New stats reveal that lesbian, gay and bisexual people are a growing part of UK society

The Office of National Statistics have revealed new stats about sexual orientation in the UK: 

• Younger people were more likely to identify as LGB than older people. Among those aged 16 to 24 years, around 1 in 10 (10.4%) identified as LGB, compared with around 1 in 100 (0.9%) of people aged 65 years and over.
• An estimated 3.8% of the UK population aged 16 years and over identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB) in 2023, up from 2.2% in 2018.
• The proportion of people aged 16 to 24 years identifying as bisexual more than doubled from 2.8% to 7.5% between 2018 and 2023.

Read more stats here. 

Responding to this new data, Stonewall CEO, Simon Blake said: 

"The ONS statistics out today are a timely reminder that lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people are a growing part of UK society, with more LGB young people than ever before. The more than one in ten of 16-24 year olds identifying as LGB will be a crucial part of our workplaces, politics and lives. They will have colleagues, friends and families who support them and they will deserve – and demand - equal rights and opportunities.

 “This data should be a wake up call to organisations and Governments who are rolling back on their commitments to LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion. With these changing demographics, regressive policies and ideals won’t stand the test of time, and those who want to ensure a more secure and prosperous future must stand firm in their commitment to equality and inclusion for all; despite the politics of the moment."