Sexual orientation

People's self identified sexual orientation, from Census 2021 data and the Annual Population survey.

Spotlight

The census question on sexual orientation was a voluntary question asked of those aged 16 years and over.
In total, 44.9 million people (92.5% of the population aged 16 years and over) answered the question.
Around 43.4 million people (89.4%) identified as straight or heterosexual.

More publications

An estimated 2.1% (1.2 million) of the UK adult household population identified as gay or lesbian in 2024, which is an increase from 1.6% in 2019, and 1.6% (855,000 thousand) identified as bisexual, which is an increase from 1.1% in 2019.
93.4% people (50.7 million) identified as heterosexual or straight in 2024, which is a similar proportion to 2019 (93.7%).
Younger people were more likely to identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB) than older people in 2024; 8.0% of people aged 16 to 24 years identify as LGB, compared with 1.2% of people aged 65 years and over.

More publications

Sexual orientation, UK

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

Sexual identity estimates by gender from 2010 to 2014. This is presented at a UK level, and broken down by England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Sexual Identity lesbian, gay and bisexual population by Occupation by Country

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

Subnational sexual identity for 2013 to 2015
Cigarette smoking by Sexual Identity, by Country

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

Sexual orientation, UK: 2024

Sexual orientation in the UK in 2024 by age, sex, marital status, and country, using data from the Annual Population Survey (APS). These are official statistics in development.
Sexual orientation, England and Wales: Census 2021

The sexual orientation of usual residents aged 16 years and over in England and Wales, Census 2021 data.
Personal well-being in the UK: April 2022 to March 2023

Estimates of life satisfaction, worthwhile, happiness, and anxiety, by select geographies including local authority level and individual characteristics and circumstances.
Integrated Household Survey (Experimental statistics): January to December 2014

Sexual identity, smoking prevalence and perceived general health using data from the Integrated Household Survey.

View all related statistical bulletins

Sexual orientation, further personal characteristics, England and Wales

Exploring the disability, health status, ethnic group, religion and employment of people of different sexual orientations from Census 2021 in England and Wales.
Sexual orientation: age and sex, England and Wales

Sexual orientation by age and sex of usual residents aged 16 years and over in England and Wales, Census 2021 data.

View all related articles

View all related methodology

Find, compare and visualise statistics about places within the United Kingdom.