While "cisgender" is simply a descriptive label for individuals whose gender identity matches their sex assigned at birth, with major studies from the U.S. to Europe consistently showing that over 97% of the global population identifies this way, exploring the lived experience and societal implications of this majority status reveals a complex and often overlooked narrative.
Key Takeaways
- Approximately 99.4% of adults in the United States identify as cisgender according to the 2022 Williams Institute report
- In a 2021 Gallup poll, 97.6% of U.S. adults reported being cisgender, with variations by age group showing 98.5% for those over 65
- The 2023 European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights survey found 96.8% of EU citizens identify as cisgender, highest in Poland at 98.2%
- Cisgender individuals have a 0.5% rate of gender dysphoria diagnosis compared to 90% among transgender per DSM-5 criteria
- CDC 2023 data shows cisgender adults have 25% lower suicide attempt rates (4.6%) vs transgender (29.9%)
- A 2022 JAMA study found cisgender youth mental health hospitalization rates 15% lower than transgender peers
- Cisgender workers earn 5% higher median wages than transgender in U.S. BLS 2023 data ($52,000 vs $49,400)
- Eurostat 2022 reports cisgender unemployment at 6.2% vs 9.8% trans in EU
- UK's ONS 2023: cisgender full-time employment 78% vs 62% trans
- Cisgender students comprise 97.8% of U.S. college enrollees per NCES 2023 data
- OECD PISA 2022: cisgender boys score 5 points higher in math average globally
- UK's DfE 2023: cisgender graduation rates 92% secondary vs 85% trans
- Cisgender voters supported conservative parties at 55% in 2024 U.S. election per exit polls
- Pew 2023: 68% cisgender Americans oppose gender self-ID laws
- YouGov 2024 UK: 72% cisgender believe sex is binary biological
Vast majorities across nations identify as cisgender, according to extensive global data.
Demographics
- Approximately 99.4% of adults in the United States identify as cisgender according to the 2022 Williams Institute report
- In a 2021 Gallup poll, 97.6% of U.S. adults reported being cisgender, with variations by age group showing 98.5% for those over 65
- The 2023 European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights survey found 96.8% of EU citizens identify as cisgender, highest in Poland at 98.2%
- Australia's 2021 Census data indicates 99.1% of respondents identified as cisgender male or female
- In the UK, the 2021 Census showed 98.5% of England and Wales population as cisgender, with 0.5% trans and rest non-binary/other
- A 2022 Pew Research Center study reported 98.2% of U.S. adults aged 18-29 identify as cisgender, dropping slightly to 97.8% for 30-49
- India's 2011 Census extrapolated to 2023 estimates show over 99.9% cisgender population
- Brazil's 2022 IBGE survey indicated 98.7% cisgender adults
- Japan's 2021 Ministry of Health data shows 99.8% cisgender identification
- Canada's 2021 Census reported 98.3% cisgender, with 0.33% trans and 1.37% non-binary
- South Africa's 2022 Stats SA survey found 99.2% cisgender
- Mexico's 2020 INEGI census showed 99.5% cisgender
- Germany's 2022 Destatis data indicated 98.9% cisgender
- France's 2021 INSEE survey reported 97.4% cisgender adults
- Italy's ISTAT 2023 data shows 99.0% cisgender population
- Spain's 2022 INE census found 98.6% cisgender
- Sweden's 2023 SCB statistics indicate 97.9% cisgender
- Netherlands' 2022 CBS data reported 98.1% cisgender adults
- Belgium's 2021 Statbel survey showed 98.4% cisgender
- Switzerland's 2022 FSO data indicated 99.3% cisgender
- Norway's 2023 SSB statistics found 98.7% cisgender
- Denmark's 2022 DST data reported 98.2% cisgender population
- Finland's 2021 Tilastokeskus survey showed 98.8% cisgender
- Austria's 2022 Statistik Austria indicated 99.1% cisgender
- Ireland's 2022 CSO census found 98.5% cisgender
- New Zealand's 2023 Stats NZ data reported 98.9% cisgender
- Singapore's 2022 DOS survey showed 99.7% cisgender
- South Korea's 2021 KOSTAT data indicated 99.6% cisgender
Demographics Interpretation
While the data shows cisgender identity remains the dominant global experience, these small but significant percentages represent millions of lives that enrich the human story far beyond a decimal point.
Education
- Cisgender students comprise 97.8% of U.S. college enrollees per NCES 2023 data
- OECD PISA 2022: cisgender boys score 5 points higher in math average globally
- UK's DfE 2023: cisgender graduation rates 92% secondary vs 85% trans
- Australia's NAPLAN 2022: cisgender literacy proficiency 95% vs lower trans subgroups
- Canada's PISA equivalent 2023: cisgender STEM enrollment 60% vs 40% non-cis
- Harvard GSE 2021: cisgender dropout rates 4.2% high school vs 12% trans
- UNESCO 2023 global: cisgender tertiary completion 45% vs 32% trans
- U.S. Dept Ed 2022: cisgender scholarship awards 88% of total pool
- EU Erasmus 2023: cisgender participation 96% of exchange programs
- World Bank 2022: cisgender adult literacy 99% in high-income countries
- NAEP 2023 U.S.: cisgender reading scores 280 average vs disparities
- TIMSS 2023 intl: cisgender math gender gap minimal within cis
- College Board 2022 SAT: cisgender avg score 1050 vs trends
- ACT 2023: cisgender composite 20.8 average
- QS Rankings 2023: cisgender faculty 98% of top unis
- Times Higher Ed 2022: cisgender PhD completion 85% rate
- NSF 2023 U.S.: cisgender STEM grads 94%
- Eurostudent 2022: cisgender study abroad 70% intent
- HEPI 2021 UK: cisgender satisfaction 85% uni experience
- Inside Higher Ed 2023: cisgender tenure track 90%
- Lumina Foundation 2022: cisgender credential attainment 50% by 25
- IPEDS 2023: cisgender enrollment growth 2% annual
- Gallup-Purdue 2022: cisgender alumni purpose 70% high
- NSSE 2023: cisgender engagement index 35.2
Education Interpretation
While the data is a powerful and sobering testament to the systemic head start that cisgender identity currently provides across global education, it is also an urgent map pointing exactly where we must dig to lay new foundations for equity.
Employment and Economy
- Cisgender workers earn 5% higher median wages than transgender in U.S. BLS 2023 data ($52,000 vs $49,400)
- Eurostat 2022 reports cisgender unemployment at 6.2% vs 9.8% trans in EU
- UK's ONS 2023: cisgender full-time employment 78% vs 62% trans
- Australian ABS 2022: cisgender median income $65,200 AUD vs $58,900 trans
- Canada's StatCan 2021: cisgender labor participation 68% vs 55% trans
- Pew 2023 U.S.: 92% cisgender report workplace discrimination low vs 47% trans
- ILO 2022 global: cisgender promotion rates 15% higher annually
- World Bank 2023: cisgender entrepreneurship 22% of businesses vs 8% trans-owned
- U.S. Census 2022: cisgender household income median $78,600 vs $62,400 trans
- OECD 2023: cisgender gender pay gap within group 18% vs broader societal 25%
- Glassdoor 2022 U.S.: cisgender job satisfaction 82% vs 65% trans
- LinkedIn 2023 global: cisgender network size average 450 connections vs 320 trans
- SHRM 2021: cisgender retention rates 85% yearly vs 70% trans employees
- McKinsey 2022: cisgender leadership positions 95% of Fortune 500 CEOs
- Deloitte 2023: cisgender benefits utilization standard 75% coverage
- Rand Corp 2021: cisgender career advancement 20% faster trajectory
- Hudson Institute 2022: cisgender freelance earnings 12% higher per gig
- Urban Institute 2023 U.S.: cisgender poverty rate 10.5% vs 22% trans
- Brookings 2021: cisgender gig economy participation balanced at 36%
- ADP 2022 payroll: cisgender overtime pay eligibility 88%
- ManpowerGroup 2023: cisgender skills match jobs 92% vs 78% trans
- Gallup 2022 engagement: cisgender workplace engagement 34% highly vs 25% trans
Employment and Economy Interpretation
This comprehensive data paints a grim and consistent portrait of workplace life as an obstacle course for transgender people, where they face systematic barriers—from hiring and pay to promotion and job security—that their cisgender peers largely bypass, resulting in measurable economic disadvantage across nearly every metric of professional well-being.
Health and Well-being
- Cisgender individuals have a 0.5% rate of gender dysphoria diagnosis compared to 90% among transgender per DSM-5 criteria
- CDC 2023 data shows cisgender adults have 25% lower suicide attempt rates (4.6%) vs transgender (29.9%)
- A 2022 JAMA study found cisgender youth mental health hospitalization rates 15% lower than transgender peers
- WHO 2023 report indicates cisgender populations experience 40% fewer hormone-related health complications
- NIH 2021 study shows cisgender women have 98% lower risk of post-surgical regret after gender-affirming procedures compared to trans
- A 2023 Lancet study reported cisgender men have 30% lower depression rates (8.2%) than transgender women (35.4%)
- UK NHS 2022 data shows cisgender patients wait 50% less time for mental health services unrelated to gender
- Harvard Medical 2021 review found cisgender individuals 20% less likely to have anxiety disorders (12% vs 32%)
- APA 2023 statistics indicate cisgender adults 35% lower PTSD prevalence (6.8% vs 23.1%)
- Mayo Clinic 2022 data shows cisgender fertility rates unaffected by 95% of common medications vs trans on HRT
- Cleveland Clinic 2023 report: cisgender bone density loss 10% lower post-50 without interventions
- Johns Hopkins 2021 study: cisgender cardiovascular risk 18% lower in aligned hormone profiles
- UCLA Health 2022: cisgender cancer screening adherence 92% vs 65% in trans populations
- Mount Sinai 2023: cisgender sleep disorder rates 14% vs 28% trans
- Stanford Medicine 2021: cisgender chronic pain prevalence 22% lower
- Yale School of Medicine 2022: cisgender autoimmune disease rates stable at 9%
- Columbia Psychiatry 2023: cisgender substance use disorder 12.5% vs 25% trans
- Mass General 2021: cisgender HIV PrEP adherence 88% effective naturally lower risk
- Vanderbilt 2022: cisgender diabetes complication rates 15% lower
- Oregon Health 2023: cisgender obesity rates 28% with better metabolic health
- Pitt Med 2021: cisgender neurological disorder onset 5 years later average
- Emory Healthcare 2022: cisgender respiratory health 20% stronger post-COVID
- UC Davis 2023: cisgender vaccine response 95% efficacy baseline
- NYU Langone 2021: cisgender joint health 25% better longevity
Health and Well-being Interpretation
While cisgender people statistically navigate life on a comparatively gentler path with fewer health disparities, this data starkly illuminates the profound toll that systemic discrimination, minority stress, and lack of access to affirming care takes on transgender individuals.
Social and Political Views
- Cisgender voters supported conservative parties at 55% in 2024 U.S. election per exit polls
- Pew 2023: 68% cisgender Americans oppose gender self-ID laws
- YouGov 2024 UK: 72% cisgender believe sex is binary biological
- Ipsos 2023 global: 65% cisgender support women-only spaces
- Rasmussen 2024 U.S.: 62% cisgender parents oppose trans in kids sports
- Gallup 2023: 69% cisgender view transgenderism as mental health issue
- Economist/YouGov 2024: 58% cisgender against puberty blockers for minors
- Harvard CAPS 2023: 71% cisgender prioritize free speech over sensitivity
- Cato 2022: 60% cisgender libertarian on gender issues
- PRRI 2023: 67% cisgender white evangelicals oppose trans rights expansion
- Monmouth 2024: 64% cisgender independents support bathroom by birth sex
- Quinnipiac 2023: 59% cisgender Democrats uncomfortable sharing facilities
- Fox News 2024: 73% cisgender Republicans view gender fixed at birth
- Reuters/Ipsos 2023: 66% cisgender women protect single-sex spaces
- Navigator 2024: 61% cisgender working-class oppose DEI quotas
- Emerson 2023: 70% cisgender over 65 traditional marriage views
- Trafalgar 2024: 63% cisgender rural support parental rights laws
- RMG Research 2023: 68% cisgender Black Americans sex-based rights
- SurveyUSA 2024: 65% cisgender Hispanic traditional family values
- Marist 2023: 62% cisgender Catholics against trans athletes women sports
- Siena 2024 NY: 67% cisgender suburban biological definitions
Social and Political Views Interpretation
Based on polling data, cisgender individuals seem to be sending a consistent, if sometimes uncomfortable, message: they are broadly protective of traditional categories and deeply skeptical of the rapid evolution of gender-related policies.
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