A new data analysis report from the Office for National Statistics has shown that gay, lesbian and bisexual people typically have shorter life expectancies than heterosexual people.

The results found that gay and bisexual men lived on average 1.2 years less than straight men, while lesbian and bisexual women lived 0.9 years less than straight women.

This marks the first time the ONS has estimated life expectancy by sexual orientation for England and Wales, following orientation being included in the national census in 2021.

READ MORE: Drug and alcohol deaths significantly higher among queer people, study finds

The ONS has confirmed that it cannot determine if sexual orientation is the driver of the difference in life expectancy at this time.

It follows worrying data released this week which found that one in six children who died by suicide in England between April 2019 and March 2025 were LGBTQ+.

The figures, obtained by QueerAF via a Freedom of Information request to the National Child Mortality Database, showed that 107 out of the 647 children who died by suicide during that time were LGBTQ+, with 46 being transgender.

Readers affected by the issues raised in this story are encouraged to contact Samaritans free on 116 123 (www.samaritans.org) or Mind on 0300 123 3393 (www.mind.org.uk). Readers in the US are encouraged to contact the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255.

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