Overview
- The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has reclassified the 2021 census data on gender identity as 'experimental' due to potential biases.
- An investigation revealed that non-English speakers were more likely to misinterpret the gender identity question, leading to inflated trans population estimates.
- The original census data suggested that 262,000 people, or 0.55% of the population, identified as transgender in England and Wales.
- Local anomalies were found, such as higher than expected trans populations in some London boroughs compared to traditionally LGBTQ+ friendly areas like Brighton.
- The ONS plans to publish further explanations and develop better data collection methods to address these issues in future surveys.