New data from Gallup indicates a significant increase in the percentage of adults in the United States who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or something other than heterosexual. According to findings based on interviews conducted throughout 2024, 9.3% of the U.S. adult population now identifies within the LGBTQ+ spectrum.
This figure marks a notable rise compared to the previous year’s estimate, showing an increase of more than a percentage point from 2023. The trend continues a trajectory of increasing self-identification observed over more than a decade, dating back to when Gallup first began measuring these statistics in 2012.
A Decade of Shifting Demographics
When Gallup initiated its tracking of LGBTQ+ identification in 2012, the figure stood at 3.5%. The latest data reveals a substantial expansion in this demographic group over the intervening years. Particularly striking is the acceleration in identification rates in recent years; the current 9.3% figure is nearly double the level recorded just four years prior, in 2020.
This marked surge is not uniformly distributed across all age groups. Generational differences play a pivotal role in the overall increase, with younger Americans demonstrating significantly higher rates of LGBTQ+ identification compared to older cohorts.
Generational Divide in Identification
The data highlights a pronounced difference across age brackets. Among adults classified within Generation Z, those born between 1997 and 2006 who are aged 18 to 27 in 2024, more than one in five identify as LGBTQ+. This makes Gen Z the generation with the highest reported rate of identification within the group.
Millennials, the generation preceding Gen Z, also show a substantial percentage of identification, with 14% reporting an LGBTQ+ identity. In contrast, older generations, including Generation X, baby boomers, and the Silent Generation, report significantly lower rates, with 5% or less identifying as LGBTQ+.
Understanding the Data and Methodology
The findings are derived from extensive polling data collected by Gallup. The 2024 estimate is based on a large sample size, incorporating interviews with more than 14,000 U.S. adults. These interviews were conducted across all of Gallup’s standard 2024 telephone surveys, ensuring broad coverage and representativeness of the U.S. adult population.
The survey directly asks respondents about their sexual orientation and gender identity. Specifically, participants are asked whether they identify as straight or heterosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or something else. This direct questioning method allows for self-reported identification.
Within the diverse categories of LGBTQ+ identification, the data indicates that bisexual identification is the most commonly reported orientation among those who do not identify as straight or heterosexual across all surveyed adults.
Implications of the Rising Figures
The consistent increase in LGBTQ+ identification, particularly pronounced among younger generations, suggests evolving societal norms, greater awareness, and perhaps increased comfort among individuals in openly identifying their sexual orientation and gender identity. The nearly doubled rate since 2020 points to a potentially accelerating trend.
The shift in demographics has wide-ranging implications for social, cultural, and political landscapes within the United States. As younger, more diverse generations come of age and constitute a larger share of the adult population, their self-reported identities contribute significantly to the overall demographic profile of the nation.
Gallup’s ongoing measurement provides a crucial statistical benchmark for understanding the changing dynamics of identity in the U.S. The latest figures underscore the growing visibility and self-identification of the LGBTQ+ population, driven significantly by generational shifts.
