The Office of National Statistics (ONS) has released data from Census 2021 on the LGBT+ community in England and Wales.
Census 2021 was the first within which people aged 16+ could register their sexuality and gender identity, through the inclusion of two voluntary questions.
On a national level, 1.5 million people aged 16 and older (3.2%) identified as LGB+, with 748,000 people (1.5%) describing themselves as gay or lesbian and 624,000 (1.3%). A further 165,000 (0.3%) described themselves as having “other sexual orientation”, including pansexual, asexual and queer.
In response to the question about gender identity, asking if the gender they identified with was the same as their sex registered at birth, 94.0% of the population aged 16 or over answered “yes” and 0.5% answered “no.”
Data for the six local authorities in the Liverpool City Region showed that almost 4.5% of respondents in Liverpool, 2.3% in Knowsley, 2.7% in St Helens, 2.5% in Sefton, just over 2.6% in Halton and almost 2.9% in Wirral identified as LGB+.
In terms of gender identity, less than 1% in each borough had a gender identity that is different to their sex registered at birth – Liverpool (0.68%), Knowsley (0.31%), St Helens (0.36%), Sefton (0.35%), Halton (0.39%) and Wirral (0.36%).
LCR Pride Foundation CEO, Andi Herring said: “For the first time ever LGBT+ people have been counted in the Census, making our community visible in our country’s national record and providing vital data that will inform policymakers, service providers and researchers.
“While the data from this Census is indeed historic and groundbreaking, it’s important to state that this is just the start – it is not yet the full picture. The data does not include information about LGBT+ people under the age of 16 and while many individuals chose to respond to the voluntary questions, millions left the answer blank.
“The data that is now available on sexual orientation and gender identity will be vital in tackling inequality and ensuring resources are better allocated, so communities that have so often been marginalised and invisible due to lack of data can finally start to have their needs addressed.”
Speaking about the release of the data, ONS director Jen Woolford said: “Having these first census estimates about the population [of England and Wales] in relation to gender identity, as well as sexual orientation at a local level, is crucial.
“This is just the first snapshot. In future analysis we will be exploring sexual orientation and gender identity by key demographic variables, such as age and sex, as well as employment, health, education and ethnicity, among others.”
You can view all the data from Census 2021 here.
| Sexuality | Liverpool | Knowsley | St Helens | Sefton | Wirral | Halton |
| Gay or lesbian | 2.13% | 1.45% | 1.60% | 1.42% | 1.59% | 1.50% |
| Bisexual | 1.86% | 0.72% | 0.89% | 0.87% | 1.04% | 0.94% |
| Pansexual | 0.29% | 0.11% | 0.15% | 0.15% | 0.15% | 0.16% |
| Asexual | 0.07% | 0.02% | 0.05% | 0.04% | 0.06% | 0.03% |
| Queer | 0.05% | 0.01% | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Other | 0.02% | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.01% |
| 4.42% | 2.32% | 2.7% | 2.5% | 2.87% | 2.64% |
| Gender Identity | Liverpool | Knowsley | St Helens | Sefton | Wirral | Halton |
| Different from birth | 0.33% | 0.16% | 0.17% | 0.15% | 0.13% | 0.19% |
| Trans Man | 0.11% | 0.07% | 0.08% | 0.07% | 0.07% | 0.08% |
| Trans Woman | 0.11% | 0.05% | 0.06% | 0.07% | 0.08% | 0.06% |
| Non-binary | 0.09% | 0.02% | 0.03% | 0.04% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Other | 0.04% | 0.01% | 0.02% | 0.02% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| 0.68% | 0.31% | 0.36% | 0.35% | 0.36% | 0.39% |
