health
February 3, 2026
Life expectancy of LGB+ people a year lower than that of heterosexuals, ONS finds
Academic says risk factor is not sexual orientation but society’s treatment of sexual minority people
TL;DR
- Life expectancy for LGB+ individuals in England and Wales is approximately one year lower than for heterosexual individuals.
- Gay or lesbian men have a life expectancy 1.2 years lower than straight men (59.4 vs. 60.7 years).
- Gay or lesbian women have a life expectancy 0.9 years lower than straight women (63.0 vs. 64.0 years).
- Bisexual men have a life expectancy of 59.6 years, and bisexual women have a life expectancy of 62.9 years.
- Previous ONS analysis indicated LGB+ people are more likely to die from suicide, alcohol-related disease, and drug overdose.
- Experiencing discrimination and exclusion is linked to increased stress, smoking, and drug use, which can impact life expectancy.
- The analysis used data from the 2021 census and death registrations, estimating life expectancy from age 20.
- The ONS could not analyze life expectancy by gender identity due to data uncertainties.
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