People who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB+) have a significantly lower life expectancy than those who identify as straight or heterosexual, according to groundbreaking new figures from the Office for National Statistics. This marks the first time that life expectancy estimates have been calculated based on sexual orientation in England and Wales.
Significant Disparity in Lifespan Estimates
The data reveals a concerning gap in life expectancy between different sexual orientation groups. A 20-year-old LGB+ man in England and Wales can expect to live on average another 59.4 years, while a man of the same age identifying as heterosexual is likely to live for an additional 60.7 years – representing a difference of more than 12 months.
Gender Differences in the Gap
There is a similar pattern for females, though the disparity is slightly smaller. A 20-year-old LGB+ woman is projected to live on average a further 63.0 years, compared with 64.0 years for a heterosexual woman of the same age.
Breakdown by Specific Sexual Orientations
The analysis provides more detailed insights when examining specific categories within the LGB+ spectrum. For those identifying as gay or lesbian, life expectancy for 20-year-olds is estimated at an additional 59.3 years for men and 62.8 years for women – both figures lower than the equivalent statistics for heterosexual individuals (60.7 and 64.0 years respectively).
For people identifying as bisexual, the estimates show an additional 59.6 years for men and 62.9 years for women – again, consistently lower than the figures for those identifying as straight.
Methodology and Data Sources
The groundbreaking statistics were produced by linking responses collected during the 2021 census with death registrations in England and Wales. The census included a voluntary question on sexual orientation for people aged 16 and over, marking the first comprehensive collection of such data on a national scale.
As only individuals aged 16 and above were asked the sexual orientation question in the census, life expectancy has been estimated from age 20 rather than from birth. The ONS has emphasised that its findings are based on large samples with consistent patterns across age groups, and they align with previous research in this area.
Important Caveats and Limitations
Greg Ceely, ONS head of population life events, provided crucial context about the findings: "For the first time, we have looked at how life expectancy can differ by sexual orientation. It shows people who identified as gay or lesbian had a slightly lower life expectancy than those identifying as straight or heterosexual."
He added an important qualification: "Life expectancy can be impacted by a range of factors, so we can't tell from this analysis whether sexual orientation is the driver of the difference seen." The ONS specifically noted that it could not determine from this analysis whether sexual orientation itself is a "contributing risk factor" for shorter life expectancy.
Broader Implications and Future Research
These findings highlight significant health inequalities that warrant further investigation and policy consideration. The data provides a crucial baseline for understanding health disparities across different sexual orientation groups in the UK population.
Researchers and policymakers will likely examine potential contributing factors to these disparities, which could include differences in healthcare access, experiences of discrimination, mental health challenges, lifestyle factors, or socioeconomic circumstances that disproportionately affect LGB+ individuals.
The publication of these statistics represents a significant step forward in understanding population health through the lens of sexual orientation, providing valuable data that can inform future public health initiatives and research directions.
