Gallup Releases 2025 LGBTQ+ Identification Data

By: Paul Goldberg, Senior Editor | JRL CHARTS – LGBTQ Politics Asia

Research and data: Jeffrey M. Jones, Gallup

WASHINGTON, D.C. — (February 16, 2026) — Newly released data from Gallup, researched and reported by senior scientist Jeffrey M. Jones, shows that 9% of U.S. adults identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or another non-heterosexual identity in 2025, a figure that remains steady from last year while more than doubling the rate first recorded in 2012.

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According to Gallup’s 2025 findings — based on telephone interviews with more than 13,000 U.S. adults — LGBTQ+ identification has stabilized at 9%, up significantly from the 3.5% measured in 2012, the first year the polling organization began tracking sexual orientation and gender identity nationally.

Gallup reports that 86% of respondents identify as heterosexual, while 9% identify within the LGBTQ+ spectrum and 5% declined to respond.

Bisexual Identity Remains the Largest Subgroup

Gallup’s research confirms that bisexual identity continues to represent the largest share of the LGBTQ+ population in the United States.

More than half of LGBTQ+ adults identify as bisexual — accounting for approximately 5% of the total U.S. adult population.

Within the LGBTQ+ community:

17% identify as gay
16% identify as lesbian
12% identify as transgender
6% identify using another identity label such as queer or pansexual

Gallup notes that bisexual identification has grown significantly since 2020, when it stood at 3.1% of U.S. adults. In 2025, that figure has risen to approximately 5.3%.

Younger Generations Driving Growth

As Gallup’s long-term data analysis shows, generational differences remain the strongest factor behind rising LGBTQ+ identification.

In the 2025 survey:

23% of adults under age 30 identify as LGBTQ+
10% of adults aged 30–49 identify as LGBTQ+
3% or fewer of adults aged 50 and older identify as LGBTQ+

Gallup attributes much of the overall increase in LGBTQ+ identification over the past decade to generational replacement and shifting social norms among younger Americans.

Gender and Political Differences

The 2025 Gallup research also highlights notable gender and political distinctions.

Women are more likely than men to identify as LGBTQ+, largely due to higher rates of bisexual identification among women. Meanwhile, individuals who identify as nonbinary overwhelmingly fall within the broader LGBTQ+ umbrella, most commonly identifying as bisexual or transgender.

Political alignment also plays a role in identification trends. Gallup’s data shows Democrats are significantly more likely than Republicans to identify as LGBTQ+, a pattern researchers suggest may reflect broader partisan divides on issues such as same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ civil rights.

Urban vs. Rural Divide

Geography continues to influence identification patterns.

City residents report higher rates of LGBTQ+ identification compared with suburban and rural populations, while identification rates remain relatively consistent across major racial and ethnic groups nationwide.

A Stabilizing but Elevated Trend

While the 9% figure remains steady compared to last year, it represents a historic shift from where the country stood just over a decade ago. Gallup’s longitudinal research demonstrates that LGBTQ+ identification in the United States has more than doubled since tracking began in 2012.

The findings underscore generational change, evolving cultural norms, and the continued visibility of LGBTQ+ Americans across political and geographic lines.

For full methodological details and survey design, Gallup’s complete 2025 research report authored by Jeffrey M. Jones provides expanded demographic breakdowns and trend analysis.

JRL CHARTS continues to monitor national LGBTQ+ demographic trends, polling data, and policy developments shaping the future of equality in America.