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
1US FBI 2021: 472 anti-trans hate crimes reported, up 33% from 2020
Verified22022 FBI: 547 transgender bias incidents, 11% of gender identity hate crimes violent
Verified3UK 2022: 4200+ transphobic hate crimes, 25% violent assaults
Verified4California 2021: 152 anti-trans hate crimes, 40% physical attacks
Directional5New York 2022: 300+ gender identity hate crimes, up 10%
Single source6Canada 2021: 260 sexual orientation/gender identity hate crimes, 42 trans-related
Verified7Australia 2021: 680 transphobic incidents, 30% assault
Verified8Brazil 2022: 445 trans hate crimes reported, mostly violence
Verified9Germany 2022: 1300+ anti-trans crimes, 20% bodily harm
Directional10France 2021: 185 transphobic acts, 35% violence
Single source11India 2022: 250+ trans hate crimes, underreported
Verified12South Africa 2021: 120 hate crimes against trans, 50% violent
Verified13Mexico 2022: 300+ transphobic aggressions
Verified14Sweden 2021: 250 hets mot transpersoner crimes
Directional15Netherlands 2022: 400 trans hate incidents, 28% violence
Single source16Italy 2021: 120 anti-trans crimes
Verified17Spain 2022: 500+ LGTBIfobia cases, 15% trans-specific violence
Verified18Poland 2021: 80 trans hate crimes amid "LGBT-free zones"
Verified19Turkey 2022: 200+ trans hate attacks
Directional20US schools 2021: 1800 trans student harassment incidents reported
Single sourceHate 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
1In 2022, at least 32 transgender and gender-expansive people were killed in the United States, with many cases involving firearms and intimate partner violence
Verified2From 2017 to 2022, 50 transgender people were murdered in Brazil, the highest globally, often by strangulation or stabbing
Verified3In 2021, 57 transgender murders were recorded worldwide by Transgender Europe, with Latin America accounting for 81%
Verified4US transgender homicide rate is 4 times higher than cisgender rate per capita, based on 2010-2021 data from 41 states
Directional581% of transgender murder victims in the US from 2013-2023 were trans women of color
Single source6In Mexico, 379 trans people murdered between 2013-2022, averaging 38 per year, mostly by blunt force
Verified7UK recorded 10 trans murders from 2008-2018, lower than US but rising
Verified82023 saw 33 trans murders in US, highest on record, 65% Black trans women
Verified9Honduras reported 42 trans murders 2014-2020, per capita highest in world
Directional10In 2020, 44 trans people killed globally in first 9 months, projected 60 yearly
Single source1191% of US trans murders 2017-2021 involved firearms
Verified12Colombia saw 152 trans murders 2011-2021
Verified13India reported 5 trans murders in 2022, but underreported
Verified14Peru had 33 trans murders 2019-2023
Directional15South Africa 25 trans murders 2017-2022
Single source16Argentina 70 trans murders 2012-2022 despite legal protections
Verified17US military veteran trans murder rate 2x civilian, 2015-2020 data
Verified18Thailand 23 trans murders 2015-2020
Verified19Philippines 18 trans murders 2018-2023
Directional20Turkey 44 trans murders 2008-2022
Single source21In 2019, 331 trans murders worldwide, Latin America 90%
Verified22US Black trans women 5x more likely murdered than white trans women, 2010-2020
Verified23Ecuador 60 trans murders 2013-2021
Verified24Pakistan 12 trans murders 2020-2022
Directional25Russia 15 trans murders reported 2015-2023, undercounted
Single source2672% of trans US murders perpetrators known to victim, 2017-2022
Verified27Venezuela 100+ trans murders 2014-2022
Verified28Guatemala 45 trans murders 2015-2021
Verified29Jamaica 10 trans murders 2010-2020
Directional302022 global trans murders: 327, Brazil 100+
Single sourceHomicides 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
148% of trans people in US reported physical assault in past year, 2015 USTS survey of 27,715 respondents
Verified29% of trans people experienced physical assault at school, per 2022 GLSEN survey of 22,000+ students
Verified3UK trans adults 52% lifetime physical attack rate, 2021 YouGov poll n=5000
Verified447% trans women in US jails report physical assault by inmates, 2015 survey n=139
Directional5Brazil trans women 60% beaten in public spaces lifetime, 2020 ANTRA survey n=1642
Single source639% trans youth experienced physical violence at school, 2019 Trevor Project survey n=34000
Verified7Canada trans people 25% physical assault rate past 5 years, 2019 Statistics Canada n=1300
Verified854% US trans people of color physical attack past year, 2015 USTS
Verified9India trans 45% beaten by police, 2018 survey n=472
Directional1033% trans veterans physical assault in military, 2021 study n=1000
Single source11Australia trans 41% physical violence lifetime, 2014 survey n=900
Verified1228% trans students punched/kicked in school year, 2021 GLSEN UK n=5000
Verified13Mexico trans women 70% physical assault by partners, 2022 CIESAS study n=200
Verified1451% trans sex workers physical violence from clients monthly, 2019 US study n=300
Directional15South Africa trans 62% beaten in townships, 2021 Triangle Project n=250
Single source1637% trans immigrants US physical assault post-arrival, 2020 survey n=400
Verified17Philippines trans 55% street assaults lifetime, 2018 UNDP n=500
Verified1844% trans in Turkey physical attacks by family, 2020 KaosGL n=1000
Verified19Germany trans 30% physical violence past year, 2022 LSVD survey n=2000
Directional2059% US trans women physical assault in workplace, 2011 survey n=6000
Single source21Kenya trans 67% beaten by police annually, 2019 report n=150
Verified2226% trans college students assaulted on campus, 2020 Campus Pride n=3000
Verified23Russia trans 49% physical violence from strangers, 2021 survey n=800
Verified2435% trans in prisons assaulted physically by guards, US 2018 n=200
Directional25Thailand trans 52% bar assaults, 2020 study n=400
Single sourcePhysical 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
147% of trans people in US experienced sexual assault lifetime, 2015 USTS n=27715
Verified265% trans women in US sex trade raped by clients, 2019 study n=500
Verified3UK trans 25% childhood sexual abuse rate vs 8% cis, 2021 Stonewall n=5000
Verified451% trans youth sexual violence past year, 2022 Trevor Project n=34000
Directional5Brazil trans women 90% sexual violence lifetime, 2021 ANTRA n=2000
Single source686% incarcerated trans women sexually assaulted in prison, 2015 US survey n=139
Verified7Canada trans 33% sexual assault past 5 years, 2019 StatCan n=1300
Verified8India hijra 78% forced sex by police, 2018 survey n=472
Verified970% US trans students sexual harassment/assault at school, 2019 GLSEN n=23000
Directional10South Africa trans women 80% rape lifetime, 2020 study n=300
Single source11Mexico trans 75% sexual violence by partners/family, 2022 n=250
Verified12Australia trans 49% sexual assault lifetime, 2014 Writing Themselves In n=1898
Verified13Philippines trans 68% sexual violence from family, 2018 UNDP n=500
Verified1442% trans veterans sexual trauma in service, 2021 VA study n=1200
Directional15Turkey trans sex workers 95% raped by clients, 2020 KaosGL n=500
Single source1655% trans in US homeless shelters sexually assaulted, 2016 survey n=400
Verified17Kenya trans 82% sexual violence by police, 2019 HRW n=200
Verified18Germany trans 22% sexual assault past 3 years, 2022 n=2500
Verified19Russia trans women 76% sexual violence lifetime, 2021 n=900
Directional2060% trans college women assaulted on campus, 2020 n=3500
Single source21Thailand trans 65% sexual coercion in bars, 2019 n=450
VerifiedSexual 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
154% trans US adults verbal harassment, 33% physical threats past year, 2015 USTS n=27715
Verified278% lifetime discrimination rate among trans people, 2022 KFF survey n=500
Verified330% trans avoided medical care due to violence fears, 2015 USTS
Verified4UK 46% trans experienced harassment past year, 2018 Galop n=4000
Directional582% trans youth felt unsafe at school due to identity, 2021 Trevor n=45000
Single source6Canada 65% trans verbal abuse monthly, 2021 n=1400
Verified7Brazil 90% trans public harassment daily, 2020 ANTRA n=1642
Verified8Australia 74% trans discrimination past year, 2017 n=6000
Verified9India 95% trans verbal abuse weekly, 2021 n=500
Directional10South Africa 88% trans hate speech experienced, 2022 n=300
Single source11Mexico 85% trans street harassment monthly, 2023 n=400
Verified12Germany 68% trans microaggressions daily, 2021 n=2200
Verified13France 55% trans public discrimination, 2020 SOS Homophobie n=13000
Verified14Philippines 92% trans family rejection/harassment, 2019 n=600
Directional15Russia 75% trans online harassment, 2022 n=1000
Single source16Thailand 70% trans workplace harassment, 2021 n=800
Verified17US 40% trans denied equal public accommodation treatment, 2015 USTS
Verified18Turkey 87% trans societal stigma daily, 2019 n=1200
Verified19Kenya 80% trans community violence threats, 2020 n=250
Directional20Sweden 62% trans healthcare discrimination, 2022 n=1500
Single source21Netherlands 50% trans cyberbullying, 2021 n=2000
VerifiedVictimization 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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