Ninety per cent, or 1.364 million of the North’s adult population, identified as straight or heterosexual while 8 per cent did not answer the question or ticked ‘prefer not to say’.
Differences were also apparent in those living in more urban areas, including Belfast and Derry.
The Rainbow Project, a charity which promotes the health and wellbeing of LGBTQIA+ people in Northern Ireland, welcomed the release of the data as a “meaningful step” but expressed disappointment the census did not include questions on gender identity. “But what the census does show us is that there is eight per cent of people who do not feel safe or comfortable to state their sexual orientation – which shows that there is still a stigma and fear,” she said, referring to the number who did not answer the question as part of the survey.
“In terms of education, we are not talking around LGBT identities in schools. We’re also facing a high level of homophobic hate crime, it’s the highest it’s ever been,” she added.Published on Tuesday by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency , this was the final release of the 2021 census results which also examined employment, qualifications and marital status.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
First Northern Ireland census to track sexual orientation finds 2.1% identify as LGB+The latest census results focus on employment, marital status and sexual orientation.
Read more »
What is the DUP voting against in Northern Ireland’s Brexit deal?North’s largest unionist party will vote against a key part of the Windsor Framework - the Stormont brake - but has stopped short of rejecting the agreement overall
Read more »
Sinn Féin and DUP both rise in new Northern Ireland opinion pollThe poll put support for Sinn Féin at 30.6% and DUP at 23.9%.
Read more »
Chambers Ireland: Ireland’s planning system is a roadblock hindering climate progressChambers Ireland, a body that represents Irish businesses, has said that Ireland’s current planning system hinders progress on climate change
Read more »
What is juvenile idiopathic arthritis and what are the symptoms?Every year about one in 10,000 children in Ireland are diagnosed with JIA, says Arthritis Ireland
Read more »
Niall Horan Says He Wouldn't Turn If His Younger Self Auditioned For The Voice | Stellar'I wouldn't have turned. Not for that guy.'
Read more »