More young people than ever before identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB) - amounting to around one in 30, new government figures suggest.

And for the first time, the number of people aged between 16 and 24 who consider themselves bisexual outnumbers those who identify as gay or lesbian, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Figures released today reveal that according to the Annual Population Survey, 1.8 percent of people in this age bracket are bisexual, compared to one percent in 2012.

A further 1.5 per cent described themselves as gay or lesbian, a 0.1 per cent drop over four years.

The national average of LGB people is around one in 60 for all age groups - although campaign group Stonewall says the real number is likely to be higher.

It said high-profile people coming out as bisexual, including Cara Delevigne, boxer Nicola Adams and Miley Cyrus have helped to lead the way.

A statement from the group to The Pink News said: 'We would hope that individuals who had previously felt pressured to conceal their bi identity now feel safer and more empowered to be open about how they identify.

'It's a shame the data doesn't account for those who identify outside of the binaries of lesbian, gay and bi, however.

'We know that many LGBT people prefer not to label their sexual orientation in such a way, and so their input in this research is lost.'

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The 2015 figures - the latest available - reveal that London is the region with the highest proportion of people identifying themselves as LGB, with 2.6 per cent.

The east of England has the lowest percentage at 1.2 per cent.

The figure for those aged 16-24 (3.3 per cent) compares with just 0.6 of people aged 65 and over.

ONS statistician Pamela Cobb said: 'In 2015, the majority (93.7 per cent) of the UK population identified themselves as heterosexual or straight, with 1.7 per cent identifying as LGB, the remainder either identifying as 'other', 'don't know' or refusing to respond.'

The figures refer only to sexual identity and do not cover gender identity or necessarily reflect sexual attraction or behaviour.

Overall, more males (two per cent) identified as LGB than females (1.5 per cent)

Some 0.4 per cent of the total identified as 'other' while a larger group of 4.1 per cent either refused or did not know how to identify themselves.

More than two-thirds of the LGB population were 'single, never married or civil partnered,' the ONS said.

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This is potentially due to the young age of LGB people compared with the population as a whole and the fact that same-sex legal unions are relatively new.

The figures were part of the ONS annual population survey and included respondents aged 16 and over.

Source: Daily Mail