What percentage of people in the world are gay?

Answer 1

Alfred Kinsey's research in the late 1940's gave us the 10% figure which has been so widely used in terms of homosexuality. In fact, many people and many written materials continue to use 10% as the percentage of the population that is gay or lesbian. There are, however, two solid reasons to stop using 10%:

Kinsey's research methods have been seriously questioned:
A primary concern is that the people whom he surveyed did not represent the general population. Many of them were or had been prisoners; many were also sex offenders. For more information in an easily readable format, see "Sex, Lies and the Kinsey Reports" by R. Wildavsky, or J. Gordon Muir's article. For a detailed discussion of the shortcomings of Kinsey's work, see Judith Reisman's book Kinsey, Sex and Fraud or her article Kinsey and the Homosexual Revolution .

Recent studies have found significantly lower numbers, usually ranging between 1-4%:
Here is a sampling of these newer studies:
A national study of 316,800 Canadians found that 1.7% considered themselves to be bisexual or homosexual. (Stats Canada, 2004).
A study of 5,514 Canadian college and university students under the age of 25 found 1% who were homosexual and 1% who were bisexual. (King et al., 1988).
A study of 8,337 British men found that 6.1% had had "any homosexual experience" and 3.6% had "1+ homosexual partner ever." (Johnson et al., 1992).
A French study of 20,055 people found that 4.1% of the men and 2.6% of the women had at least one occurrence of intercourse with person of the same sex during their lifetime. (ANRS, 1992).
A Danish random survey found that 2.7% of the 1,373 men who responded to their questionnaire had homosexual experience (intercourse). (Melbye, 1992).
The American National Health Interview Survey does household interviews of the civilian non-institutionalized population. The results of three of these surveys, done in 1990-1991 and based on over 9,000 responses each time, found between 2-3% of the people responding said yes to a set of statements which included "You are a man who has had sex with another man at some time since 1977, even one time." (Dawson, Hardy, 1990-1992)
In a random survey of 6,300 Norwegians, 3.5% of the men and 3% of the women reported that they had had a homosexual experience sometime in their life. (Sundet et al., 1988).
Of course, even the best designed studies will not provide a 100% accurate figure. The results of the above studies, which consisted of random surveys of the general population, are influenced by a number of factors, including the social acceptance of saying "yes" and the wording of questions. How many people hid the fact that they were homosexual? How many people said "yes" to a broadly worded question about homosexual contact when, in their case, it happened in the context of being sexually abused as a child or a teen? How many men said "yes" to having had homosexual intercourse, when this occurred in prison only because of the absence of the opposite sex? And how many men and women who are attracted only to the same sex said "no" to homosexual behaviour because they have not been sexually active, or because they do not use a label like "homosexual"? . Because we do not have answers to all these questions, the true figure is likely somewhat higher than the 1-4% which these studies have found.

Nonetheless, the serious problems with Kinsey's work combined with these new studies give us clear reason to stop using the 10% figure.

In practical terms, whether the group to which someone belongs numbers 1%, 10%, or 100% of the total population, should not influence our treatment of that person. All persons deserve to be treated with respect and kindness, regardless of sexual orientation or anything else. At the same time, it is important to use data from current studies rather than from outdated and poorly constructed ones.


Here is another statistic for you,

22 of the 2880 tragically killed on Sept 11, 2001, are identified as having a homosexual partner. That is 0.75% — even if that figure were doubled or tripled, it is nowhere near the 10% figure that some homosexual activists still fraudulently cite to exaggerate their numbers and clout.

Once again: it bothers the hell out of me that they use 9/11 in this way. Nonetheless, they cite that 22 of the 2,880 people killed on 9/11 “identified as having a homosexual partner.” Forgetting reality, Americans for “Truth” then concludes that only 22 gay and lesbian people were killed on 9/11, which is absurd in itself. If 22 people had same-sex partners, there were many more gay and lesbian people killed who did not have partners, and therefore are not even counted in his “analysis”. Beyond that, they make the assumption that the partner of every gay and lesbian person who died that day made it public that they had lost a same-sex partner. Americans for “Truth” should know that because of prejudice against gay and lesbian people (which they help inflame), it is likely that many people with same-sex partners did not “come out” and say so.

Even if every gay and lesbian person who died on 9/11 were counted, a fourth-grade math student would tell you not to assume that number reflects society in general. If a building collapsed in Chelsea, I bet around 75 percent of those killed would be gay or lesbian. Can I now make the conclusion that 75 percent of America is attracted to the same-sex? Just a statistical data observation of fact, to ask the question how do you use numbers.

So ask yourself this, do you ask everyone in the world to stand up and be counted? and if not where do you start your count to get a raw number? because if you count sanfran you are going to get a larger number than say in Nashville...

Honestly I think since we are more free to be open about our sexuality now and not having to be so closeted , the number is going to be higer. We are not hiding any longer. I belive the number to be as high as 20 % but there are people that would argue with me.

In my subdivision alone (in the middle of the bible belt) we have 3 gay families on my street. and if there are that many on my stree how many are in the town? alot... (and there are only 20 homes on my street period.)

Answer 2

All answers are destorted but I've heard from 2% to 10% of the world. Seems like a small number to me. I found that statistic on a website about gay marriages, but I don't remember which one, sorry.

Answer 3

I don't think there is any way of knowing. A lot (probably a surprising majority) are not openly gay, most societies DESPISE homosexuality, so the best numbers will come from Western 1st World countries.

Answer 4

For the Billionth time....
Many studies suggest on the low side between 5-7% to as high as 12% but between oppression from particular societies and religious groups, there is no actual number proven to be true.

Answer 5

actually you need to ask,,what percentage of the world isnt gay

Answer 6

somewhat? that's impossible to understand. Bisexuality additionally makes it a sprint greater complicated to make your strategies up. human beings could define themselves as one element, yet their intercourse existence is a distinctive tale. it extremely relies upon on the variety you define/categorize distinctive sexual orientations. additionally, too a lot of human beings have a fluid sexuality. they may well be definitely without postpone at one think approximately their existence, then later they understand that they are bi or gay. Or vice versa. in spite of if that's extremely below 11 %. in spite of if, the type of bi human beings may well be lots larger. Who extremely is familiar with? @ Dave - you're kidding, good?

Answer 7

2 in every 10 people are gay.

Answer 8

More than you know, and more than rudecat63 would be happy with.

Answer 9

whatever...there are a lot of us out there.