Census reveals how many LGBTQ+ people live in Norfolk

Statistics collected from the 2021 census have shone a fresh light on the number of people in the county with a minority sexuality or gender identity. 

Among respondents, who were all aged 16 or over, it has revealed that across Norfolk a total of 24,337 people identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or another non-straight identity.

That is equivalent to a town roughly the size of Thetford - comprising about 2.66% of Norfolk's population, which is below the average across England of Wales of 3.2%.

Some 3,572 Norfolk residents meanwhile said that their gender differs from the sex they were assigned at birth, which is roughly 0.39% - again below the English and Welsh average of 0.5%.

It was the first time since the census began in 1801 that people were asked about their sexual orientation and gender identity.

The census data has revealed the most accurate picture yet of where LGBTQ people live in Norfolk - and how many there are (Image: PA)

The charity Stonewall described the publication of the figures as a “historic step forward” after more than two centuries of LGBT+ lives being “missing from the national record”.

A sizeable group of people who completed the census chose not to answer the new questions however.

In Norfolk, some 57,661 people (6.29% of the county) declined to answer the sexuality question and 44,285 people (4.83%) were silent on the gender identity question.

The results, released on Friday, nonetheless form the most accurate picture yet of Norfolk's LGBTQ+ population - and they showed that Norwich stood out from the rest of the county.

What is the picture in Norwich?

The area covered by Norwich City Council has the second-highest proportion of people outside London with a trans or non-binary gender identity. 

Some 1.07% of people in the city identified as such - more than three times the English and Welsh average.

It also has the 3rd-highest number of LGB+ people outside London.

Some 7.32% of the city’s residents said they were lesbian, gay, bisexual or another non-straight orientation.

Norwich stands out from the rest of the county in terms of its LGBTQ population (Image: Newsquest)

The highest proportion of LGBTQ+ people in the county is found specifically in an area encompassing the west of the city centre and Norwich-over-the-Water, where 14.09% of people said they were not straight, and 2.67% said they had a trans or non-binary gender identity.

That same area has the 19th-highest proportion of LGB+ people of any neighbourhood in England and Wales. 

What about the wider county? 

Of Norfolk’s seven districts, Broadland was home to the lowest proportion of LGB+ people (2.22%) and the highest proportion of straight people (91.35%) in the county. 

Broadland also had the highest proportion of people in the county saying that their gender identity is the same as the sex they were given at birth, at 95.09%.

The lowest number of people saying their gender identity differs was found in North Norfolk however, at just 0.24%. 

Norwich Pride 2022 (Image: Newsquest)

The only Norfolk district other than Norwich to have a higher than average proportion of people with a trans or non-binary gender identity was Great Yarmouth, on 0.62%.

Why were these questions asked?

Jen Woolford, population director for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the body responsible for carrying out the census, said the data will help to "tackle inequalities" in the LGBTQ+ community.

She said: "We've introduced those questions as a reflection of our society becoming more diverse, but also because there are now clear user needs for more information on that kind of diversity and the richness of our population.

What do LGBTQ+ organisations say?

Commenting on the results in Norwich, a spokesperson for Norwich Pride said: "Every year, support has grown for Norwich Pride, and this sense of community is what makes Norwich such a great place to be.

"LGBTQIA+ people still face challenges, but we hope that this shows that for many, Norwich is a place we can happily call home and know we are not alone."