UK cities

Percentage of the population by sexual orientation in selected UK cities

The percentage of the population identifying as Bisexual is highest in Edinburgh (3.6%), Glasgow (3.1%) and Bristol (3.1%) of all selected UK cities, while Gay or Lesbian orientation is greater in Manchester (3.3%), Glasgow (3.1%) and Edinburgh (3.0%). Overall, Edinburgh has the highest percentage of the population (7.6%) identifying as either Bisexual, Gay/Lesbian or Other Sexual Orientation, and Birmingham the lowest (3.0%).

Edinburgh and Glasgow have the lowest percentage of the population identifying as Heterosexual/Straight (83.7% and 84.0% respectively – excluded from the above chart).

As the question was voluntary in both the England and Wales and Scottish Censuses, around 8% of people aged 16 and over in each of the cities chose not to answer the question.

Notes

Sexual orientation is an umbrella term covering sexual identity, attraction, and behaviour. The term sexual orientation may mean different things to different people.

Scotland’s Census included a new question on sexual orientation in 2022 for people aged 16 and over. This means that we do not have comparable data for previous Censuses.

The England and Wales Census asked the same question in 2021 for people aged 16 and over.

This section was last updated in December 2024.