More Brits identify as gay or bisexual than ever before, ONS stats reveal

There are more than one million gay, lesbian or bisexual people in the UK for the first time.

New statistics published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show the number of Brits self-identifying as LGB has topped 2%.

The figure is up from the previous year’s figures when 1.7% self-identified, which the ONS says is a “statistically significant” change.

Meanwhile the number of heterosexual Brits is at its lowest ever rate – coming in at a mere 93.4%.

The biggest percentage increase was in those who said they are bisexual, which rose from 0.6% to 0.8%, while those identifying as gay or lesbian rose from 1.1% of the population to 1.2%.

The figures are highest among 16 to 24-year-olds, with more than 4% identifying as gay or bisexual, suggesting that more tolerant attitudes among younger generations is leading to greater openness.

That figure falls to 2.9% among 25 to 34 range, while just 0.7% of over 65s self-identify as LGB.

Males are more than twice as likely to be gay than women, with 1.7% compared to 0.7% of women.

The number of women identifying as bisexual is greater than among men, however.