Census Reveals Local LGBT Population Data
Census data has revealed which parts of England and Wales that are home to the most and least queer people.
Surprisingly the survey data released this week and taken from the 2021 survey revealed around 1.5 million people (3.2 per cent), of the 44.9 million aged 16 and over who answered, identified with an LGB+ orientation.
When asked about their sexual orientation, 43.4 million people (89.4% of the population aged 16 and over) identified as straight or heterosexual. Some 748,000 (1.5%) described themselves as gay or lesbian, 624,000 (1.3%) as bisexual, and 165,000 (0.3%) selected ‘Other sexual orientation’.
Of those who selected the latter category, the most common responses included pansexual (112,000, 0.23%), asexual (28,000, 0.06%), and queer (15,000, 0.03%).
An Office for National Statistics map shows some interesting results, such as Central Exeter in Devon having a high LGBTQ+ occupation, with 10.3 per cent of its population identifying as LGB.
Central Bournemouth also comes up trumps as a queer-friendly place to live, with an 8.96 per cent LGB population, while in Wales, Aberystwyth, a university town, is bursting with queer representation with an incredible 16.56 per cent of people living in Aberystwyth North saying they identify as LGB.
London is home to the most queer people who responded, with 12 per cent of people living in places such as Holborn, Oval and Vauxhall South saying they are LGB.
Locally, Most districts show between 2-6% of those completing the census identifying. The local data based on Local Authority districts returned the following results :
- Bristol – 6.07%
- Bath & North East Somerset – 3.99%
- Mendip – 2.68
- North Somerset – 2.64
- Sedgemoor – 2.55%
- South Gloucestershire – 2.82%
- South Somerset – 2.26%
- Swindon – 2.85%
- West Somerset & Taunton – 2.59%
- Wiltshire – 2.49%
Jen Woolford, Director from the Office for National Statistics told PinkNews ” 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. They will ensure decision-makers have the best information so they can better understand the extent and nature of disadvantage which people may be experiencing in terms of educational outcomes, health, employment, and housing.”
