Census 2021 Sexual Orientation (Data Tables)

This page includes the Surrey-specific data from the national 2021 Census release which has been prepared by the SCC Population Insight team. A summary of the sexual orientation data for Surrey residents has also been produced and is available on Surrey-i.

Sexual orientation is an umbrella term covering sexual identity, attraction, and behaviour. For an individual respondent, these may not be the same. For example, someone in an opposite-sex relationship may also experience same-sex attraction, and vice versa. This means the statistics should be interpreted purely as showing how people responded to the question, rather than being about whom they are attracted to or their actual relationships.

The question on sexual orientation was new for Census 2021. The data will meet the needs for better quality information on the LGB+ population (“gay or lesbian”, “bisexual” or “other sexual orientation”) for monitoring and supporting anti-discrimination duties under the Equality Act 2010.

The question was voluntary and was only asked of people aged 16 years and over. People were asked “Which of the following best describes your sexual orientation?”.

The different sexual orientations that people could choose from included:

• straight or heterosexual
• gay or lesbian
• bisexual
• other sexual orientation

If they selected “Other sexual orientation”, they were asked to write in the sexual orientation with which they identified.

Source:

Sexual orientation, England and Wales - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)