1 In 10 Young Adults Are LGBTIQ+

LGBTIQ+ people were more likely to live in major urban areas, making up 5.9 percent of the population living in major urban areas. While major urban areas on average had younger populations than other areas, this trend was consistent across all age groups. LGBTIQ+ people were on average more likely to be residing in a major urban area, compared with non-LGBTIQ+ people of the same age.

"The 2023 Census data shows us that while the LGBTIQ+ population is younger and more urban than the non-LGBTIQ+ population, LGBTIQ+ people come from all places and communities within Aotearoa," Quinn said.

LGBTIQ+ people have different experiences with disability and activity limitations

The 2023 Household Disability Survey found that the LGBTIQ+ population were more likely to be disabled (29 percent) than the non-LGBTIQ+ population (17 percent).

Household Disability Survey 2023 - findings, definitions, and design summary has more information.

These findings are supported by the 2023 Census data on activity limitations (for example, having difficulty walking or climbing stairs), which shows that 13.0 percent of LGBTIQ+ people had at least one activity limitation, compared with 7.8 percent of non-LGBTIQ+ people.

Using data from the Household Disability Survey and the 2023 Census has more guidance on the use of disability data and the differences between the surveys.

The LGBTIQ+ population was more likely to have at least one activity limitation than the non-LGBTIQ+ population across all age groups. This difference was especially pronounced for younger age groups between 15 and 29 years.

Of the six activities asked about in the 2023 Census, 'remembering or concentrating' was the activity that LGBTIQ+ people were most likely to report difficulty with. The younger age structure of the LGBTIQ+ population likely contributes to this, as difficulty remembering or concentrating was higher across the total population for those aged 15 to 29. Of those aged 15 to 29, 3.2 percent reported a lot of difficulty remembering or concentrating, compared with 1.5 percent of those aged 30 to 64.

More part-time work, but more study and higher qualifications for LGBTIQ+ people

The 2023 Census data showed that there are differences in the paths through education and training for LGBTIQ+ people and non-LGBTIQ+ people of the same age. LGBTIQ+ people aged 15 and 16 years were less likely to be studying full time and more likely to be in part-time study, while LGBTIQ+ people aged 18 years and over were more likely to be in full- or part-time study than non-LGBITQ+ people across all age groups.

There were also differences in qualifications gained, with LGBTIQ+ people being more likely to hold post-graduate qualifications than non-LGBTIQ+ people of the same age group. Nearly one in five people with minority sexual identities aged 20 years and over held a postgraduate qualification (19.2 percent), compared with 13.8 percent of transgender and non-binary people and 13.1 percent of non-LGBTIQ+ people in the same age group.

Transitioning to the workforce also looked different, with employed LGBTIQ+ people aged 15 to 34 years more likely to work part time, and less likely to work full time, than non-LGBTIQ+ people of the same age group. Levels of part- and full-time work for employed LGBTIQ+ and non-LGBTIQ+ people aged 35 and over were comparable. Although the split of part-time and full-time work was similar for employed LGBTIQ+ and non-LGBTIQ+ people aged 65 years and over, LGBTIQ+ people in this age group were overall more likely to be working. For those aged 65 years and over, 29.5 percent of LGBTIQ+ people were employed, compared with 24.3 percent of non-LGBTIQ+ people.

Despite challenges, LGBT+ people are optimistic for the future

Data from the General Social Survey on wellbeing outcomes provides some additional information about the subjective wellbeing of LGBT+ people. On average, LGBT+ people rated their current overall life satisfaction lower than the total population. Despite this, LGBT+ people reported a larger increase in expected life satisfaction in five years' time, resulting in similar levels of expected life satisfaction to the total population.

Wellbeing statistics: 2023 (updated) has more information.

The 2023 Census data on unpaid activities also highlights a trend for LGBTIQ+ people looking after or helping people within, or outside of, their own household.

"LGBTIQ+ people across all age groups were more likely to engage in helping someone who is ill or has a disability, or to help or volunteer through an organisation, group, or marae," Quinn said.