First Official Stats: 4.9% of New Zealanders Identify as LGBTIQ+

In the first official stats provided in New Zealand, it has been revealed 4.9% of the population list themselves as a member of the rainbow community with the majority of those classing themselves as bisexual.

The data also shows that 0.7% of the population identify as transgender and 0.4% identify as intersex.

The 2023 Census was the first census to collect data from New Zealanders about their gender, sexual identity, and whether they have a variation of sex characteristics.

Confidentialised data from the 2023 Census found that 172,383 people belonged to the LGBTIQ+ (or Rainbow) population, 47,631 are listed as gay or lesbian, 78,300 as bisexual and 19,026 with a sexual identity not elsewhere classified.

Or in another way, sexual identity information for the census usually resident adult population who responded showed that 89.6 percent identified as heterosexual (straight), 1.4 percent as homosexual (gay or lesbian), 2.3 percent as bisexual, 0.6 percent had a sexual identity not elsewhere classified, and 6.1 percent preferred not to say.

Deputy government statistician and deputy chief executive insights and statistics Rachael Milicich said Census data is for everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand.

“It is important that Rainbow communities can see themselves in the data for the first time” Milicich said.

“We thank those who have advocated for and contributed to the delivery of this data over the years.”

Over the past month, the Australian government has flip-flopped as to whether to include the gender and sexuality questions in their upcoming census.

Wellington city has the highest proportion of LGBTIQ+ people at 11.3%. After Wellington, the cities with the highest proportions were Dunedin (7.3%), Christchurch (6.0%), Palmerston North (5.8%), and Hamilton (5.6%).

Auckland had 57,324 people who belonged to the LGBTIQ+ population (4.9%). Within Auckland local board areas, Waitematā had the highest proportion of LGBTIQ+ adults, at 12.0%.

“The data released today provides vital information for local communities so that they can provide support and access to services that are needed,” Milicich said.

In the 2023 Census, 144,960 people (4.1% of the census usually resident population aged 15 years and over) reported a sexual identity other than heterosexual.
This included:

• homosexual (gay or lesbian) – 47,631
• bisexual – 78,300
• sexual identity not elsewhere classified – 19,026.

26,097 people (0.7% of the census usually resident population aged 15 years and over) were transgender.
This included:

• transgender male – 5,013
• transgender female – 5,736
• transgender person of another gender – 15,348.

15,039 people (0.4% of the census usually resident population aged 15 years and over) stated that they know they were born with a variation of sex characteristics.

“Stats NZ is pleased to be able to deliver Aotearoa New Zealand’s first official statistics about and for the intersex community,” Milicich said.

Last Updated on Oct 3, 2024