This bulletin looks at the topic summary data from the 2021 Census for England and Wales about sexual orientation and gender identity that was published on 6 January 2023 by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It provides unrounded population estimates at North Wales and unitary authority level.
Voluntary questions on sexual orientation and gender identity were asked for the first time in the 2021 Census.
The key results for North Wales
Sexual orientation
- On Census Day, 21 March 2021, responses to the voluntary sexual orientation question were provided for 522,025 usual residents in North Wales (91.9% of the population aged 16 years and over).
- 507,769 people (89.4% of the population aged 16 years and over) described themselves as “Straight/Heterosexual” (Wales, and England and Wales = 89.4%).
- 7,282 (1.3%) described themselves as “Gay or Lesbian”.
- 5,725 (1.0%) described themselves as “Bisexual”.
- A further 1,249 (0.2%) wrote in a different sexual orientation, among whom the most common responses included “Pansexual” (0.1%), “Asexual” (0.05%) and “Queer” (0.02%).
- In total, 14,256 usual residents (2.5% of the population aged 16 or over) selected an LGB+ sexual orientation (“Gay or Lesbian”, “Bisexual” or another minority sexual orientation). Wales = 3.0% and England and Wales = 3.2%.
- The remaining 46,215 people aged 16 years and over (8.1%) did not answer the question on sexual orientation.
- In North Wales, Gwynedd had the highest proportion of usual residents aged 16 and over identifying with LGB+ orientations in 2021 (3.3%).
Gender identity
- There were responses from 528,983 people to the voluntary gender identity question in North Wales (93.1% of the population aged 16 years and over). 6.9% did not answer the question.
- 92.8% of usual residents aged 16 years and over answered “Yes”, indicating that their gender identity was the same as their sex registered at birth.
- 1,826 people (0.3%) answered “No”, indicating that their gender identity was different to their sex registered at birth (Wales = 0.4% and England and Wales = 0.5%).
- 343 people identified as a trans man, 358 people identified as a trans woman, and 254 people identified as non-binary. 705 people answered “No” but did not provide a write-in response.
- In North Wales the local authorities with the largest proportions of the usual resident population aged 16 and over identifying with a gender different to their sex registered at birth were Gwynedd and Wrexham (0.4% each).
See also
- 2021 Census: first results
- 2021 Census: demography & migration
- 2021 Census: UK armed forces veterans
- 2021 Census: ethnic group
- 2021 Census: religion
- 2021 Census: main language
- 2021 Census: education
The ONS has also published Sexual orientation and gender identity: Census 2021 in England and Wales.
Contact us
North Wales Regional Innovation Coordination Hub
Email: nwrich@denbighshire.gov.uk
Phone: 01824 712432
