The number of Americans identifying as queer has reached an unprecedented high, with 9.3% of US adults identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or something other than heterosexual in 2024, according to the latest Gallup poll recently released.
This represents the highest percentage since Gallup began tracking LGBTIQ+ identification in 2012.
The dramatic increase reflects a generational transformation in how Americans understand and express their sexual orientation and gender identity. This year (2025), the figure has nearly doubled since 2020 and is up from 3.5% in 2012, when Gallup first began measuring LGBTQ+ identification nationwide.
The data reveals that younger Americans are driving this historic shift, representing a significant increase from previous years, with identification rates among Gen Z climbing from an average of 18.8% between 2020-2022 to 22.7% over the past two years.
The generational divide is stark, with each older generation showing successively lower rates of LGBTQ+ identification. Millennials follow at 12.0%, Generation X at 4.8%, baby boomers at 2.8%, and the Silent Generation at just 1.8%.
Bisexual Identity Dominates
Among the nearly 900 LGBTQ+ individuals surveyed, bisexual identity emerged as the most common, with 56% of respondents identifying as bisexual. The breakdown shows 21% identifying as gay, 15% as lesbian, 14% as transgender, and 6% as something else, including pansexual, asexual, or queer identities.
The prominence of bisexual identity is particularly pronounced among younger generations, with more than half of Gen Z (59%) and millennial (52%) LGBTQ+ people identifying as bisexual, compared to just 11% of Silent Generation LGBTQ+ adults.
56% of respondents identified as bisexual
The survey reveals significant demographic patterns in LGBTQ+ identification. Women are more likely than men to identify as LGBTQ+ (10% versus 6%), primarily due to higher rates of bisexual identification among women. This gender gap is most pronounced among younger generations, with 31% of Gen Z women identifying as LGBTQ+ compared to 12% of Gen Z men.
The 2025 Gallup findings are based on interviews with more than 14,000 US adults conducted throughout 2024. Respondents were asked whether they identify as straight or heterosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or something else, with 5% declining to answer the question.
Gallup researchers predict that LGBTQ+ identification rates will likely continue growing due to the generational shifts currently underway, as younger, more openly LGBTQ+ cohorts replace older generations in the adult population.
The survey represents one of the most comprehensive measurements of LGBTQ+ identification in the United States and provides valuable insights into the evolving landscape of sexual orientation and gender identity recognition in Western democracies.
This article is based on data from Gallup's 2024 polling on LGBTQ+ identification in the United States. The survey was conducted throughout 2024 with more than 14,000 American adults.
