According to a recent global survey conducted by Ipsos, the percentage of adults identifying as LGBTQ+ has reached 9%. The study highlighted the significant influence of age and geographic location on these findings, with younger respondents and individuals in more progressive countries being more likely to identify as LGBTQ+.
Demographic factors, including gender, also played a noticeable role in shaping respondents' views on issues such as transgender discrimination and same-sex marriage. The survey indicated that men were more likely to identify as gay (or homosexual), comprising 4% of respondents, while women identifying as lesbian (or gay or homosexual) accounted for 1% on average globally.
The survey, conducted from February 7 to March 13, encompassed 22,514 adults across 30 countries, including Portugal, the Netherlands, Turkey, and Brazil. Brazil emerged with the highest percentage of LGBTQ+ adults, standing at approximately 15%, while Peru and Japan reported the lowest figures, at 4%.
The survey also revealed a generational difference, with Generation Z individuals being twice as likely as millennials to identify as bisexual, pansexual, omnisexual, or asexual. Moreover, they were four times more likely to do so compared to individuals from Generation X or the baby boomer generation.
The survey also noted an increased visibility of all segments within the LGBTQ+ spectrum since the previous survey conducted in 2021. More than half of the respondents (56%) expressed support for legalizing gay marriage, while an additional 16% advocated for some form of legal recognition for same-sex couples. However, 14% opposed any form of legal recognition, and an additional 14% remained uncertain. Notably, the report highlighted a softening of support for same-sex marriage in several Western countries since 2021.
Awareness of transphobic discrimination was also evident, with almost 70% of respondents acknowledging that transgender individuals face at least a fair amount of discrimination.
In the United States, the survey revealed that 9% of the population identifies as LGBTQ+, aligning with the global average. This represents a 1% decrease since the previous survey conducted in 2021.
Ipsos emphasized that their polls have a margin of error ranging from plus or minus 3.5% to plus or minus 5%, depending on the sample size.