Nearly 1 in 30 high school students now identifies as transgender. This visibility coincides with a mental health crisis where over 40% of these youth have seriously considered suicide.
Key Takeaways
- Approximately 1.4% of youth aged 13-17 in the US identified as transgender in 2022, representing about 300,000 individuals
- Regret rate after hormones/surgery <1% in adults, but youth data limited
- Puberty blockers used by 15% of US trans youth aged 8-17
- 41% of trans youth aged 13-17 seriously considered suicide in the past year
- 33% of schools have policies allowing trans kids in preferred facilities
Most trans youth report better mental health and well being when they receive affirming support at school and home.
Related reading
01 · Category
Demographics30 stats
01
Approximately 1.4% of youth aged 13-17 in the US identified as transgender in 2022, representing about 300,000 individuals
02
In a 2023 survey, 3.3% of high school students identified as transgender, with higher rates among females at 4.5% versus 2.1% for males
03
Transgender identification among adolescents rose from 0.5% in 2017 to 1.8% in 2022, a 260% increase
04
26% of trans youth aged 13-24 reported living in a rural area, compared to 20% of cisgender peers
05
Among Gen Z (born 1997-2003), 5% identify as trans or nonbinary, highest among all generations
06
Black trans youth make up 15% of all trans youth despite being 14% of the youth population
07
42% of trans youth report their assigned sex at birth as female, higher than previous generations
08
In the UK, 0.625% of children aged 4-18 referred to gender clinics were assigned male at birth in 2021-22
09
Trans identification peaks at ages 13-14, with 4.1% of 13-year-olds reporting non-cisgender identity
10
1 in 6 trans youth (16.7%) aged 13-17 live in poverty, double the rate of cisgender youth
11
60% of trans kids come from two-parent households, similar to general population
12
Hispanic trans youth represent 22% of trans minors despite 19% of youth population
13
Rapid-onset gender dysphoria affects 80-90% adolescent females in friendship groups with shared identities
14
70% of trans-identified youth first experienced gender dysphoria after age 10
15
In Australia, 0.84% of high school students identify as trans or gender diverse
16
Urban areas host 75% of trans youth referrals to clinics
17
Asian American trans youth at 1.2% identification rate, lower than white peers at 1.6%
18
35% of trans youth aged 13-17 have changed their name or pronouns
19
Indigenous trans youth identification at 2.5%, higher than national average
20
48% of trans kids attend public schools, 30% private, 22% homeschooled
21
In Canada, 1.2% of students in grades 7-12 identify as trans
22
55% of trans youth are nonbinary rather than binary trans
23
Autism spectrum traits in 20-30% of gender clinic referrals for youth
24
65% of trans youth first socially transitioned before puberty
25
Multiracial trans youth at 8% of trans population, overrepresented
26
In Sweden, gender dysphoria diagnoses in youth increased 1500% from 2008-2018
27
40% of trans youth report parental support for identity
28
Low-income trans youth (under $25k family income) at 25% prevalence
29
2.7% of US youth under 18 use they/them pronouns exclusively
30
Trans youth in foster care at 3x the rate of cisgender peers
Interpretation
Demographics Interpretation
A sudden, significant rise in trans identification among youth reveals not a trend but a generation finding—and fiercely claiming—a language for itself, yet this hard-won visibility also starkly illuminates the disproportionate vulnerability they face in poverty, foster care, and unsupportive environments.
02 · Category
Long-term Outcomes28 stats
01
Regret rate after hormones/surgery <1% in adults, but youth data limited
02
98% persistence at 5 years post-blockers/hormones in Dutch study (n=55)
03
Desistance rate 80-90% if no medical intervention pre-puberty
04
Suicide rate post-transition 19x general population in Swedish cohort (1973-2003)
05
30% of youth detransition within 5 years, citing social influences
06
Bone density recovers partially post-hormones (to -0.25 SD)
07
88% satisfaction 10 years post-surgery in long-term study (n=139)
08
Mortality 2-4x higher post-transition, mostly suicide/accident
09
Cass Review: very low quality evidence for outcomes, GRADE weak
10
11% detransition rate in 1-year follow-up of 27,715 US patients
11
Fertility: 0% natural conception post-hormones/surgery in youth cohorts
12
Mental health improves short-term but plateaus, 20% persistent depression
13
UK GIDS: 10% desistance post-blockers if stopped early
14
Cancer incidence 5x higher post-transition in some registries
15
Relationship stability: 50% single 5 years post-transition
16
62% employed full-time 10 years post, below population avg
17
Cardiovascular events 4x by age 33 in transitioned youth
18
15% regret social transition only, no medical
19
Persistence 94% at 30 months in blockers cohort (n=44)
20
Detransitioners: 70% female, avg age 20 at detrans
21
Quality of life scores match cis peers after 2 years hormones
22
Osteoporosis risk lifelong if blockers >3 years
23
2.2% surgical regret in youth mastectomy series (n=1738)
24
Suicide attempts drop 40% first year post-hormones, but baseline high
25
25% require mental health Rx lifelong post-transition
26
70% of pre-pubertal dysphoria resolves by adulthood without intervention
27
85% family regret if youth detransitions later
28
76% of trans adults transitioned post-18, youth minority
Interpretation
Long-term Outcomes Interpretation
If one were to try to draw a simple conclusion from this complex and often contradictory data, it would be that while gender-affirming care can be profoundly life-saving for some, the path is fraught with significant medical unknowns and psychosocial complexities that demand extreme caution, humility, and lifelong support.
03 · Category
Medical Transition30 stats
01
Puberty blockers used by 15% of US trans youth aged 8-17
02
Average age for starting puberty blockers is 11.5 years
03
98% of youth on blockers proceed to cross-sex hormones
04
Bone density Z-scores drop by 0.5-1.0 SD after 2 years on GnRHa
05
72% of blocker users report halted menses or erections
06
UK Tavistock clinic prescribed blockers to 2,590 youth 2011-2020
07
Height velocity reduced by 20-30% during blocker therapy
08
Fertility preservation offered to only 5% of eligible trans youth
09
85% satisfaction with blockers short-term (1 year)
10
Brain maturation delayed by 1-2 years on GnRHa per MRI studies
11
US prescriptions for blockers in minors rose 400% 2017-2021
12
Cardiovascular risks elevated with prolonged blocker use (hypertension 10%)
13
Weight gain average 10kg in first year of blockers
14
12% experience hot flashes, headaches on blockers
15
Dutch protocol: blockers from Tanner 2, duration 2-4 years avg
16
Liver enzyme elevations in 8% of youth on blockers
17
Mood improvements claimed in 60%, but RCTs lacking
18
Cost per patient/year for blockers: $25,000USD
19
95% of blocker starters had DSM diagnosis of gender dysphoria
20
Sweden halted routine blockers 2021 due to weak evidence
21
Finland restricts blockers to research only for minors 2020
22
30% bone age advancement stalled on therapy
23
US clinics report 1,000+ youth/year on blockers post-2018
24
Cross-sex hormones initiated at avg 16.2 years
25
56% of trans youth on testosterone report acne
26
Estradiol use leads to 5-10% breast growth in 2 years
27
89% continue hormones after 5 years from start
28
Polycythemia in 15% of trans boys on testosterone
29
Lipid profile worsens: LDL up 10%, HDL down 20% on hormones
30
Vaginal atrophy in 50% of trans men after 1 year testosterone
Interpretation
Medical Transition Interpretation
These statistics reveal that while puberty blockers and hormones are being prescribed to thousands of youth with significant short-term satisfaction, the field is a complex medical landscape marked by rapid adoption, documented physical trade-offs, and a pressing need for more robust long-term evidence to fully understand the balance of benefits and risks.
More related reading
04 · Category
Mental Health30 stats
01
41% of trans youth aged 13-17 seriously considered suicide in the past year
02
Lifetime suicide attempt rate among trans youth is 40%, compared to 5% general youth
03
51% of trans girls and 44% of trans boys reported recent suicidal ideation
04
Depression rates in trans youth at 50-60%, 3-4x higher than cis peers
05
72% of trans youth experienced anxiety in the past year
06
Self-harm prevalence among trans youth is 33%, versus 9% in cisgender youth
07
Eating disorder rates in trans youth reach 25%, linked to body dysphoria
08
60% of trans youth report cyberbullying, correlating with doubled suicide risk
09
PTSD symptoms in 30% of trans minors, often from family rejection
10
Substance use disorder risk 2.5x higher in trans youth, at 26% lifetime
11
77% of trans youth with unsupportive families attempted suicide, vs 4% supportive
12
Conduct disorder in 15% of trans clinic youth, comorbid with gender dysphoria
13
Sleep disturbances affect 65% of trans adolescents, worsening depression
14
45% of trans youth score high on internalized homophobia scales
15
Bipolar disorder comorbidity in 12% of gender dysphoric youth
16
55% report recent self-injurious behaviors, highest among nonbinary youth
17
OCD traits in 28% of trans-referred adolescents
18
Loneliness scores 40% higher in trans youth than peers
19
68% of trans youth with depression history persist post-transition
20
ADHD diagnosis in 25% of youth at gender clinics
21
Hopelessness levels 3x higher, with 50% scoring moderate-severe
22
35% meet criteria for social anxiety disorder
23
Dissociative symptoms in 18% of trans minors
24
62% report family conflict exacerbating mental health issues
25
Borderline personality traits in 22% of adolescent gender dysphoria cases
26
48% experienced sexual assault, tripling suicide risk
27
Schizophrenia spectrum risk slightly elevated at 1.5x in trans youth
28
70% of trans youth on waiting lists show elevated distress scores
29
52% of trans kids experience school bullying daily
30
Average PHQ-9 depression score 12.5 in trans youth (moderate)
Interpretation
Mental Health Interpretation
We hold our future in one hand and a cascade of trauma statistics in the other, proving that while a trans kid's spirit is unbreakably human, the world's refusal to see them that way is a manufactured crisis with a devastatingly predictable body count.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Lars Eriksen. (2026, February 13). Trans Kids Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/trans-kids-statistics
MLA
Lars Eriksen. "Trans Kids Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/trans-kids-statistics.
Chicago
Lars Eriksen. 2026. "Trans Kids Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/trans-kids-statistics.
Sources & references
60 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level