In 2021, around ** percent of individuals living in the District of Columbia identified as LGBT. Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, and Oregon also had high rates, exceeding *** percent. Mississippi and North Dakota had the lowest rates of LGBT populations, the only states with less than **** percent.

In 2023, 7.6 percent of adults surveyed in the United States stated they identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). This is an increase from 2012, when 3.5 percent of surveyed adults identified as LGBT. These four categories are among the most common sexual orientations and gender identities outside cis-heterosexuals.

Differences across ages and genders 

Zooming in, it is possible to see how the share of people identifying as LGBT changed considerably according to different demographics. Only two percent of Baby Boomers, indeed, reported being part of the LGBT community. On the other hand, among Generation Z individuals, this share reached almost 16 percent. Moreover, surveys suggest that women were more likely to identify as LGBT than men.

An ever-understanding society 

The fact that an increasing amount of people feel free and safe to openly identify as LGBT might be a consequence of the improved acceptance of the different sexual orientations and genders by the American people at large. While in 2001 more than half of U.S. citizens considered homosexual relationships to be morally wrong, 20 years later this percentage dropped to 30 percent. Support for same-sex marriage has also been consistently increasing, even among traditionally conservative political groups. Despite this, it is important to remember that every year hundreds of people are still victims of hate crimes in the United States simply because of their gender or sexual orientation.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the Gays population over the last 20 plus years. It lists the population for each year, along with the year on year change in population, as well as the change in percentage terms for each year. The dataset can be utilized to understand the population change of Gays across the last two decades. For example, using this dataset, we can identify if the population is declining or increasing. If there is a change, when the population peaked, or if it is still growing and has not reached its peak. We can also compare the trend with the overall trend of United States population over the same period of time.

Key observations

In 2023, the population of Gays was 214, a 1.38% decrease year-by-year from 2022. Previously, in 2022, Gays population was 217, a decline of 3.12% compared to a population of 224 in 2021. Over the last 20 plus years, between 2000 and 2023, population of Gays decreased by 59. In this period, the peak population was 281 in the year 2010. The numbers suggest that the population has already reached its peak and is showing a trend of decline. Source: U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP).

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP).

Data Coverage:

• From 2000 to 2023

Variables / Data Columns

• Year: This column displays the data year (Measured annually and for years 2000 to 2023)
• Population: The population for the specific year for the Gays is shown in this column.
• Year on Year Change: This column displays the change in Gays population for each year compared to the previous year.
• Change in Percent: This column displays the year on year change as a percentage. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Gays Population by Year. You can refer the same here

In 2023, 8.5 percent of female respondents in the United States stated they identify as LGBT, while 4.7 percent of male respondents said the same. This is an increase from 2012, when 3.5 percent of female respondents and 3.4 percent of male respondents identified as LGBT.

As of April 2024, 55 percent of the LGBT population lived in the 50 states and the District of Columbia where private health insurance service providers weren't allowed to deny coverage for transgender-related health care services, such as sex reassignment surgery. However, only 40 percent lived in states where health insurance protections included sexual orientation and gender identity.

LGBT Americans The share of Americans self-identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender has grown in recent years. This suggests that insurance protections which cover LGBT-related health care services will also continue to grow in importance. The prevalence of younger Americans self-identifying as LGBT when compared with older generations confirms this. Millennials and Gen Xers are much more likely to personally identify as LGBT than previous generations were. Growing acceptance and tolerance in wider society means that more people are willing to be open about their gender identity and sexual orientation. For instance, support for same-sex marriage in the U.S. underwent a huge shift over the past two decades with the majority of Americans being in favor of it since 2011.

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the population of Gay by race. It includes the population of Gay across racial categories (excluding ethnicity) as identified by the Census Bureau. The dataset can be utilized to understand the population distribution of Gay across relevant racial categories.

Key observations

The percent distribution of Gay population by race (across all racial categories recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau): 60.48% are white, 38.71% are some other race and 0.81% are multiracial.

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Racial categories include:

• White
• Black or African American
• American Indian and Alaska Native
• Asian
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
• Some other race
• Two or more races (multiracial)

Variables / Data Columns

• Race: This column displays the racial categories (excluding ethnicity) for the Gay
• Population: The population of the racial category (excluding ethnicity) in the Gay is shown in this column.
• % of Total Population: This column displays the percentage distribution of each race as a proportion of Gay total population. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Gay Population by Race & Ethnicity. You can refer the same here

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the Non-Hispanic population of Gays by race. It includes the distribution of the Non-Hispanic population of Gays across various race categories as identified by the Census Bureau. The dataset can be utilized to understand the Non-Hispanic population distribution of Gays across relevant racial categories.

Key observations

Of the Non-Hispanic population in Gays, the largest racial group is White alone with a population of 162 (94.74% of the total Non-Hispanic population).

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates.

Racial categories include:

• White
• Black or African American
• American Indian and Alaska Native
• Asian
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
• Some other race
• Two or more races (multiracial)

Variables / Data Columns

• Race: This column displays the racial categories (for Non-Hispanic) for the Gays
• Population: The population of the racial category (for Non-Hispanic) in the Gays is shown in this column.
• % of Total Population: This column displays the percentage distribution of each race as a proportion of Gays total Non-Hispanic population. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Gays Population by Race & Ethnicity. You can refer the same here

About this dataset

Context

The dataset tabulates the Gay population distribution across 18 age groups. It lists the population in each age group along with the percentage population relative of the total population for Gay. The dataset can be utilized to understand the population distribution of Gay by age. For example, using this dataset, we can identify the largest age group in Gay.

Key observations

The largest age group in Gay, GA was for the group of age 50 to 54 years years with a population of 29 (23.39%), according to the ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. At the same time, the smallest age group in Gay, GA was the Under 5 years years with a population of 0 (0%). Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates

Content

When available, the data consists of estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates

Age groups:

• Under 5 years
• 5 to 9 years
• 10 to 14 years
• 15 to 19 years
• 20 to 24 years
• 25 to 29 years
• 30 to 34 years
• 35 to 39 years
• 40 to 44 years
• 45 to 49 years
• 50 to 54 years
• 55 to 59 years
• 60 to 64 years
• 65 to 69 years
• 70 to 74 years
• 75 to 79 years
• 80 to 84 years
• 85 years and over

Variables / Data Columns

• Age Group: This column displays the age group in consideration
• Population: The population for the specific age group in the Gay is shown in this column.
• % of Total Population: This column displays the population of each age group as a proportion of Gay total population. Please note that the sum of all percentages may not equal one due to rounding of values.

Good to know

Margin of Error

Data in the dataset are based on the estimates and are subject to sampling variability and thus a margin of error. Neilsberg Research recommends using caution when presening these estimates in your research.

Custom data

If you do need custom data for any of your research project, report or presentation, you can contact our research staff at research@neilsberg.com for a feasibility of a custom tabulation on a fee-for-service basis.

Inspiration

Neilsberg Research Team curates, analyze and publishes demographics and economic data from a variety of public and proprietary sources, each of which often includes multiple surveys and programs. The large majority of Neilsberg Research aggregated datasets and insights is made available for free download at https://www.neilsberg.com/research/.

Recommended for further research

This dataset is a part of the main dataset for Gay Population by Age. You can refer the same here

In 2022, about ** percent of male-male couples in the United States were White, compared to *** percent of gay couples who were Black or African American. Gay marriage in the United States In the mid-1990s, a majority of the U.S. population believed that same-sex couples should not be recognized by law, although this figure has been on the decline since then. In 2011, more than ** percent of Americans believed the opposite, saying that homosexual couples should be recognized by law. 2015 saw a spike in support, and on June 26 of that year, the United States Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges. Being LGBT in America The share of Americans who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) has been on the rise since 2012 and it is estimated that there are about *********** same-sex couples in the U.S. Additionally, about **** of surveyed people in 2019 believe that one is born gay or lesbian – a significant increase from 1977, when only ** percent of respondents said the same.

According to a survey conducted in 2024, LGBTQ+ adults in the United States were most likely to identify as bisexual, at **** percent. This was followed by **** percent who identified as gay and **** percent who identified as lesbian.

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."

In 2022, about **** percent of male-male householders in the United States were between 25 and 34 years old. A further **** percent of householders in male-male couples were between the ages of 55 and 64 years old in that same year.

This statistic shows the metropolitan areas in the United States with the highest share in inhabitants identifying as gay, lesbian, transgender or bisexual. In 2014, the San Francisco - Oakland - Hayward metro area in California had the highest share of LGBT population with *** percent.

This statistic shows the shift in Americans' views from 1977 to 2019 as to whether people are born gay or lesbian, or their sexual orientation develops due to upbringing and environmental factors. In 1977, 13 percent of respondents stated that they believe people were born gay or lesbian. In 2019, 49 percent of respondents believed people were born gay or lesbian.

This statistic shows the homeownership rate among LGBT community in the United States in 2018, by race. In 2018, only ** percent of Latino members of the LGBT community owned their home or primary living space, whereas ** percent of white/non-Hispanic members said the same. The homeownership rate of the general population was ** percent in 2018.

In a global survey conducted in 2023, ***** percent of respondents declared to be homosexual, gay, or lesbian. In Brazil and the Netherlands, for instance, **** percent, instead, identified as bisexual, representing the largest group of bisexual respondents among the 30 surveyed countries. Moreover, *** percent of the interviewees in Switzerland said to be pansexual or omnisexual. Pansexuality describes people who feel attracted to other people regardless of their biological sex, gender, or gender identity, whereas omnisexuality refers to people attracted to people of all gender identities and sexual orientations.

In the United States, the share of Americans who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or something other than heterosexual has more than doubled in the last 12 years, from *** percent in 2012 to *** percent in 2024.

The share of individuals identifying as part of the LGBT community has increased with each generation. In 2021, Generation Z had the highest proportion of LGBT individuals, amounting to **** percent of respondents. Comparatively, only *** percent of the baby boomer generation self-identified as being LGBT.

According to a global survey conducted in 2021, three in 10 respondents had at least once spoken out against someone who was being prejudiced against LGBT+ people. In addition, some 13 percent attended a public event in support of LGBT+ people, e.g. a Pride march.

In 2023, seven percent of the population surveyed in Brazil identified as bisexual. Moreover, five percent of the interviewees in South American country said to be homosexual. Pansexuality describes people who feel attracted to other people regardless of their biological sex, gender, or gender identity, whereas omnisexuality refers to people attracted to people of all gender identities and sexual orientations.