About 1.1% of U.S. adults identify as transgender or nonbinary, a share large enough to show up in population-level surveys. In a 2024 Trevor Project study, 39% of LGBTQ youth reported seriously considering suicide in the past year. The report then connects visibility to measurable outcomes in health care, school inclusion, and safety.
Key Takeaways
- 8.0% of U.S. adults reported being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT), with nonbinary included in survey gender identity measures in the 2023 Gallup estimates.
- 3.0% of U.S. adults reported they are transgender or nonbinary in a 2021 Gallup estimate (self-identification includes nonbinary within gender identity).
- In Canada, the 2021 Census reports 355,000 people (1.1% of population) identify as transgender, which can include non-binary identities depending on how individuals self-identify.
- In the 2024 Trevor Project survey, 39% of LGBTQ youth reported having seriously considered suicide in the past year; nonbinary included in the LGBTQ youth sample.
- 1 in 3 transgender or nonbinary people (33%) reported feeling unsafe in school in a 2021 youth survey; nonbinary included in transgender/nonbinary group definitions.
- 33% of LGBTQ youth reported missing school due to safety concerns in a 2021 GLSEN survey (includes gender-identity-based concerns).
- $19.0 billion was the estimated global market size for gender-affirming care services in 2023 (includes products/services supporting gender affirmation relevant to nonbinary care).
- $5.3 billion global market size for transgender healthcare in 2023 (segments include clinical services used by nonbinary patients).
- $12.0 billion was the 2023 estimate for the global LGBTQ healthcare market, which includes care for nonbinary individuals.
- 1.7x higher total healthcare spending was observed for transgender people vs. cisgender controls in a matched study using U.S. claims data; nonbinary-specific spending effects are not isolated but are included in transgender cohorts. (Study period 2017–2019).
- $1,500 more annual healthcare costs were reported for transgender adults vs. cisgender comparators in an insurance-claims study (nonbinary included in transgender group definitions).
- $3.5 billion in annual U.S. costs for gender-affirming care was estimated in a modeling study (includes a broad population including transgender and nonbinary people).
- In the U.S., 20 states and D.C. have laws that prohibit discrimination in employment based on gender identity as of 2024.
- In education, 54% of LGBTQ students reported using preferred names in school less than always in a 2023 survey, affecting nonbinary students’ inclusion.
- 0.7% of U.S. adults identified as transgender in 2022 (nonbinary not shown as a separate category in the report’s adult transgender estimate).
Key data show gender diverse and nonbinary people face higher health and mental health burdens, amid rising protections.
Related reading
01 · Category
Demographic Estimates3 stats
01
8.0% of U.S. adults reported being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT), with nonbinary included in survey gender identity measures in the 2023 Gallup estimates.
02
3.0% of U.S. adults reported they are transgender or nonbinary in a 2021 Gallup estimate (self-identification includes nonbinary within gender identity).
03
In Canada, the 2021 Census reports 355,000 people (1.1% of population) identify as transgender, which can include non-binary identities depending on how individuals self-identify.
Interpretation
Demographic Estimates Interpretation
Across demographic estimates, surveys suggest nonbinary identities are uncommon yet clearly present, with about 3.0% of U.S. adults identifying as transgender or nonbinary in 2021 and Canada’s 2021 Census showing 1.1% of the population identifies as transgender, which can include non-binary identities.
02 · Category
Safety & Well Being7 stats
01
In the 2024 Trevor Project survey, 39% of LGBTQ youth reported having seriously considered suicide in the past year; nonbinary included in the LGBTQ youth sample.
02
1 in 3 transgender or nonbinary people (33%) reported feeling unsafe in school in a 2021 youth survey; nonbinary included in transgender/nonbinary group definitions.
03
33% of LGBTQ youth reported missing school due to safety concerns in a 2021 GLSEN survey (includes gender-identity-based concerns).
04
25% of transgender and nonbinary people reported serious psychological distress in a U.S. survey (serious psychological distress indicator).
05
1.6x higher prevalence of lifetime suicidal ideation compared with cisgender peers was reported for transgender and nonbinary youth in a meta-analysis (nonbinary included within transgender youth data where available).
06
In a 2019 U.S. survey, 46% of transgender and nonbinary people reported experiencing discrimination due to gender identity in healthcare settings (nonbinary included).
07
56% of transgender and nonbinary people reported social support from at least one person in a 2021 survey; social support measured across gender-diverse respondents including nonbinary.
Interpretation
Safety & Well Being Interpretation
In the Safety and Well Being category, the data show that nonbinary and transgender people face major mental health and safety risks, including 39% of LGBTQ youth seriously considering suicide in the past year and 33% reporting feeling unsafe in school, alongside 25% reporting serious psychological distress.
03 · Category
Market Size3 stats
01
$19.0 billion was the estimated global market size for gender-affirming care services in 2023 (includes products/services supporting gender affirmation relevant to nonbinary care).
02
$5.3 billion global market size for transgender healthcare in 2023 (segments include clinical services used by nonbinary patients).
03
$12.0 billion was the 2023 estimate for the global LGBTQ healthcare market, which includes care for nonbinary individuals.
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
The market size numbers suggest that care for nonbinary people is part of a much larger and fast-growing healthcare opportunity, with global gender-affirming care reaching $19.0 billion in 2023 and the overall LGBTQ healthcare market estimated at $12.0 billion the same year, while transgender healthcare alone was $5.3 billion in 2023.
04 · Category
Healthcare Costs6 stats
01
1.7x higher total healthcare spending was observed for transgender people vs. cisgender controls in a matched study using U.S. claims data; nonbinary-specific spending effects are not isolated but are included in transgender cohorts. (Study period 2017–2019).
02
$1,500more annual healthcare costs were reported for transgender adults vs. cisgender comparators in an insurance-claims study (nonbinary included in transgender group definitions).
03
$3.5 billion in annual U.S. costs for gender-affirming care was estimated in a modeling study (includes a broad population including transgender and nonbinary people).
04
In a 2023 systematic review, 55% of studies reported improvements in mental health outcomes after gender-affirming interventions; nonbinary outcomes are included where study populations allow. (Review of 46 studies).
05
In a U.S. study, 33% of transgender and nonbinary respondents reported delaying or not receiving needed care due to cost barriers (2019–2020 survey).
06
25% of transgender and nonbinary respondents reported being misgendered by healthcare providers in a 2021 survey (misgendering measured; includes nonbinary).
Interpretation
Healthcare Costs Interpretation
Healthcare costs for transgender and nonbinary people are consistently higher, with matched claims data showing 1.7 times greater total spending and another study reporting about $1,500 more per year, alongside evidence that 33% delay or skip needed care due to cost barriers.
More related reading
05 · Category
Industry Trends2 stats
01
In the U.S., 20 states and D.C. have laws that prohibit discrimination in employment based on gender identity as of 2024.
02
In education, 54% of LGBTQ students reported using preferred names in school less than always in a 2023 survey, affecting nonbinary students’ inclusion.
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Under industry trends, progress is uneven as of 2024 with 20 US states plus D.C. banning employment discrimination based on gender identity, while in education only 54% of LGBTQ students reported using preferred names less than always in 2023, a gap that especially impacts nonbinary students.
06 · Category
Population Estimates4 stats
01
0.7% of U.S. adults identified as transgender in 2022 (nonbinary not shown as a separate category in the report’s adult transgender estimate).
02
1.1% of U.S. adults identified as transgender or nonbinary in 2022 (as estimated from the Williams Institute’s analysis of survey data).
03
9.2% of U.S. adults identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual in 2022 (LGB+ includes people who may also identify as nonbinary, but is not a nonbinary-specific measure).
04
1.0% of Canadian adults reported being transgender or gender-diverse (nonbinary included within the measure’s gender-diverse identities).
Interpretation
Population Estimates Interpretation
In the population estimates, the share of U.S. adults identifying as transgender or nonbinary in 2022 was 1.1%, while Canada’s estimate for transgender or gender-diverse adults stood at 1.0%, suggesting nonbinary identities are a small but consistent component of overall gender diversity across both countries.
07 · Category
Legal & Policy1 stats
01
6 states have enacted laws that require parental notification or consent for gender-affirming care for minors (may affect nonbinary youth depending on statutory definitions).
Interpretation
Legal & Policy Interpretation
Within the Legal & Policy landscape, 6 states have enacted laws requiring parental notification or consent for gender-affirming care for minors, signaling increasing state-level regulation that can directly impact nonbinary youth.
08 · Category
Education & Outcomes1 stats
01
70% of LGBTQ students reported that they have experienced bullying or harassment at school (includes gender identity/expression harassment; nonbinary included in LGBTQ respondents).
Interpretation
Education & Outcomes Interpretation
In the Education and Outcomes category, 70% of LGBTQ students report experiencing bullying or harassment at school, showing that non-binary and gender-nonconforming students are likely facing major safety and learning challenges in educational settings.
report visual · Key figures
Nonbinary inclusion in reported identity and youth experience
Across survey estimates, nonbinary identities are often reported together with transgender or within broader LGBTQ measures, while youth experiences of safety and well-being show substantial shares reporting negative outcomes.
3%
3.0% of U.S. adults reported they are transgender or nonbinary in a 2021 Gallup estimate (self-identification includes n
1.1%
1.1% of U.S. adults identified as transgender or nonbinary in 2022 (as estimated from the Williams Institute’s analysis
33%
1 in 3 transgender or nonbinary people (33%) reported feeling unsafe in school in a 2021 youth survey; nonbinary include
39%
In the 2024 Trevor Project survey, 39% of LGBTQ youth reported having seriously considered suicide in the past year; non
33%
33% of LGBTQ youth reported missing school due to safety concerns in a 2021 GLSEN survey (includes gender-identity-based
70%
70% of LGBTQ students reported that they have experienced bullying or harassment at school (includes gender identity/exp
source-verifiednews.gallup.com · williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu · glsen.org · thetrevorproject.org2024
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Nathan Caldwell. (2026, February 13). Non Binary Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/non-binary-statistics
MLA
Nathan Caldwell. "Non Binary Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/non-binary-statistics.
Chicago
Nathan Caldwell. 2026. "Non Binary Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/non-binary-statistics.
Sources & references
27 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+12 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)