An interesting study. The % of people who identify as LGBT is always difficult; many people have same sex relationships but would never identify as LGBT. And of course being asked the question prompts a different response from self-reporting. Halfway between 5-10% seems about right, though 10% in young people is promising which is hopefully the result of it being easier to simply be out.
My thinking is the number is above 10%, because young people are more likely to tell the truth, and I see no reason to believe that older people are actually less likely to be LGBT (but are less likely to report it, especially if they are just bisexual). And since there are a few young people who wont admit it either, then one can hypothesize the number of LGBT is even higher than 10%.
I think some studies have suggested (for want of a better) word that ‘not exclusively attracted to the opposite sex’ people make up to around 10-15% so I would agree with you. Because homosexuality is a human trait there is no reason as to why different parts of the world should report significantly higher or lower instances than elsewhere. Studies in more ‘open’ nations tend to show higher rates. Strip back the social stigma and the number of LGBT people is higher. What is also interesting in this study (and other studies) is the % of people saying they know someone who is LGBT. If LGBT people made up just a few % of people then the numbers of people who know someone who is LGBT would be significantly lower. If it’s closer to 1 in 10, then the results make more sense.
