If you’ve been paying attention to the news lately, you’ve probably seen the headlines. Some people claim everyone is coming out these days, while others think the numbers are way overblown. So, honestly, what is the percentage of LGBT in the USA right now?
The short answer is 9.3%.
That’s the latest from Gallup as of early 2025. It’s a number that has been climbing steadily, nearly doubling since 2020. But that single digit doesn't tell the whole story. If you look under the hood, you’ll find a massive generational divide that is basically reshaping the American demographic landscape.
The Great Generational Gap
It’s wild how much your birth year predicts your answer to this question. For the Silent Generation (those born before 1946), the percentage of LGBT in the USA is tiny—less than 2%. They grew up in an era where being "out" wasn't just socially difficult; it was often dangerous or illegal.
Then you have Gen Z.
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Among adults born between 1997 and 2006, the numbers are through the roof. More than one in five Gen Z adults (about 23%) identify as LGBTQ+. That is a massive jump. It’s not necessarily that more people are becoming queer; it’s that the social cost of saying it out loud has dropped significantly for younger people. Or at least, it had.
Why the Numbers Are Moving
A huge chunk of this growth comes from one specific label: Bisexual.
More than half of the entire LGBTQ+ population in the U.S. identifies as bisexual. Specifically, Gallup’s 2024-2025 data shows that 56.3% of LGBT adults are bisexual. This is especially true for women. In fact, women are nearly twice as likely as men to identify as LGBTQ+ (10% vs 6%), mostly because of that bisexual identification.
When you break down the 9.3% total, here is how the math usually shakes out:
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- Bisexual: 5.2% of all U.S. adults
- Gay: 2.0%
- Lesbian: 1.4%
- Transgender: 1.3%
- Other (Pansexual, Asexual, Queer): Around 1%
The "Hidden" Data and the 2026 Shift
While the Gallup numbers are the gold standard, the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey has been digging even deeper. Some of their recent experimental data suggested the number could be as high as 8% to 10%, representing roughly 20 million people.
But here's where it gets complicated.
As we move into 2026, the vibe is changing. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) recently dropped a report that’s honestly pretty sobering. After years of rising visibility, nearly 47.5% of LGBTQ+ adults say they’ve actually started being less open about their identity in the last year.
Whether it's at work, in healthcare settings, or just walking down the street, many people are pulling back. This "return to the closet" is a direct response to a shift in the political climate and a wave of new state-level restrictions. So, while the actual percentage of LGBT in the USA might stay high, the visible percentage might start to dip for the first time in decades.
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Geography Matters (A Lot)
Where you live in the States basically dictates how many queer people you’ll run into. Urban areas like San Francisco, New York, and Portland naturally have higher concentrations—roughly 11% of the population.
Rural areas? Not so much. Only about 7% of rural residents identify as LGBTQ+. It’s not that there aren't queer people in small towns; it’s just that many move to "gay meccas" for safety and community, or they simply choose not to disclose their identity to a pollster while living in a conservative area.
What Most People Get Wrong
There's a common myth that this is all a "social contagion" or a trend. But experts point out that the growth in the percentage of LGBT in the USA mirrors other historical shifts.
Think back to when schools stopped punishing kids for being left-handed. Suddenly, the "percentage" of left-handed people skyrocketed! Did the world suddenly get more lefties? No. People just stopped hiding it. We’re likely seeing the same thing here. When you don't get fired or ostracized for who you love, you tend to be more honest on a survey.
Practical Next Steps
If you’re trying to wrap your head around these numbers for work, school, or just to be a better human, here is what you can actually do with this info:
- Update Your Assumptions: If you're a business owner or a teacher, realize that 1 in 4 of your Gen Z "audience" likely identifies as LGBTQ+. Using inclusive language isn't "woke"—it's just accurate marketing.
- Look Beyond the Headlines: Don't just look at the 9.3% total. Pay attention to the 1.3% transgender statistic. This group is currently facing the most legislative pressure and often needs the most direct allyship right now.
- Check Local Data: If you're in a state like California or Oregon, the percentage is much higher than the national average (closer to 5-6% even a decade ago, likely much higher now). Conversely, if you're in the South, the numbers might be lower due to safety concerns.
- Support Visibility: Since nearly half of the community is reporting a "pullback" in visibility as of 2026, small gestures like pronouns in email signatures or "All Are Welcome" stickers actually mean more now than they did five years ago.
The numbers are going to keep shifting. As more of Gen Z reaches adulthood and the "Alpha" generation starts to get polled, we might see the national average cross the 10% threshold. For now, 9.3% is the number to remember. It represents millions of people navigating a world that’s currently in a very loud debate about their right to exist openly.