quality notice.

Gender identity

Classifies people according to the responses to the gender identity question. This question was voluntary and was only asked of people aged 16 years and over.

Sexual orientation

Classifies people according to the responses to the sexual orientation question. This question was voluntary and was only asked of people aged 16 years and over.

Sexual identity estimates by occupation 2014. This is presented at a UK level, and broken down by England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Important notice

The Office for Statistics Regulation confirmed on 12/09/2024 that the gender identity estimates from Census 2021 are no longer accredited official statistics and are classified as official statistics in development.

For further information please see: Sexual orientation and gender identity quality information for Census 2021

This dataset provides Census 2021 estimates that classify usual residents aged 16 years and over in England and Wales by gender identity and age. The estimates are as at Census Day, 21 March 2021.

Some sub-populations have age and geographic profiles that may affect the relationships with other variables such as education, employment, health and housing. Take care when using this variable with others. We will publish more detailed commentary and guidance later this year. Read more about this quality notice.

Estimates for single year of age between ages 90 and 100+ are less reliable than other ages. Estimation and adjustment at these ages was based on the age range 90+ rather than five-year age bands. Read more about this quality notice.

Area type

Census 2021 statistics are published for a number of different geographies. These can be large, for example the whole of England, or small, for example an output area (OA), the lowest level of geography for which statistics are produced.

For higher levels of geography, more detailed statistics can be produced. When a lower level of geography is used, such as output areas (which have a minimum of 100 persons), the statistics produced have less detail. This is to protect the confidentiality of people and ensure that individuals or their characteristics cannot be identified.

Coverage

Census 2021 statistics are published for the whole of England and Wales. Data are also available in these geographic types:

• country - for example, Wales
• region - for example, London
• local authority - for example, Cornwall
• health area – for example, Clinical Commissioning Group
• statistical area - for example, MSOA or LSOA

Gender identity

Classifies people according to the responses to the gender identity question. This question was voluntary and was only asked of people aged 16 years and over.

Age

A person’s age on Census Day, 21 March 2021 in England and Wales. Infants aged under 1 year are classified as 0 years of age.

This dataset provides Census 2021 estimates that classify usual residents aged 16 years and over in England and Wales by sexual orientation by age, and by sex. The estimates are as at Census Day, 21 March 2021.

Some sub-populations have age and geographic profiles that may affect the relationships with other variables such as education, employment, health and housing. Take care when using this variable with others. We will publish more detailed commentary and guidance later this year. Read more about this quality notice.

Estimates for single year of age between ages 90 and 100+ are less reliable than other ages. Estimation and adjustment at these ages was based on the age range 90+ rather than five-year age bands. Read more about this quality notice.

Area type

Census 2021 statistics are published for a number of different geographies. These can be large, for example the whole of England, or small, for example an output area (OA), the lowest level of geography for which statistics are produced.

For higher levels of geography, more detailed statistics can be produced. When a lower level of geography is used, such as output areas (which have a minimum of 100 persons), the statistics produced have less detail. This is to protect the confidentiality of people and ensure that individuals or their characteristics cannot be identified.

Coverage

Census 2021 statistics are published for the whole of England and Wales. Data are also available in these geographic types:

• country - for example, Wales
• region - for example, London
• local authority - for example, Cornwall
• health area – for example, Clinical Commissioning Group
• statistical area - for example, MSOA or LSOA

Sexual orientation

Classifies people according to the responses to the sexual orientation question. This question was voluntary and was only asked of people aged 16 years and over.

Age (D)

A person’s age on Census Day, 21 March 2021 in England and Wales. Infants aged under 1 year are classified as 0 years of age. The age group are categorised as follows:

• Aged 15 years and under
• Aged 16 to 24 years
• Aged 25 to 34 years
• Aged 35 to 44 years
• Aged 45 to 54 years
• Aged 55 to 64 years
• Aged 65 to 74 years
• Aged 75 years and over

Sex

This is the sex recorded by the person completing the census. The options were “Female” and “Male”.

Important notice

ONS has identified a production error in the estimate of people identifying as “Pansexual”. This also affects the estimate of those in the “All other sexual orientations” category.

The files below are updated according to the updated version.

Please read the quality notice for more information on the correction.

This dataset provides Census 2021 estimates that classify usual residents aged 16 years and over in England and Wales by sexual orientation. The estimates are as at Census Day, 21 March 2021.

Area type

Census 2021 statistics are published for a number of different geographies. These can be large, for example the whole of England, or small, for example an output area (OA), the lowest level of geography for which statistics are produced.

For higher levels of geography, more detailed statistics can be produced. When a lower level of geography is used, such as output areas (which have a minimum of 100 persons), the statistics produced have less detail. This is to protect the confidentiality of people and ensure that individuals or their characteristics cannot be identified.

Lower Tier Local Authorities

Lower tier local authorities provide a range of local services. In England there are 309 lower tier local authorities. These are made up of non-metropolitan districts (181), unitary authorities (59), metropolitan districts (36) and London boroughs (33, including City of London). In Wales there are 22 local authorities made up of 22 unitary authorities. Of these local authority types, only non-metropolitan districts are not additionally classified as upper tier local authorities.

Sexual orientation (9 categories)

Classifies people according to the responses to the sexual orientation question. This question was voluntary and was only asked of people aged 16 years and over.

Subnational sexual identity for 2013 to 2015

During a survey conducted throughout 2021 and the first quarter of 2022, all non-cisgender identifying people surveyed in Spain reported being comfortable with rand targeting based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity, while **** percent of Spanish cisgender respondents said the same – a difference of nearly seven percentage points. Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, **** percent of cisgender interviewees stated being comfortable with that type of ad targeting, while less than ** percent of non-cisgender identifying Brits said the same.

This dataset provides Census 2021 estimates that classify usual residents aged 16 years and over in England and Wales by sexual orientation, age and sex.

This statistic shows respondents opinions concerning their perception of sexuality. Approximately 61 percent of respondents from both genders agreed that sexuality is a scale, whereas 29 percent of male respondents and 24 percent of female respondents stated that one is either heterosexual or homosexual.

*Dataset Published in 2020, Deposited to DCD in 2024.

Abstract The data was used in conducting research on Sexual Orientation and Gender-Identity (SOGI) Laws That Support and/or Limit International Development conducted by Thomas S. Serwatka.

A sexual orientation and gender identity legal index (SOGI-LI) was developed for 185 countries where data were available for 2018 [see Column C]. The author used data from the 11th and 13th editions of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersexual Association’s State-Sponsored Homophobia Reports (Carroll 2016; Mendos 2019).

Using the data from ILGA, the initial version of the Sexual Orientation and Gender-Identity-Legal Index (SOGI-LI) was constructed. It was supplemented by information on transgender 2019 annual report LGBT rights by country (Wikipedia’s 2019 update) [See Column E]. Sub-scores are listed in columns M-S.

Democracy Index 2018 The Economist Intelligence Unit (2019) provides an indexed score on the democratic rule for 167 countries (See Column F) of which 151 were included in the current study on 185 nations. The Democracy Index scores could range from 0 to 10 points and were based on five subscales listed in columns U-Y.

World Happiness Report The World Happiness Report was first published in April 2012, with the support of the United Nations (Helliwell et al. 2019). The survey is administered to at least 1,000 and up to 3,000 participants from each of 150 countries across the globe. The single question survey asks respondents to rate their level of happiness over the past year:

Please imagine a ladder, with steps numbered from 0 at the bottom to 10 at the top. The top of the ladder represents the best possible life for you and the bottom of the ladder represents the worst possible life for you. On which step of the ladder would you say you personally feel you stand at this time? [National Scores in Column G]

Scores represent a three-year rolling average. In post-hoc analyses, the responses are found to strongly relate to GDP per-capita, social support systems, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices. [Correlated data tracked in columns Z-AE]

Per-capita GDP Data on the 2018 per-capita GDP for 171 of the countries included in the study were downloaded from Knomea, which drew the data from The World Bank (2018) [Column H]

Educational Level Data on the educational levels for 138 of the 185 nations under study were drawn from the World Data Atlas (2017). These data are presented as the percentage of the adult population that had completed a tertiary (post-secondary) education program [Column I].

This layer shows Household Pulse Survey data on gender identity and sexual orientation. Gender identity is the internal perception of gender, and how one identifies based on how one aligns or doesn’t align with cultural options for gender. This is a different concept than sex assigned at birth. Sexual orientation is the type of sexual attraction one has the capacity to feel for others, generally labeled based on the gender relationship between the person and the people they are attracted to. This is not the same as sexual behavior or preference.Learn more about how the Census Bureau survey measures sexual orientation and gender identity. This page includes nation-wide characteristics such as age, Hispanic origin and race, and educational attainment. Also read some of their findings about experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) adults experiencing higher rates of both economic hardship and mental health hardship. See the questionnaire used in phase 3.2 of the Household Pulse Survey.Source: Household Pulse Survey Data Tables. Data values in this layer are from Week 34 (July 21 - August 2, 2021), the first week that gender identity and sexual orientation questions were part of this survey. Top 15 metros are based on total population and are the same 15 metros available for all Household Pulse Data Tables.This layer is symbolized to show the percent of adults who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) as well as adults whose gender or sexual orientation was not listed on the survey (LGBTQIA+). The color of the symbol depicts the percentage and the size of the symbol depicts the count. *Percent calculations do not use those who did not report either their gender or sexual orientation in either the numerator or denominator, consistent with methodology used by the source.*Data Prep Steps:Data prep used Table 1 (Child Tax Credit Payment Status and Use, by Select Characteristics) to perform tabular data transformation. SAS to Table conversion tool was used to bring the tables into ArcGIS Pro.The data is joined to 2019 TIGER boundaries from the U.S. Census Bureau.Using the counties in each metro according to the Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Area Reference Files, metro boundaries created via Merge and Dissolve tools in ArcGIS Pro.In preparing the field aliases and long descriptions, "none of these" and "something else" were generally modified to "not listed."

According to a survey of French users conducted in May 2022, ** percent of men reported thinking that new technologies influence people's sexual practices. Similarly, ** percent of men reported thinking that pornography influences sexual lives of the French. Among women, such believes dropped to ** and ** percent, respectively.

This dataset provides Census 2021 estimates that classify usual residents aged 16 years and over in employment the week before the census in England and Wales, by sexual orientation and industry. The estimates are as at Census Day, 21 March 2021.

Some sub-populations have age and geographic profiles that may affect the relationships with other variables such as education, employment, health and housing. Take care when using this variable with others. We will publish more detailed commentary and guidance later this year. Read more about this quality notice.

Area type

Census 2021 statistics are published for a number of different geographies. These can be large, for example the whole of England, or small, for example an output area (OA), the lowest level of geography for which statistics are produced.

For higher levels of geography, more detailed statistics can be produced. When a lower level of geography is used, such as output areas (which have a minimum of 100 persons), the statistics produced have less detail. This is to protect the confidentiality of people and ensure that individuals or their characteristics cannot be identified.

Coverage

Census 2021 statistics are published for the whole of England and Wales. Data are also available in these geographic types:

• country - for example, Wales
• region - for example, London
• local authority - for example, Cornwall
• health area – for example, Clinical Commissioning Group
• statistical area - for example, MSOA or LSOA

Sexual orientation

Classifies people according to the responses to the sexual orientation question. This question was voluntary and was only asked of people aged 16 years and over.

Industry (current)

Classifies people aged 16 years and over who were in employment between 15 March and 21 March 2021 by the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code that represents their current industry or business.

The SIC code is assigned based on the information provided about a firm or organisation’s main activity.

This statistic depicts the results of a survey about places where scholars attended a course or a meeting on sexuality and reproduction in Italy in 2018. According to data, 90 percent of students declared to have treated the topic in a meeting or a course which took place in school, the most common place where scholars discussed this subject. Moreover, 14 percent of respondents stated that they got information on sexuality and reproduction in a course or meeting offered by health services.

This dataset provides Census 2021 estimates that classify usual residents aged 16 years and over in England and Wales by sexual orientation by legal partnership status. The estimates are as at Census Day, 21 March 2021.

Some sub-populations have age and geographic profiles that may affect the relationships with other variables such as education, employment, health and housing. Take care when using this variable with others. We will publish more detailed commentary and guidance later this year. Read more about this quality notice.

Separate estimates by opposite and same-sex partnerships for the marital status categories “Separated”, “Divorced/dissolved” and “Widowed/surviving partners” are not available. This is because quality assurance showed the figures for some of the categories were unreliable. Read more about this quality notice.

Area type

Census 2021 statistics are published for a number of different geographies. These can be large, for example the whole of England, or small, for example an output area (OA), the lowest level of geography for which statistics are produced.

For higher levels of geography, more detailed statistics can be produced. When a lower level of geography is used, such as output areas (which have a minimum of 100 persons), the statistics produced have less detail. This is to protect the confidentiality of people and ensure that individuals or their characteristics cannot be identified.

Coverage

Census 2021 statistics are published for the whole of England and Wales. Data are also available in these geographic types:

• country - for example, Wales
• region - for example, London
• local authority - for example, Cornwall
• health area – for example, Clinical Commissioning Group
• statistical area - for example, MSOA or LSOA

Sexual orientation

Classifies people according to the responses to the sexual orientation question. This question was voluntary and was only asked of people aged 16 years and over.

Marital and civil partnership status

Classifies a person according to their legal marital or registered civil partnership status on Census Day 21 March 2021.

It is the same as the 2011 census variable "Marital status" but has been updated for Census 2021 to reflect the revised Civil Partnership Act that came into force in 2019.

In Census 2021 results, "single" refers only to someone who has never been married or in a registered civil partnership.