For the first time, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has published experimental estimates of the population of the LGBTI+.
A new approach, the ABS has combined information from nearly 45,000 people who participated in four recent ABS health surveys to give insight into the LGBTI+ community in the country.
In terms of LGBTI+ data, says Linda Fardell, head of health statistics for ABS, "some 4.5 per cent of Australians aged 16 and over, which equates to more than 900,000 people identify as LGBTI+". Almost 10 per cent of those aged 16-24 report an LGBTI+ identity.
Of the population, around 740,000 Australians are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or use other terms to describe their sexual orientation, and this is 3.6% of the population. One in three LGB+ Australians are married or in a de facto relationship.
Around 1% of Australians, or approximately 178,900 people, identify as trans or gender diverse, including trans men, trans women, and non-binary people.
About 0.3% of Australians, or around 63,300 people, report having variations in sex characteristics from birth.
The figures from Australia are very similar to those from New Zealand's 2023 Census. In New Zealand, 3.6% of people identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or use other sexual orientation terms, and about 0.9% of Australians and 0.6% of New Zealanders are trans or gender diverse.
Moving forward, 2026 Australian Census: Individuals aged 16 or above will be required to state their gender and whether or not they are heterosexually oriented, making data on LGB+, including trans and gender-diverse populations, much richer about the distribution across locations as well as groups throughout the country.