Sex and gender in Brighton & Hove

This is the sex recorded by the person completing the census. The options were “Female” and “Male”. There is a separate briefing on gender identity.

Summary of results

In 2021, 51% (141,540 people) of the population of the city were female and 49% (135,563 people) were male.

The number of females and males is similar to England and the South East (both 51% and 49%, respectively).

The number of females in Brighton & Hove has increased since 2011 (3% increase, 4,279 more people) and the number of males has decreased (0.4% decrease, 545 fewer people).

Information from Census 2021, including different geographical levels, maps and 2011 census data is available at:

• Community Insight - for local census data
• Census 2021 - for national census data

The number of females in Brighton & Hove has increased since 2011 (3% increase, 4,279 more people) and the number of males has decreased (0.4% decrease, 545 fewer people). This is different to England which saw an increase in females (7%) and males (6%) and the South East, which saw similar increases (8% in females and 7% in males). 

Brighton & Hove has proportionally the 137th most females (out of 309 local authorities in England

Age

The age distribution of males and females in the city is similar (Figure 1), although there are more females in the oldest age group (85 years or older, 3%) than males (1%).

Gender identity

There was little difference between genders regarding gender identity, with 1% of both females and male saying that their gender identity is different from the sex registered at birth. 

Sexual orientation

A similar percentage of females and males in the city reported that their sexual orientation was straight or heterosexual (80% and 81%, respectively). More males (8%) reported the gay or lesbian category than females (4%) and more females reported that they are bisexual (6%) than males (2%).

Ethnicity

There was little difference by ethnic group between males and females, although males (75%) were more likely to be White British than females (73%) and females (12%) were more likely to be of non-British White ethnicity than males (10%). 

Religion

There was also little difference in religious affiliation between males and females, apart from females (33)%) were more likely to report they are affiliated with Christianity than males (28%) and males (58%) were more likely to report they have no religious affiliation than females (53%).

Long-term health and disability

Females in the city were more likely to report they are disabled under the equalities act definition (20%) than males (17%), with more females (8%) saying their day-to-day activities were limited a lot than males (7%)

Unpaid care

Female residents (9%) are more likely to provide some level of unpaid care than males (7%). Among those providing unpaid care, females are more likely to provide 50 or more hours of care (27% of those who provide care) than males (25%). 

Previous service in UK armed forces

Male residents (4%) were more likely to have previously served in the UK armed forces (regular or reserve) than female (1%).

Migration

People who were born outside the UK were more likely to be female (55%) than those who were born in the UK (50%)

Area of the city

The percentage of the population who are female ranges from 48% (Queen's Park and Regency) to 53% (Hanover and Elm Grove, North Portslade and Westbourne).

Population and population groups

Explore key information about physical disabilities and impairment in Brighton & Hove.