In a surprising turn of events, the number of individuals identifying as pansexual in England and Wales, as reported in the 2021 Census, has been dramatically revised following the discovery of a data error. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) issued a corrected statement on Wednesday, November 1st, revealing that an error in coding responses to the sexual orientation question had led to an inflated figure for pansexuality.
At the time of the original publication, the ONS had indicated that 112,400 people identified as pansexual, constituting 0.23 percent of the population, while 10,200 respondents had selected ‘other’ sexual orientations. However, the revised figures now stand at 48,000 for the pansexual population and 74,600 for those identifying under ‘all other sexual orientations.’ The correction was made by reevaluating write-in responses that had initially been coded as ‘pansexual,’ along with an assumption that 6,700 records, created through undercoverage adjustment, were correctly coded as ‘All other sexual orientations.’
This revelation comes on the heels of recent discussions within the government regarding the accuracy of census data related to the LGBTQ+ community. Women and Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch expressed concerns over a potential overestimation of the number of trans individuals in the Census due to what she referred to as “skewed methodology.” She voiced her apprehensions in Parliament and revealed her instruction to officials to investigate the accuracy of these figures.
Badenoch emphasized the importance of clear communication, particularly for those with English as a second language, in understanding terms related to gender identity. The ONS is currently conducting a review and is expected to release its findings by the end of the year. This development underscores the significance of meticulous data collection, particularly in matters related to the diverse and evolving landscape of sexual orientations and gender identities.