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.

In 2022, 93.4% of the UK household population aged 16 years and over identified as heterosexual or straight, down from 95.0% in 2017.
An estimated 3.3% of the UK population aged 16 years and over identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB) in 2022, a continued increase from 2.1% in 2017.
The proportion of men identifying as LGB was 3.8% in 2022, up from 2.4% in 2017; the proportion of women who identified as LGB was 3.0%, an increase from 1.8% in 2017.

Sexual orientation, UK

Sexual orientation in the UK from 2012 to 2022 by region, sex, age, legal partnership status, ethnic group and National Statistics Socio-economic Classification. Experimental Statistics.
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, England and Wales: Census 2021

The sexual orientation of usual residents aged 16 years and over in England and Wales, Census 2021 data.
Sexual orientation, UK: 2021 and 2022

Sexual orientation in the UK in 2021 and 2022 by region, sex, age, legal partnership status, ethnic group and socio-economic classification, using data from the Annual Population Survey (APS). Experimental Statistics.
Integrated Household Survey (Experimental statistics): January to December 2014

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

Includes population, identity, housing, people in or out of work, education and health.