Oldhamers are less likely to identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or a sexuality other than straight (LGB+) than those in the North West, Census figures published today, Friday, January 6, have revealed.

The data is based off how the country looked on Census day on Sunday, March 21, 2021.

It’s the first time the questions have been asked in the Census, meaning there is no previous data to compare to in the previous census, which took place in 2011.

ALSO READ: Census 2021: data shows changes in Oldham's ethnic makeup.

The Census was carried out by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) throughout England and Wales, with Scotland and Northern Ireland having their own censuses.

All figures are based only on those aged over 16, with those under 16 excluded from the calculations.

Overall, 2.3 per cent of Oldhamers, or 4,180, identified as LGB+, with 7.3 per cent not answering the optional question.

In the North West, 3.2 per cent identified as LGB+, and across England and Wales 3.1 per cent did, meaning more than 1.5m identify as such.

However, 7.5 per cent did not answer the question.

Oldham had the lowest proportion of those identifying as LGB+ in Greater Manchester.

The council area with the highest proportion of those identifying as LGB+ in England and Wales was Brighton and Hove, with 10.7 per cent identifying as such. This was followed by the City of London square mile, with 10.3 per cent.

Outside of the South East, the area with the highest proportion was Manchester, with 6.6 per cent identifying as LGB+.

The least LGB+ area in England and Wales was Solihull, with just 1.88 per cent identifying as such.

Gender identity

For gender identity, just 0.54 per cent of people, or 262,112, in England and Wales had a gender identity that differed from their sex assigned at birth.

London had the highest proportion in England and Wales, with 0.91 per cent of Londoners identifying as such.

In the North West, 0.5 per cent of people had a gender identity that differed from that assigned at birth, rising to 0.7 per cent of Oldhamers. In Manchester, just over 1 per cent identified as such.

The London borough of Newham had the highest proportion of those identifying with gender identity that differed from that assigned at birth, at 1.51 per cent of residents.

The lowest proportion was Rutland, at 0.23 per cent.