2023 Census data on the Rainbow/LGBTIQ+ Population
Stats NZ media release: 13th May 2025
Rainbow /LGBTIQ+ population: 2023 Census provides data on LGBTIQ+ communities with the release of 24 new Aotearoa Data Explorer tables.
The 2023 Census was the first census to collect information on LGBTIQ+ communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. The LGBTIQ+ population output from the 2023 Census includes people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, were born with a variation of sex characteristics, or have other minority genders or sexual identities.
LGBTIQ+ statistics give a picture of the diversity within our population, and enable people to advocate for the needs of LGBTIQ+ communities. This data is valuable for informing local and central government planning, service provision, and policy development. It also allows us to understand how outcomes differ for LGBTIQ+ and non-LGBTIQ+ people in New Zealand.
24 new 2023 Census topic tables in Aotearoa Data Explorer
This release of 2023 Census data on LGBTIQ+ communities includes new datasets on topics such as age, gender, work and education, families and households, and housing. The tables are available by geographic area and census year.
Most tables break down the data using the rainbow/LGBTIQ+ indicator, which includes the categories ‘LGBTIQ+’ and ‘not LGBTIQ+’. The LGBTIQ+ category can be further broken down to provide data for sexual minorities, transgender and non-binary groups, and those born with a variation of sex characteristics. One table provides data broken down by the sexual identity variable and the cisgender and transgender status variable, providing further detail for subgroups within these populations.
Find out more about the Census 2025 data on the Rainbow/LGBTIQ+ population in Aotearoa New Zealand.