Local Area Estimates and Geographical Patterns of Australia's Sexual Minority Population

Abstract

The need for subnational population statistics by sexual identity is being increasingly recognised for a variety of service delivery, analysis, and policy purposes. However, such statistics are rarely produced by statistical offices or researchers. The aims of the paper are to describe a new method for calculating subnational estimates of the population aged 18 and over by sexual identity, and apply it to produce mid-2016 estimates for local areas in Australia. Census counts of persons in same-sex and opposite-sex relationships, survey data by sexual identity and partnership status, and official Estimated Resident Population data are used. The method first involved preparing census-like coun..