LGBTQ+ Statistics (New 2024 Data)

This article dives into the demographics and experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals in the United States. We’ll explore how many LGBTQ+ individuals live in the country, examining breakdowns by age, generation, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and education level. We’ll also look at the health of LGBTQ+ Americans, including both general health and mental health concerns like suicide, anxiety, and depression.

Finally, the article will address the issue of discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in the United States.

Here’s what we’ve covered:

Major Findings

  • 4.5% of all Americans identify as LGBTQ+ individuals.
  • The average age of an LGBTQ+ individual in the U.S. is 37.
  • 42% of LGTBQ+ persons in the U.S. are male and 58% are female.
  • One in five Gen Z adults identify as LGBTQ+.
  • The District of Columbia has the highest percentage of LGTBQ+ individuals at 9.8% of the population. While North Dakota has the lowest at 2.7%.
  • 58% of LGBTQ+ persons in the US are white. 
  • 12% of LGBTQ+ persons in the US are Black.
  • 9% of LGTBQ+ individuals in the US are unemployed.
  • 41% of LGBTQ+ persons in the US have their High School diploma.

How Many LGBTQ+ Persons in the US

  • 4.5% of all Americans identify as LGBTQ+ individuals.
  • The average age of an LGBTQ+ individual in the U.S. is 37 years old.
  • 42% of LGBTQ+ persons in the U.S. are male and 58% are female.
  • 9% of LGBTQ+ individuals are unemployed.
  • 15% of LGBTQ+ individuals are uninsured.
  • 25% of LGBTQ+ individuals have an annual income level less than $24,000.

By Age

  • The average age of an LGBTQ+ person in the U.S. is 37.3 years old.
  • 39.8 years old for men and 33.8 years old for women.
average age of a LGBTQ+ person in the U.S.

By Generation

  • 7.1% Identify as LGBTQ+ in the U.S. (up from 5.6% in 2020).
  • One in five Gen Z adults identify as LGBTQ+.
  • Bisexual identification is the most common among LGBTQ+ persons.
  • Roughly 21% of Generation Z American adults identify as LGBTQ+.
LGBT (in %)Straight/Heterosexual (in %)No response (in %)
Generation Z (born 1997-2003)20.875.73.5
Millennials (born 1981-1996)10.582.57.1
Generation X (born 1965-1980)4.289.36.5
Baby boomers (born 1946-1964)2.690.76.8
Traditionalists (born before 1946)0.892.27.1

By Ethnicity

  • 58% of LGBTQ+ persons in the US are white.
  • 21% of LGBTQ+ persons in the US are Latino/a.
  • 12% of LGBTQ+ persons in the US are Black.
  • 5% of LGBTQ+ persons in the US are more than one race.

By Socioeconomics

  •  9% of LGBTQ+ individuals in the US are unemployed.
  • 15% of LGBTQ+ individuals in the US are uninsured.
  • 27% of LGBTQ+ individuals in the US are food insecure.
  • 25% of LGBTQ+ individuals in the US have an annual income of less than $24,000.

By Education

  • 41% of LGBTQ+ persons in the US have their High School diploma.
  • 30% of LGBTQ+ persons in the US have Some College.
  • 17% of LGBTQ+ persons in the US have a Bachelor’s.
  • 13% of LGBTQ+ persons in the US have a Postgraduate level of education.
LGBTQ+ Education level of a Male vs Female

General Health

  • One in eight LGBTQ+ individuals (13%) have experienced some form of unequal treatment from healthcare staff because they’re LGBTQ+.
  • Almost one in four LGBTQ+ individuals (23%) have witnessed discriminatory or negative remarks against LGBTQ+ individuals by healthcare staff.
  • One in seven LGBTQ+ individuals (14%) have avoided treatment for fear of discrimination because they’re LGBTQ+.
  • Seven in ten trans individuals (70%) report being impacted by transphobia when accessing general health services.
  • Nearly half of trans individuals (45%) said that their GP did not have a good understanding of their needs as a trans person, rising to over half of non-binary individuals (55%).
  • 90% of trans individuals reported experiencing delays when seeking transition-related healthcare.
  • Trans individuals of color also experienced transphobia from trans-specific healthcare providers at more than double the rate of white respondents (13% compared to 6%).

Suicide

  • Studies indicate that 45% of LGBTQ+ youth have seriously considered suicide.
  • 14% of LGBTQ+ youth have attempted suicide.
  • The rate of attempted suicide decreases by less than half the rate in comparison to youth who reported low or moderate social support.
  • 73% of LGBTQ+ youth reported feelings of anxiety and 58% reported feelings of depression.
  • Less than 1 in 3 non-binary youth describe their home as gender-affirming.
  • Significantly lower rates of attempted suicide are found in communities that are described as accepting of LGBTQ+ individuals.
Graph of rates of considered and attempted suicide among LGBT youth by age

Anxiety and Depression

  • 73% of LGBTQ youth report having feelings of anxiety
    • 75% are aged 13-17
    • 69% are aged 18-24
  • 58% of LGBTQ youth report experiencing symptoms of depression
    • 61% are aged 13-17
    • 53% are aged 18-24
Graph of Anxiety & depression symptoms reported among LGBTQ youth by age

Discrimination

Overview

  • More than 1 in 3 LGBTQ+ individuals in the US reported facing discrimination in the past year.
  • To avoid discrimination more than 50% of LGBTQ+ in the US report hiding their relationships or identity to avoid discrimination.

Health:

  • 1 in 8 LGBTQ+ individuals in Britain report having experienced inequity within the healthcare setting.

Work

  • 1 in 5 LGBTQ+ individuals in Britain report being discriminated against when applying for employment.
  • More than 1/3 of LGBTQ+ individuals in Britain report feeling the need to hide their sexual orientation within the workplace for fear of being discriminated against.
  • 1 in 5 LBGTQ+ individuals: in Britain report being the target of negative comments or discriminatory actions in the workplace.

Education

  • 42% of LGBTQ+  students reported being bullied at school in comparison to students who did not identify as LBGTQ+.
  • 50% of students identifying as LBGTQ+ reported being subjected to homophobic slurs “often” while at school.
  • 9 out of 10 secondary teachers and almost 5 out of 10 primary teachers report that their LGBTQ+  students have been subjected to bullying.

Hate Crimes

  • 2/3 of LGBTQ+ individuals have been the victim of a hate crime in the form of violence or abuse.
  • 9/10 experienced verbal abuse, 3/10 physical abuse and 2/10 experienced sexual violence.

International

  • It is illegal to be LGBTQ+ in 70 countries.
  • In 11 of these countries, being LGBTQ+ has a possible punishment of the death penalty.
  • 25% of the world’s population believes that being LGBTQ+ should be a crime.

Sources: Williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu, Gallup.com, Stonewall.org.uk, Thetrevorproject.org, and Americanprogress.org.