Discovering Canadian 2SLGBTQ+ Data
Defining LGBTQ+
2SLGBTQ+ includes persons who are Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or who use other terms related to gender or sexual diversity. The Government of Canada adopted the use of the acronym 2SLGBTQI+ to refer to Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex people and those who use other terms related to gender or sexual diversity. Statistics Canada uses the acronym 2SLGBTQ+ for data analysis purposes as information is not yet specifically collected about intersex people in surveys.
Major Surveys from Statistics Canada
Quantitative research on the social, demographic, and economic outcomes of 2SLGBTQ+ populations in Canada has historically been constrained by data gaps, since many surveys and censuses either did not ask direct questions on sexual orientation and gender identity or had too few respondents to allow meaningful analysis. Out of the many surveys conducted by Statistics Canada, only a limited number now include these measures, and their value for research depends not only on the content but also on the form in which the data are made available. Results are released along a continuum of access: detailed secure microdata files accessible only through the Research Data Centres (RDCs), public use microdata files (PUMFs), aggregate data tables, and statistical highlights in published reports. Increasingly, administrative data sources also offer new possibilities for filling gaps left by traditional surveys. Before turning to a closer examination of the most significant sources, the following table identifies major Statistics Canada surveys that capture sexual orientation and/or gender identity, outlining what is measured, the years covered, the populations included, and their relevance for social work research and practice.
| Statistics Canada Survey | Sexual Orientation (Identity/Behaviour/Attraction) | Gender Identity | Same-Sex Couples | Social Work Relevance |
| Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) | Identity (since 2003); behavior in 2015–16; no attraction measure | Since 2019 started collecting sex at birth and gender identity to capture transgender and nonbinary |
Provides broad, nationally representative health data with measures of sexual orientation (identity, behaviour in select years) and gender identity since 2019. Highly relevant for social work research on 2SLGBTQ+ health disparities, access to care, and social determinants of health. |
|
| General Social Survey (GSS) | Identity since 2004; question wording equates orientation with behavior | No |
|
Covers social trends, family, victimization, and time use. Sexual orientation data allow exploration of 2SLGBTQ+ experiences across diverse social domains, but lack of gender identity limits trans and nonbinary analyses. Useful for studying social support, discrimination, and family dynamics. |
| Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) | Identity only since 2010 for ages 45-85 only | No |
|
Captures identity (not gender identity) among older adults. Valuable for research on aging in 2SLGBTQ+ populations, including health, caregiving, and social isolation in later life. |
| Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) | Identity only (note small sample size) | No |
|
Combines self-reported health with direct physical measures and lab data, though only orientation is captured. Offers rare opportunities to study physiological health outcomes among 2SLGBTQ+ people, relevant for social work and public health intersections. |
| Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth (CHSCY) | Yes in 2019 sexual attraction (no identity) youth 12-17 | Yes in 2019 gender identity and sex at birth to capture transgender and nonbinary |
Captures gender identity (with sex at birth for comparison) among youth aged 12–17, providing rare nationally representative data on transgender and non-binary adolescents. While it does not include sexual orientation identity, it offers important insights into health, wellbeing, and social determinants for 2SLGBTQ+ youth. Highly relevant for social work research and practice focused on child and adolescent mental health, school experiences, family support, and early intervention. |
|
| Canadian Alcohol and Drug Use Monitoring Survey (CADUMS) | Identity only since 2008; no behavior/attraction | No |
Sexual orientation measure only; focused on substance use and mental health. Relevant for social work given high rates of substance use and service needs in 2SLGBTQ+ communities |
|
| Public Service Employee Survey (PSES) | Identity (self-report orientation, 2018–present) | Yes (binary + additional options in recent waves) |
Covers workplace climate, inclusion, and discrimination with both orientation and gender identity measures. Useful for examining 2SLGBTQ+ workplace wellbeing and equity in Canada’s largest employer. |
|
| Survey of Sexual Misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces (SSMCAF) | 2016: yes/no for LGB; 2018: identity categories (heterosexual, gay/lesbian, bisexual, specify) | Yes (binary; evolving categories) |
Includes orientation and gender identity measures with focus on sexual misconduct, harassment, and workplace climate. Relevant for social work in areas of trauma, military/veteran wellbeing, and institutional culture. |
|
| Census (2021) | No sexual orientation question but will be introduced in the 2026 Census | Yes (sex at birth and gender identity; first Canadian census to include in 2021; first country to collect and publish official data on gender identity in 2021) | Census of Canada, 2001, 2006, 2016, 2021; (National Household Survey 2011) |
First census worldwide to include gender identity alongside sex at birth; sexual orientation questions coming in 2026. Foundational for population-level equity analysis, service planning, and resource allocation for 2SLGBTQ+ communities. |
| Survey on Opioid Awareness (SOA), 2017 | Yes identity 2017 | No |
Brief survey with inclusion of sexual orientation. Relevant for understanding 2SLGBTQ+ communities’ perceptions of opioids, substance awareness, and public health messaging. |
|
| Longitudinal Administrative Databank (LAD) | No sexual orientation measure | Yes 2019+ (nonbinary & gender diverse) | 2000+ (good ability to trace individuals’ same-/different-sex partnership histories; large sample given inclusion of 20% of Canadian taxfilers=7.6 million people in 2020) | Tax-linked administrative dataset with growing potential to incorporate orientation/identity measures. Important for economic and demographic outcomes, poverty, and employment—key areas of social work concern. |
For social work education, this table illustrates how differences in survey design affect who is counted, who may be underrepresented, and which research questions can be answered. Surveys relying only on identity risk underestimating populations who report same-sex attraction or behavior but do not identify as LGBTQ+. Similarly, the absence of consistent gender identity measures limits understanding of transgender and non-binary communities. Educators can use this table to help students critically assess data sources, recognize methodological gaps, and appreciate the importance of advocating for inclusive survey design in advancing social justice.
Statistics Canada Aggregate Data
Note: Data when it is collected is at the unit of observation (i.e., it is disaggregated and referenced as microdata). What this means for survey data is that the unit is the entity completing the questions. For example, for the Census of Canada, the unit of observation can be an individual or household. Aggregate data tables represent summarized data–data that is aggregated into larger meaningful units such as geographical areas such as census metropolitan area (i.e. cities), census subdivision (i.e., municipality), or provinces.
The following aggregate data sources from Statistics Canada are compiled from the data collected through the various surveys tabled in the preceding section of this section.
Statistics Canada Sex, Gender and Sexual Orientation Statistics
These results are pre-filtered by the headings, “Sex, gender and sexual orientation” as well as its subheading, “2SLGBTQ+ Population”. When you click on the tab for data, you will see a number of tables which relate to 2sLGBTQ+ people in Canada.
Functional health difficulties among lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Canada
A Statistics Canada study using the 2017-2018 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) comparing functional health outcomes among lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults versus heterosexual adults. Data include: the proportion of LGB people reporting difficulty in one or more functional health domains (vision, hearing, mobility, cognition, self-care, communication) stratified by sexual orientation (bisexual vs gay/lesbian) and gender; prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders; self-rated standard of health; and social determinants (income, housing, food insecurity, discrimination) associated with poorer functional health.
Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics Hub
This hub is Statistics Canada’s primary platform for all gender, diversity and inclusion-related data in Canada–including data for capturing gender identity and sexual orientation. The Hub enables data users to more easily find data tables, including intersectional data, analytical products and insights.
Socioeconomic characteristics of the 2SLGBTQ+ population, 2019 to 2021
An official table listing statistics on the conditions of 2SLGBTQ+ Canadians versus non 2SLGBTQ+ Canadians, including income, health, marital status, and more. Please note: Transgender and gender diverse people are not included.
Canada’s Transgender and Non-Binary Populations: Data Visualization Tool
This data visualization tool provides an overview of sex at birth and gender of people in Canada from the 2021 Census of Population. The Data Visualization tools includes those who identify as cisgender, transgender, and non-binary. The data can be filtered by province or by Census Metropolitan Areas (CMA’s).
Other Data Sources (Provincial, National, U.S. and International)
Provincial
Hate Crimes Open Data (Toronto Police Service)
This dataset includes all verified Hate Crime occurrences investigated by the Hate Crime Unit by reported date since 2018. Last updated in August 2025. The Hate Crime categories (bias categories) include both sexual orientation and gender identity. Geography is neighbourhood level for Toronto.
National
Our Stats (“Sex Now” survey):
Our Stats is an online data visualization tool developed by the Community-Based Research Centre (CBRC) that makes findings from Sex Now—Canada’s largest and longest-running survey of gay, bi, trans, Two-Spirit, and queer (GBT2Q) men—publicly accessible. Launched in 2002 and now conducted nationally, Sex Now collects data on the health and well-being of GBT2Q communities, with recent waves available from 2015, 2018, 2019, and 2020, and a 2024 survey forthcoming. Our Stats enables users without research training to explore relationships between variables such as geography, ethnicity, and HIV status, and offers reports, presentations, and dashboards that support knowledge translation. For social work educators, this resource provides current, community-driven evidence to inform teaching, curriculum development, and discussions about program design, advocacy, and health equity for queer and trans populations.
Trans PULSE Canada:
Trans PULSE Canada is a national, community-based survey project examining the health, well-being, and lived experiences of trans and non-binary people in Canada, with attention to mental health, discrimination, health care access, and gender affirmation. While raw data are restricted to the project’s Data Analysis Working Group (external researchers can join the team to access raw data), findings are widely shared through publicly available reports, fact sheets, infographics, and teaching resources, supporting knowledge exchange relevant to social work education and practice. The main Trans PULSE Canada survey was conducted in fall 2019 with 2,873 trans and non-binary participants aged 14 and older, followed by a smaller 2020 follow-up on COVID-19 impacts with about 820 respondents from the original group. Since then, reports and publications have been based on these datasets rather than new national surveys.
LGBTQ Mental Health
This CMHA Ontario resource summarizes research and statistics on the mental health of LGBTQ+ people in Ontario. It highlights disparities in income, harassment, suicide risk, and substance use compared with the general population, while emphasizing the role of discrimination and social determinants.
2SLGBTQ+ and Homelessness
Homeless Hub focuses on homelessness among 2SLGBTQ+ people in Canada. It presents statistical evidence on over-representation of 2SLGBTQ+ youth in homeless populations, increased risks compared to heterosexual/cisgender peers, barriers in accessing shelters and supports (especially for trans individuals), and the role of discrimination, family rejection, and systemic institutions in driving housing instability.
