While statistics can feel abstract, each number represents a life stolen by the staggering reality that in 2022 alone, at least 32 transgender and gender-expansive individuals were killed in the United States, a grim snapshot of a global epidemic of transphobic violence.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, at least 32 transgender and gender-expansive people were killed in the United States, with many cases involving firearms and intimate partner violence
- From 2017 to 2022, 50 transgender people were murdered in Brazil, the highest globally, often by strangulation or stabbing
- In 2021, 57 transgender murders were recorded worldwide by Transgender Europe, with Latin America accounting for 81%
- 48% of trans people in US reported physical assault in past year, 2015 USTS survey of 27,715 respondents
- 9% of trans people experienced physical assault at school, per 2022 GLSEN survey of 22,000+ students
- UK trans adults 52% lifetime physical attack rate, 2021 YouGov poll n=5000
- 47% of trans people in US experienced sexual assault lifetime, 2015 USTS n=27715
- 65% trans women in US sex trade raped by clients, 2019 study n=500
- UK trans 25% childhood sexual abuse rate vs 8% cis, 2021 Stonewall n=5000
- US FBI 2021: 472 anti-trans hate crimes reported, up 33% from 2020
- 2022 FBI: 547 transgender bias incidents, 11% of gender identity hate crimes violent
- UK 2022: 4200+ transphobic hate crimes, 25% violent assaults
- 54% trans US adults verbal harassment, 33% physical threats past year, 2015 USTS n=27715
- 78% lifetime discrimination rate among trans people, 2022 KFF survey n=500
- 30% trans avoided medical care due to violence fears, 2015 USTS
Transgender people face a globally persistent and severe crisis of murder and violent assault.
Hate Crimes
- US FBI 2021: 472 anti-trans hate crimes reported, up 33% from 2020
- 2022 FBI: 547 transgender bias incidents, 11% of gender identity hate crimes violent
- UK 2022: 4200+ transphobic hate crimes, 25% violent assaults
- California 2021: 152 anti-trans hate crimes, 40% physical attacks
- New York 2022: 300+ gender identity hate crimes, up 10%
- Canada 2021: 260 sexual orientation/gender identity hate crimes, 42 trans-related
- Australia 2021: 680 transphobic incidents, 30% assault
- Brazil 2022: 445 trans hate crimes reported, mostly violence
- Germany 2022: 1300+ anti-trans crimes, 20% bodily harm
- France 2021: 185 transphobic acts, 35% violence
- India 2022: 250+ trans hate crimes, underreported
- South Africa 2021: 120 hate crimes against trans, 50% violent
- Mexico 2022: 300+ transphobic aggressions
- Sweden 2021: 250 hets mot transpersoner crimes
- Netherlands 2022: 400 trans hate incidents, 28% violence
- Italy 2021: 120 anti-trans crimes
- Spain 2022: 500+ LGTBIfobia cases, 15% trans-specific violence
- Poland 2021: 80 trans hate crimes amid "LGBT-free zones"
- Turkey 2022: 200+ trans hate attacks
- US schools 2021: 1800 trans student harassment incidents reported
Hate Crimes Interpretation
These relentless and rising statistics across multiple nations reveal an ugly epidemic of targeted aggression, tragically proving that for transgender people, the simple act of existing in public is increasingly treated as a provocation by a violent few.
Homicides
- In 2022, at least 32 transgender and gender-expansive people were killed in the United States, with many cases involving firearms and intimate partner violence
- From 2017 to 2022, 50 transgender people were murdered in Brazil, the highest globally, often by strangulation or stabbing
- In 2021, 57 transgender murders were recorded worldwide by Transgender Europe, with Latin America accounting for 81%
- US transgender homicide rate is 4 times higher than cisgender rate per capita, based on 2010-2021 data from 41 states
- 81% of transgender murder victims in the US from 2013-2023 were trans women of color
- In Mexico, 379 trans people murdered between 2013-2022, averaging 38 per year, mostly by blunt force
- UK recorded 10 trans murders from 2008-2018, lower than US but rising
- 2023 saw 33 trans murders in US, highest on record, 65% Black trans women
- Honduras reported 42 trans murders 2014-2020, per capita highest in world
- In 2020, 44 trans people killed globally in first 9 months, projected 60 yearly
- 91% of US trans murders 2017-2021 involved firearms
- Colombia saw 152 trans murders 2011-2021
- India reported 5 trans murders in 2022, but underreported
- Peru had 33 trans murders 2019-2023
- South Africa 25 trans murders 2017-2022
- Argentina 70 trans murders 2012-2022 despite legal protections
- US military veteran trans murder rate 2x civilian, 2015-2020 data
- Thailand 23 trans murders 2015-2020
- Philippines 18 trans murders 2018-2023
- Turkey 44 trans murders 2008-2022
- In 2019, 331 trans murders worldwide, Latin America 90%
- US Black trans women 5x more likely murdered than white trans women, 2010-2020
- Ecuador 60 trans murders 2013-2021
- Pakistan 12 trans murders 2020-2022
- Russia 15 trans murders reported 2015-2023, undercounted
- 72% of trans US murders perpetrators known to victim, 2017-2022
- Venezuela 100+ trans murders 2014-2022
- Guatemala 45 trans murders 2015-2021
- Jamaica 10 trans murders 2010-2020
- 2022 global trans murders: 327, Brazil 100+
Homicides Interpretation
This relentless global epidemic of trans violence, starkly numeric yet intimately brutal, reveals not random tragedy but a targeted campaign where prejudice, proximity, and weaponry conspire to claim predominantly trans women of color.
Physical Assaults
- 48% of trans people in US reported physical assault in past year, 2015 USTS survey of 27,715 respondents
- 9% of trans people experienced physical assault at school, per 2022 GLSEN survey of 22,000+ students
- UK trans adults 52% lifetime physical attack rate, 2021 YouGov poll n=5000
- 47% trans women in US jails report physical assault by inmates, 2015 survey n=139
- Brazil trans women 60% beaten in public spaces lifetime, 2020 ANTRA survey n=1642
- 39% trans youth experienced physical violence at school, 2019 Trevor Project survey n=34000
- Canada trans people 25% physical assault rate past 5 years, 2019 Statistics Canada n=1300
- 54% US trans people of color physical attack past year, 2015 USTS
- India trans 45% beaten by police, 2018 survey n=472
- 33% trans veterans physical assault in military, 2021 study n=1000
- Australia trans 41% physical violence lifetime, 2014 survey n=900
- 28% trans students punched/kicked in school year, 2021 GLSEN UK n=5000
- Mexico trans women 70% physical assault by partners, 2022 CIESAS study n=200
- 51% trans sex workers physical violence from clients monthly, 2019 US study n=300
- South Africa trans 62% beaten in townships, 2021 Triangle Project n=250
- 37% trans immigrants US physical assault post-arrival, 2020 survey n=400
- Philippines trans 55% street assaults lifetime, 2018 UNDP n=500
- 44% trans in Turkey physical attacks by family, 2020 KaosGL n=1000
- Germany trans 30% physical violence past year, 2022 LSVD survey n=2000
- 59% US trans women physical assault in workplace, 2011 survey n=6000
- Kenya trans 67% beaten by police annually, 2019 report n=150
- 26% trans college students assaulted on campus, 2020 Campus Pride n=3000
- Russia trans 49% physical violence from strangers, 2021 survey n=800
- 35% trans in prisons assaulted physically by guards, US 2018 n=200
- Thailand trans 52% bar assaults, 2020 study n=400
Physical Assaults Interpretation
It’s tragically clear that for transgender people across the globe, simply existing in public is statistically an act of bravery, with the constant threat of violence lurking in schools, streets, homes, and even places meant to protect them.
Sexual Assaults
- 47% of trans people in US experienced sexual assault lifetime, 2015 USTS n=27715
- 65% trans women in US sex trade raped by clients, 2019 study n=500
- UK trans 25% childhood sexual abuse rate vs 8% cis, 2021 Stonewall n=5000
- 51% trans youth sexual violence past year, 2022 Trevor Project n=34000
- Brazil trans women 90% sexual violence lifetime, 2021 ANTRA n=2000
- 86% incarcerated trans women sexually assaulted in prison, 2015 US survey n=139
- Canada trans 33% sexual assault past 5 years, 2019 StatCan n=1300
- India hijra 78% forced sex by police, 2018 survey n=472
- 70% US trans students sexual harassment/assault at school, 2019 GLSEN n=23000
- South Africa trans women 80% rape lifetime, 2020 study n=300
- Mexico trans 75% sexual violence by partners/family, 2022 n=250
- Australia trans 49% sexual assault lifetime, 2014 Writing Themselves In n=1898
- Philippines trans 68% sexual violence from family, 2018 UNDP n=500
- 42% trans veterans sexual trauma in service, 2021 VA study n=1200
- Turkey trans sex workers 95% raped by clients, 2020 KaosGL n=500
- 55% trans in US homeless shelters sexually assaulted, 2016 survey n=400
- Kenya trans 82% sexual violence by police, 2019 HRW n=200
- Germany trans 22% sexual assault past 3 years, 2022 n=2500
- Russia trans women 76% sexual violence lifetime, 2021 n=900
- 60% trans college women assaulted on campus, 2020 n=3500
- Thailand trans 65% sexual coercion in bars, 2019 n=450
Sexual Assaults Interpretation
The statistics scream the same grim truth across borders: being trans means living in a world where your identity is treated as an open invitation for violence, from childhood to old age, from home to prison, and from the streets to the institutions meant to protect you.
Victimization Surveys
- 54% trans US adults verbal harassment, 33% physical threats past year, 2015 USTS n=27715
- 78% lifetime discrimination rate among trans people, 2022 KFF survey n=500
- 30% trans avoided medical care due to violence fears, 2015 USTS
- UK 46% trans experienced harassment past year, 2018 Galop n=4000
- 82% trans youth felt unsafe at school due to identity, 2021 Trevor n=45000
- Canada 65% trans verbal abuse monthly, 2021 n=1400
- Brazil 90% trans public harassment daily, 2020 ANTRA n=1642
- Australia 74% trans discrimination past year, 2017 n=6000
- India 95% trans verbal abuse weekly, 2021 n=500
- South Africa 88% trans hate speech experienced, 2022 n=300
- Mexico 85% trans street harassment monthly, 2023 n=400
- Germany 68% trans microaggressions daily, 2021 n=2200
- France 55% trans public discrimination, 2020 SOS Homophobie n=13000
- Philippines 92% trans family rejection/harassment, 2019 n=600
- Russia 75% trans online harassment, 2022 n=1000
- Thailand 70% trans workplace harassment, 2021 n=800
- US 40% trans denied equal public accommodation treatment, 2015 USTS
- Turkey 87% trans societal stigma daily, 2019 n=1200
- Kenya 80% trans community violence threats, 2020 n=250
- Sweden 62% trans healthcare discrimination, 2022 n=1500
- Netherlands 50% trans cyberbullying, 2021 n=2000
Victimization Surveys Interpretation
These statistics paint a grim, global chorus of hostility, proving that for trans people, simply moving through the world—from the doctor's office to the schoolyard to their own homes—is often an act of defiant courage met with a barrage of abuse, discrimination, and fear.
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