Introduction
Gender identity refers to a person’s sense of their own gender, whether male, female or another category such as non-binary. This may or may not be the same as their sex registered at birth. The question on gender identity was new for Census 2021. It was added to provide the first official data on the size of the TNBI population in England and Wales. The question was voluntary within the Census.
Summary of results
A total of 2,341 people aged 16 years or over (1.0%) indicated that their gender identity was different from their sex registered at birth - 1 in 100 people. This total number is likely to bean underestimate as some people did not respond to this question.
More people indicated that their gender identity was different from their sex registered at birth than in England and the South East (both 0.5%).
Information from Census 2021, including different geographical levels, maps and 2011 census data is available at:
Gender Identity and Trans, Non-Binary and Intersex (TNBI) people in Brighton & Hove
Brighton & Hove had a higher percentage (0.4%) of the population aged 16+ who identified as non-binary than England or the South East (both 0.1%) and a higher percentage of people who identified as a trans man (0.2%) than England or the South East (0.1%). The percentage who identified as a trans woman was similar to England and the South East (all 0.1%) (Table 1, Figure 1). Brighton & Hove has the 21st highest percentage of people whose gender identity was different from their sex registered at birth, out of 309 local authorities in England.
| 2021 Census, Brighton & Hove (n) | 2021 Census, Brighton & Hove: Percentage of total population | 2021 Census, South East: Percentage of total population 2021 Census, | England: Percentage of total population | |
| Gender identity the same as sex registered at birth | 218,401 | 92.8% | 94.1% | 93.5% |
| Gender identity different from sex registered at birth but no specific identity given | 476 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| Trans woman | 329 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1 |
| Trans man | 362 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| All other gender identities | 1,174 | 0.5% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
Characteristics
Age and gender
In Brighton & Hove people aged 16 to 24 years had the highest proportion of people who identified as trans (2.0%) - 1 in 50 people (Figure 2). Among people who answered female to the what is your sex question, those aged 16-24 years were the most likely to have identified as trans (1.5%), this decreased with age (Figure 3). This pattern was similar for those who answered male to the what is your sex question (from 0.9% of those aged 16-24 to 0.2% of those aged 65-74 and 75+ years).
Percentage of TNBI people by age
| Age | Percentage |
|---|---|
| 16 to 24 years | 2% |
| 25 to 34 years | 1.7% |
| 35 to 44 years | 0.8% |
| 45 to 54 years | 0.6% |
| 55 to 64 years | 0.6% |
| 65 to 74 years | 0.4% |
| 75+ years | 0.2% |
Percentage of TNBI people by age and registered sex at birth
| People who answered female to the what is your sex question | People who answered male to the what is your sex question | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 to 24 years | 2.40% | 1.40% |
| 25 to 34 years | 1.80% | 1.70% |
| 35 to 44 years | 0.80% | 0.80% |
| 45 to 54 years | 0.60% | 0.60% |
| 55 to 64 years | 0.40% | 0.40% |
| 65 to 74 years | 0.30% | 0.40% |
| 75+ years | 0.20% | 0.30% |
Sexual orientation
Information on sexual orientation by gender identity is not available at local authority level.
Ethnicity
Among adults in Brighton & Hove there was little difference between ethnic groups in the percentage of people whose gender identity was different from their sex registered at birth.
Religion
People whose gender identity was different from their sex registered at birth were more likely to say they have no religious affiliation (67%) than people whose gender identity was the same as their sex registered at birth (56%) and were less likely to be Christian (14% and 33%, respectively). Trans people were also more likely to be affiliated with other religions not included in the census form (7%).
Long-term health and disability
People whose gender identity was different from their sex registered at birth were more likely to say their day-to-day activities were limited a lot (48%) than people whose gender identity was the same as their sex registered at birth (20%).
Unpaid care
People whose gender identity was different from their sex registered at birth were equally likely to provide some amount of unpaid care each week as people whose gender identity was the same as their sex registered at birth (both 9%).
Veterans
Information on previous service in the armed forces by gender identity is not available at local authority level.
Area of the city
Across Brighton & Hove the percentage of adults aged 16+ who said that their gender identity was different from their sex registered at birth ranged from 0.3% in West Blatchington to 1.7% in Hanover in Brighton & Hove, with many of its surrounding MSOAs above 1.5% and above 1% in many central and university corridor areas of the city.