Catalina Espinosa
Research expert covering society, economy, and politics for Europe and the EU
LGBTQIA in Canada- statistics & facts
Canada's national statistics agency recorded around one million LGBTQIA+ people in 2018, representing slightly more than three percent of the Canadian population aged 15 or over. As the government points out, with terminology constantly evolving, people are referred to via different acronyms, one of the longest being 2SLGBTQIA+. This acronym includes two-spirited people - an identity specific to Aboriginal culture that some use to refer to a person whose gender identity, spiritual identity, or sexual orientation includes both a masculine and a feminine spirit - lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual people. Some have broader or narrower understandings of these terms, and as the list is not exhaustive, the + includes people who identify with various sexual and gender groups and use other terminologies.
Canada is also the first country to produce census data on transgender and non-binary people. Among the findings of the 2021 census, the data show that the proportions of transgender and non-binary people are much higher among people born after the 1980s than among those born before. In fact, 0.85 percent of Canadians aged between 20 and 24 were transgender or non-binary, as were 0.7 percent of 15-19 and 25-29 year-olds, compared with less than 0.2 percent of people over 45.
Regardless of union type, LGBTQ+ couples were less likely to have children than heterosexual couples. Over the same period, around half of different-gender couples had at least one child, compared to 37 percent of transgender couples, 24 percent of female couples, 22 percent of couples counting a non-binary person, and only six percent of male couples. These variations could partly be explained by the fact that, despite significant legal and social developments, disparities persist in terms of discrimination when it comes to starting a family or living out one's gender identity, as well as in various areas such as access to fertility treatments and access to childcare services.
Although support is predominant, discrimination and prejudice persist. A large proportion of LGBTQIA+ young people, for example, suffer harassment, ranging from mockery, insults and exclusion from certain activities to threats and physical violence. In addition, the number of hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation rose by almost 64 percent between 2020 and 2021, from 256 to 423, half of them perpetrated by people unknown to the victim. According to the Statistical Institute of Canada, three-quarters of these crimes specifically targeted gays and lesbians.
While homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic violence and attacks remain a worrying reality, discrimination and stereotypes also persist in many areas of daily life, such as housing, employment, education, and access to healthcare, which underlines the need for strong measures and promotion of inclusive and awareness-raising policies.
Census results reflect a young population
According to data from a study of the lesbian, gay, and bisexual population conducted between 2015 and 2018, a quarter of LGB Canadians are gay men, while a seventh are gay or lesbian women. Bisexual women, on the other hand, are twice as numerous as their male counterparts. In addition, according to national statistics, young people aged 15 to 24 accounted for almost a third of the LGBTQ+ population in 2018, whereas they represented just 14 percent of the non-LGBTQ+ population. Conversely, only seven percent of LGBTQ+ people were aged 65 or over, compared with 21 percent of the rest of the population.Canada is also the first country to produce census data on transgender and non-binary people. Among the findings of the 2021 census, the data show that the proportions of transgender and non-binary people are much higher among people born after the 1980s than among those born before. In fact, 0.85 percent of Canadians aged between 20 and 24 were transgender or non-binary, as were 0.7 percent of 15-19 and 25-29 year-olds, compared with less than 0.2 percent of people over 45.
Family and household characteristics can vary according to sexual orientation
While same-sex marriage has been legal since 2005, the proportion of marriages was lower among the lesbian, gay, and bisexual population compared to the heterosexual population in the period from 2015 to 2018. Indeed, more than three-quarters of different-gender couples were married, compared with two-fifths of female couples, and just over a third of male couples, more likely to live in common-law unions. By contrast, nearly three-quarters of couples in which at least one member was transgender were married.Regardless of union type, LGBTQ+ couples were less likely to have children than heterosexual couples. Over the same period, around half of different-gender couples had at least one child, compared to 37 percent of transgender couples, 24 percent of female couples, 22 percent of couples counting a non-binary person, and only six percent of male couples. These variations could partly be explained by the fact that, despite significant legal and social developments, disparities persist in terms of discrimination when it comes to starting a family or living out one's gender identity, as well as in various areas such as access to fertility treatments and access to childcare services.
Despite progress, challenges remain to ensure true equality for LGBTQIA+ people
Over the past decade, support for same-sex marriage and same-sex parenting has grown. While a portion of the Canadian population is still opposed to same-sex marriage, almost three-quarters of Canadians supported it in 2023, six percentage points more than in 2013. In addition, 70 percent of people surveyed in 2024 were in favor of same-sex couples having the right to adopt, and 71 percent considered same-sex couples to be just as likely as heterosexual couples to successfully raise children.Although support is predominant, discrimination and prejudice persist. A large proportion of LGBTQIA+ young people, for example, suffer harassment, ranging from mockery, insults and exclusion from certain activities to threats and physical violence. In addition, the number of hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation rose by almost 64 percent between 2020 and 2021, from 256 to 423, half of them perpetrated by people unknown to the victim. According to the Statistical Institute of Canada, three-quarters of these crimes specifically targeted gays and lesbians.
While homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic violence and attacks remain a worrying reality, discrimination and stereotypes also persist in many areas of daily life, such as housing, employment, education, and access to healthcare, which underlines the need for strong measures and promotion of inclusive and awareness-raising policies.
