Census 2023 reveals first data on New Zealand's rainbow communities

The 2023 Census in New Zealand has for the first time collected data on LGBTIQ+ identities, revealing that 4.9% of adults, or 172,383 people, identify as part of the rainbow community. Wellington has the highest percentage at 11.3%, followed by Dunedin at 7.3% and Christchurch at 6%. The data shows that 54% of those identifying as non-heterosexual are bisexual, while 30% are gay or lesbian. Additionally, over 26,000 adults identified as transgender, making up 0.7% of the population. The Census also reported that 0.4% of adults, or over 15,000 people, identified as intersex.