Physical health
KEY FIGURES
Health
49 % of transgender persons ...
62 % of homosexuals and bisexuals ...
69-70 % of heterosexuals/cisgender persons ...
... report being in excellent or good health.
Source: Greve et al. (2022)
Physical disabilities
9 % of homosexuals and bisexuals ...
9 % of heterosexuals ...
... report having a major physical disability.
Source: Danish Institute for Human Rights’ own calculations based on SHILD (2020).
Smoking, alcohol and drugs
No significant difference for smoking and alcohol consumption.
The figure for drug use is three times as high for bisexuals and homosexuals.
Source: Greve et al. (2022) and the Danish Institute for Human Rights’ own calculations based on SUSY (2021).
- A larger share of homosexual women report being in good health compared to the remaining LGBT+ community. This may be a result of better mental well-being.
- Transgender and nonbinary persons drink less alcohol a week compared to cisgender persons. 10 % of transgender and nonbinary persons drink alcohol on a weekly basis; the same is true of 27 % of cisgender persons.
- Bisexuals and especially transgender persons report being in significantly poorer health than the rest of the population. This may be a result of poorer mental well-being.
- LGBT+ persons with disabilities may face accessibility challenges, which can result in exclusion from education, jobs or participation in associational or cultural activities. However, there is little available knowledge of LGBT+ persons with disabilities and how belonging to two minorities influence their lives.
- The figure for drug consumption is higher for homosexuals and bisexuals. 5.1 % of homosexuals and bisexuals have used drugs within the past year; the same is true of 1.8 % of the rest of the population.
Editing was completed September 2023
A person’s physical health is a result of various factors and is closely related to mental health. Behaviour and lifestyle – that is, work life, diet, smoking, alcohol consumption and exercise – also influence a person’s physical health greatly.
With the exception of homosexual women, the share of the LGBT+ community who report being in good health is slightly smaller than in the rest of the population. Especially among bisexual men and transgender women and men, fewer report being in good physical health.
Read more about the mental health and sexual health of LGBT+ persons in the theme pages. A survey from 2019 identifies a series of challenges in the meeting between LGBT+ persons and the healthcare system or GPs. This includes healthcare personnel with little knowledge of the LGBT+ community and the fact that some LGBT+ persons choose not to inform healthcare personnel of their sexual orientation or gender identity. In some cases, this makes no difference, however, in others, it means that LGBT+ persons are not offered the right treatment.
A qualitative survey of the life of intersex persons in Denmark finds that several of the interviewees have been in frequent contact with hospitals during childhood and youth and experience physical and often also mental health challenges. Read more about intersex persons and their contact with the healthcare system here: Gender-affirming care.
The website www.lgbtsundhed.dk aims to provide knowledge of LGBT+ persons’ health and to break down barriers between LGBT+ persons and GPs. The site is targeted at the LGBT+ community as well as healthcare personnel.
The Patient’s Handbook on sundhed.dk contains an article about LGBT for doctors and patients with information about health issues and contact between LGBT persons and the healthcare system.
The leaflet ”Your LGBT-friendly practice” developed by the Danish Health Authority is targeted at GPs, providing knowledge and inspiration for the meeting between general practice and LGBT persons.
Health
“I believe that needs differ from one person to the next. You have to listen to your body and focus on what you want and what works for you – no matter what other people say.”
- Nevan (LGBT+-person)
Around 9 % of the Danish population aged 18-64 years report having a major physical disability or long-term health issues. A disability is when a person with a functional impairment faces challenges in everyday life, e.g. due to limited accessibility. This may prevent them from participating in society on an equal basis with others, excluding them from e.g., education, jobs, associational or cultural activities.
There is no significant difference between the share of LGBT+ persons who report having a major physical disability and the rest of the population.
LGBT+ persons with disabilities are a minority in the minority and as such exposed to double discrimination, that is, discrimination or harassment directed at their sexual orientation and their disability. Moreover, communities for LGBT+ persons may be designed in a way that prevents persons with a disability from participating, causing them to feel excluded or lonely. There are no surveys of living conditions of LGBT+ persons with physical disabilities in Denmark.
Read more about the challenges facing persons with disabilities in Denmark at the Danish Institute for Human Rights’ status site and about living conditions of persons with disabilities in the Handicap Barometer.
Physical disabilities
“I believe that needs differ from one person to the next. You have to listen to your body and focus on what you want and what works for you – no matter what other people say.”
- Nevan (LGBT+-person)
A person’s health and well-being is largely influenced by their lifestyle and everyday habits. Their consumption of tobacco, alcohol and drugs in particular can say something about the state of their physical health. Many associate smoking, alcohol and drugs with fun and games. However, excessive consumption can have a negative impact on one’s physical and mental health. Moreover, abuse and addition can have social consequences and thus negatively affect a person’s quality of life.
Smoking: More transgender men (21 %) than cisgender men (17 %) smoke on a daily basis. There is no difference across sexual orientation.
Alcohol: Fewer bisexuals and transgender persons drink alcohol on a weekly basis. 10 % of transgender and nonbinary persons and 27 % of cisgender persons drink alcohol on a weekly basis.
Drugs: More homosexuals and bisexuals have experience with drugs. 5.1 % of homosexuals and bisexuals and 1.8 % of heterosexuals have used drugs within the past year.
The figures above are for weekly consumption of alcohol, but do not say anything about the amount of alcohol consumed. Age may also be a factor. Adding age to the equation does not change the fact that there is a difference in drug consumption (reduced from 1:3 to 1:2), or that transgender persons consume less alcohol. The fact that the data were collected during the COVID-19 pandemic with restrictions on nightlife and gatherings may also have been a factor.
Smoking, alcohol and drugs
- Greve, J., Østergaard, S. V., Andersen, M. & Thomsen, M. K. (2022). Kortlægning af homo- og biseksuelles samt transpersoners levevilkår og samfundsdeltagelse. VIVE - Det Nationale Forsknings- og Analysecenter for Velfærd.
- Frisch, M., Moseholm, E., Andersson, M., Andresen, J. B., & Graugaard, C. (2019). Sex i Danmark - Nøgletal fra Projekt SEXUS 2017-2018. Statens Serum Institut & Aalborg Universitet.
- Egede, S. J., Fouchard, J., Frisch, M. & Graugaard, C. (2019). Danske LGBT-personers møde med almen praksis – udfordringer og muligheder. Aalborg Universitet.
- Steffensen, T. & Frandsen, M. (2021). 2012-2020: Otte år uden reelle forbedringer i levevilkår for mennesker med handicap. Institut for Menneskerettigheder.