What proportion of the population is LGBT? [LGBTU-001]

Estimates vary as to the exact numbers, however, the proportion of LGBT people is approximately 5% (ranging from 1-10%).

Organisations concerned with statistics and polling have tried to estimate the proportion using survey data or census data. In the United States, Gallup tracks the percentage of American adults identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) by asking them "Do you, personally, identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender?" For 2017, this proportion was 4.5%^[1]. In the UK, the Office of National Statistics surveyed those aged 16 or over in the UK; 2% identified as LGB in 2016^[2]. As these 'official' approaches might under-estimate the LGBT population (see below), some organisations such as Stonewall cite higher figures of e.g. 5-7%^[3]. Surveys in other countries find percentages in the 1-10% range (see Wikipedia)^[4].

It's worth noting that these survey methods rely on people identifying themselves as LGBT, which can mean that some people are uncomfortable identifying as such, or unwilling to tell the person asking them about their orientation or gender. This might mean the proportion of LGBT people in the population is actually higher than the reported numbers. Measuring the proportion of LGBT people using other methods, e.g. by looking at how people behave, or asking more detailed questions about being L, G, B, T, could give different estimates. In addition, these measures won't capture people who identify with a different label, such as those who consider themselves asexual, pansexual, queer, etc.

Sources

1. Newport, Frank. 2018. In U.S., Estimate of LGBT Population Rises to 4.5%. Gallup.com. URL: https://news.gallup.com/poll/234863/estimate-lgbt-population-rises.aspx (Accessed 30 Aug 2018)

2. Office for National Statistics (UK). 2017. Statistical bulletin: Sexual identity, UK: 2016. URL: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/sexuality/bulletins/sexualidentityuk/2016 (Accessed 30 Aug 2018)

3. Siddique, Haroon. 2017. One in 50 people in UK now say they are lesbian, gay or bisexual. The Guardian. URL: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/oct/04/one-in-50-uk-lesbian-gay-bisexual (Accessed 30 Aug 2018)

4. Wikipedia. 2018. Demographics of sexual orientation. URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_sexual_orientation#Modern_survey_results (Accessed 30 Aug 2018)
   

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