RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In Brazil, 2.9 million people aged 18 or older identify themselves as lesbian, gay, or bisexual. The data come from the National Health Survey (PNS): self-identified sexual orientation of the adult population, released today (25) by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).
This is the first time this data has been collected from the Brazilian population, and the Institute believes it may still be underreported.
The 2019 data show that 94.8% of the adult population, or 150.8 million people, declare themselves heterosexual, meaning they are sexually or emotionally attracted to people of the opposite sex.
1.2%, or 1.8 million, declare themselves homosexual, meaning they are attracted to people of the same sex; and 0.7%, or 1.1 million, declare themselves bisexual, meaning they are attracted to more than one sex or binary gender.
The survey also shows that 1.1% of the population, or 1.7 million people, did not know how to answer the question, and 2.3%, or 3.6 million people, refused to answer. A minority, 0.1% or 100,000, said they identified with other orientations.
According to IBGE, when asked if they identify as pansexual – a person whose gender is not a determining factor in their attraction – or asexual – a person who does not feel sexual attraction – most respondents answered yes.
AGE, EDUCATION, AND REGION
According to IBGE data, the proportion of homosexuals and bisexuals is more significant among those with higher levels of education (3.2%), higher incomes (3.5%), and ages between 18 and 29 (4.8%).
In terms of regions, the Southeast has the highest percentage, 2.1%, while the Northeast has the lowest, 1.5%.
Looking only at Brazilian women, 0.9% identify themselves as lesbian and 0.8% as bisexual. Looking only at men, 1.4% describe themselves as gay and 0.5% as bisexual. In both groups, the majority declared being heterosexual. Among both men and women, 1.1% said they did not know, and 2.3% refused to answer.
The Brazilian result was similar to other countries, according to the study. In Colombia, for example, 1.2% of the population identify themselves as homosexual or bisexual; in Chile, the figure is 1.8%, similar to Brazil; in the United States, 2.9%; and in Canada, 3.3%.
UNDERREPORTING
According to IBGE, the number of lesbians, gays, and bisexuals included in the study may be underreported. The Institute cites stigma and prejudice in society as factors that can make people feel unsafe disclosing their sexual orientation.
The researchers responsible for the study point out that homosexuality is a crime in about 70 countries, according to a survey conducted by the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (Ilga).
“We are not saying that there are 2.9 million homosexuals or bisexuals in Brazil. We state that 2.9 million homosexuals and bisexuals identified themselves as such in IBGE,” says PNS analyst Nayara Gomes.