Behind every statistic is a human story—this is especially true when we look at the estimated 1.6 million transgender individuals ages 13 and older in the United States, a figure that is part of a complex global tapestry of identity, resilience, and challenge.
Key Takeaways
- In the United States, an estimated 1.6 million people ages 13 and older identify as transgender, representing 0.6% of that age group
- Globally, the transgender population is estimated at around 25 million people based on varying national surveys
- In the UK, 0.5% of the population aged 16 and over (about 262,000 people) identified as transgender in the 2021 Census
- U.S. adults 18-24: 2% identify as transgender per Gallup 2023
- Transgender U.S. population by race: 48% White, 22% Hispanic, 15% Black, 9% Asian, 6% Other per Williams Institute
- Among U.S. trans adults, 38.5% ages 18-29, 35.9% 30-49, 19.7% 50-64, 5.8% 65+
- 44% of U.S. transgender adults have attempted suicide
- 82% of transgender individuals have considered suicide, per 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey
- HIV prevalence among U.S. trans women: 14.1%
- 29% of U.S. trans adults unemployed, vs 5% general population
- Poverty rate: 29% U.S. trans adults below poverty line, vs 12% cis
- Median income: $52,200 for trans households vs $68,300 general
- 54% of U.S. trans people avoided medical care due to discrimination
- 46% of trans people sexually assaulted
- 9% physically attacked due to trans status past year
Transgender populations are small but face significant discrimination and health disparities worldwide.
Demographics
1U.S. adults 18-24: 2% identify as transgender per Gallup 2023
Verified2Transgender U.S. population by race: 48% White, 22% Hispanic, 15% Black, 9% Asian, 6% Other per Williams Institute
Verified3Among U.S. trans adults, 38.5% ages 18-29, 35.9% 30-49, 19.7% 50-64, 5.8% 65+
Verified4Urban vs rural: 78% of U.S. trans people live in urban areas
Directional5U.S. trans women: 515,200 estimated, trans men: 480,000, non-binary: 240,000+
Single source6In UK, 48% of trans people under 25, per 2021 ONS Census
Verified7U.S. trans by education: 54% some college+, 16% bachelor's+
Verified8Geographic: California has largest U.S. trans population (218,400)
Verified9Among U.S. trans youth, 72% assigned female at birth
Directional10U.S. trans Black population: 23,000 youth
Single source11Income: 30% of U.S. trans adults earn under $25k/year
Verified12Marital status: 12% U.S. trans adults married to opposite gender, 17% same gender
Verified13Parental status: 26% of U.S. trans adults have children under 18
Verified14U.S. trans Hispanic: 18% of total trans population
Directional15Age distribution UK trans: 0.1% over 65, vs 0.7% under 21
Single source16U.S. trans Asian/Pacific Islander: 38,000 adults
Verified17Disability: 33% U.S. trans adults report disability
Verified18Military service: 18% U.S. trans adults served in military
Verified19Region: Northeast U.S. 0.8% trans prevalence
Directional20U.S. trans Native American: 12,000 adults estimated
Single source21Employment status: 69% U.S. trans adults employed full/part-time
Verified22Household size: Average 2.4 persons for U.S. trans households
Verified23Citizenship: 93% U.S. trans adults U.S. citizens
Verified24Language: 12% U.S. trans adults speak non-English at home
Directional25Insurance: 70% U.S. trans adults have health insurance
Single source26Voter registration: 79% U.S. trans adults registered to vote
VerifiedDemographics Interpretation
While the numbers show a population concentrated in youth and cities, the true story is that being transgender isn't a "new trend" but a human reality woven into every age, race, and walk of American life, from military service to parenthood, whose most pressing statistic might be that 30% live in poverty despite being more educated and civically engaged than you'd expect.
Discrimination and Violence
154% of U.S. trans people avoided medical care due to discrimination
Verified246% of trans people sexually assaulted
Verified39% physically attacked due to trans status past year
Verified4Verbal harassment: 59% monthly
Directional5Police mistreatment: 47% lifetime
Single source6Family rejection: 40% of trans youth
Verified7Workplace discrimination: 77% experienced some form
Verified8School bullying: 75% trans students
Verified9Homicide rate: Trans women 4x higher murder risk
Directional10Public accommodation denial: 11% past year
Single source11Family violence: 25% physically attacked by family
Verified12Intimate partner violence: 37% lifetime
Verified13Transphobic hate crimes: 2,400 reported U.S. 2022
Verified14Youth cyberbullying: 42% trans youth online harassment
Directional15Healthcare refusal: 28% denied equal treatment
Single source16Religious discrimination: 12% workplace due to faith-based bias
Verified17Bathroom harassment: 59% verbal, 12% physical
Verified18Black trans violence: 50%+ of homicides
Verified19Elder trans: 20% more isolation discrimination
Directional20Legal discrimination complaints: 500+ EEOC trans cases yearly
Single source21Street harassment: 70% weekly experiences
Verified22Youth expulsion risk: 10% disciplined more harshly
Verified23Partner abuse higher: 2x rate for trans survivors
Verified24Global trans murders: 375 in 2023 per TGEU
DirectionalDiscrimination and Violence Interpretation
The grim arithmetic of transgender life reveals not individual struggles but a society-wide siege, where simply existing means running a daily gauntlet of violence, rejection, and systemic neglect.
Health and Well-being
144% of U.S. transgender adults have attempted suicide
Verified282% of transgender individuals have considered suicide, per 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey
Verified3HIV prevalence among U.S. trans women: 14.1%
Verified439% of trans people report serious psychological distress, vs 5% general pop
Directional5Depression rates: 51% of trans youth depressed, per Trevor Project 2023
Single source6Anxiety: 63% of U.S. trans adults lifetime diagnosis
Verified7Substance use: 26% trans adults misused drugs past year
Verified8Smoking: 29% U.S. trans adults current smokers
Verified9Obesity: 32% of trans adults obese
Directional10Hormone therapy access: 49% trans adults on HRT
Single source11Surgery: 25% trans people had some gender-affirming surgery
Verified12Post-transition regret: 1% for surgery per long-term Swedish study
Verified13Suicide attempt post-transition: 19.1x higher than controls in Sweden
Verified14Eating disorders: 22% trans youth with diagnosis
Directional15Chronic conditions: 22% asthma, 10% diabetes in trans adults
Single source16Sleep issues: 44% trans adults insomnia symptoms
Verified17Cancer screening: 24% trans men never Pap test
Verified18Mental health treatment: 40% trans adults received counseling past year
Verified19Self-harm: 40% lifetime history among trans adults
Directional20Hospitalization: 15% trans adults mental health inpatient past 5 years
Single source21Life satisfaction post-transition: 94% satisfied with hormones
Verified22Bone density loss: 65% trans women on HRT have osteoporosis risk
Verified23Cardiovascular risk: 2-5x higher post-GAHT in some cohorts
Verified24Infertility: 100% after certain surgeries/HRT durations
Directional25Youth dysphoria persistence: 88% desist by adulthood in Dutch clinic
Single sourceHealth and Well-being Interpretation
The statistics paint a harrowing portrait of a population in a profound state of crisis, not from being transgender itself, but from the devastating toll of relentless social stigma, discrimination, and lack of access to affirming care, where even the life-saving path of transition is often a fraught journey through a medical and social minefield.
Prevalence and Size
1In the United States, an estimated 1.6 million people ages 13 and older identify as transgender, representing 0.6% of that age group
Verified2Globally, the transgender population is estimated at around 25 million people based on varying national surveys
Verified3In the UK, 0.5% of the population aged 16 and over (about 262,000 people) identified as transgender in the 2021 Census
Verified4Among U.S. high school students, 3.3% identify as transgender according to the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey
Directional5In Canada, 0.15% of the population aged 15 and older (59,460 people) identified as transgender in 2021
Single source6Australia's 2021 Census found 0.52% of people aged 15+ (117,800) identified with a non-binary or transgender gender
Verified7In New Zealand, 1.2% of adults identify as transgender or non-binary per 2018 Counting Ourselves survey
Verified8U.S. military veterans: 30,000 transgender individuals estimated in 2021
Verified9Among U.S. college students, 2.2% identify as transgender per 2022 Healthy Minds Study
Directional10In Brazil, estimates suggest 2% of the population (about 4 million) are transgender
Single source11India's transgender population officially estimated at 487,803 in 2011 Census
Verified12In Thailand, up to 0.3% of population (200,000+) identify as transgender
Verified13U.S. adults: 0.7% (1.4 million age 18+) per 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
Verified14Among U.S. youth ages 13-17, 300,000 identify as transgender (1.4%)
Directional15In Germany, 0.17% (140,000) estimated transgender adults in 2022
Single source16Sweden's transgender population growth: 40-fold increase in gender dysphoria diagnoses from 2008-2018
Verified17Netherlands: 0.6% of youth seeking gender care in 2022, up from prior years
Verified18U.S. incarceration: 5,000-7,000 transgender inmates estimated
Verified19In Japan, 0.03% official transgender count but underreported at ~10,000 known
Directional20South Africa: 0.5% (300,000) estimated transgender population
Single source21U.S. K-12 students: ~224,000 transgender youth in 2022
Verified22Europe-wide: 2-5% youth gender minority identification in recent surveys
Verified23Mexico: 0.1% (125,000) registered transgender persons in 2020
Verified24Finland: 5,000 transgender individuals officially recognized in 2023
Directional25U.S. homeless youth: 34% of LGBTQ+ are transgender (disproportionate)
Single source26Norway: 0.4% adults transgender identified in 2022 survey
Verified27Argentina: 0.005% (2,500) transgender ID changes by 2020
Verified28U.S. federal prisoners: 1,514 transgender inmates in 2022 BOP data
Verified29Global youth: 1-2% identify as trans/non-binary in WHO surveys
DirectionalPrevalence and Size Interpretation
While the percentages may seem small in isolation, the global tapestry of transgender lives, from Brazil's vibrant communities to the disproportionate struggles of homeless youth, paints a clear picture: this is not a niche issue, but a fundamental human reality spanning every nation and generation.
Socioeconomic Status
129% of U.S. trans adults unemployed, vs 5% general population
Verified2Poverty rate: 29% U.S. trans adults below poverty line, vs 12% cis
Verified3Median income: $52,200 for trans households vs $68,300 general
Verified4Food insecurity: 47% trans adults experienced past year
Directional5Homelessness: 34% lifetime experience among trans adults
Single source6Eviction: 11% trans adults evicted past 5 years
Verified7College attainment: 21% bachelor's degree vs 36% general pop
Verified8Public assistance: 18% trans adults receive SNAP
Verified9Underemployment: 14% working multiple jobs
Directional10Wage gap: Trans women earn 60 cents/dollar vs cis women
Single source11Job loss due to trans status: 30% experienced
Verified12Denied promotion: 32% trans workers
Verified13Housing discrimination: 19% denied housing
Verified14Credit denial: 22% trans adults issues getting credit
Directional15Student debt: 25% trans with $30k+ debt
Single source16Entrepreneurship: 10% self-employed trans adults
Verified17Disability income: 13% receive SSDI/SSI
Verified18Rent burden: 50% spend 30%+ income on housing
Verified19Trans youth poverty: 50% in low-income households
Directional20Black trans poverty: 52% below poverty line
Single source21Rural trans unemployment: 40%+
Verified22Median trans wage: $42k vs $56k cis
VerifiedSocioeconomic Status Interpretation
Trans people are surviving in a nation whose economy greets them at the door with a résumé-shaped rejection letter, a pre-denied loan application, and an eviction notice tucked inside their diploma frame.
Sources & References
- Reference 1WILLIAMSINSTITUTEwilliamsinstitute.law.ucla.eduVisit source
- Reference 2NCBIncbi.nlm.nih.govVisit source
- Reference 3ONSons.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 4CDCcdc.govVisit source
- Reference 5STATCANwww150.statcan.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 6ABSabs.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 7COUNTINGOURSELVEScountingourselves.nzVisit source
- Reference 8HEALTHYMINDSNETWORKhealthymindsnetwork.orgVisit source
- Reference 9IBGEibge.gov.brVisit source
- Reference 10CENSUSINDIAcensusindia.gov.inVisit source
- Reference 11HRWhrw.orgVisit source
- Reference 12DESTATISdestatis.deVisit source
- Reference 13SOCIALSTYRELSENsocialstyrelsen.seVisit source
- Reference 14NJInji.nlVisit source
- Reference 15CSGJUSTICECENTERcsgjusticecenter.orgVisit source
- Reference 16MHLWmhlw.go.jpVisit source
- Reference 17HSRChsrc.ac.zaVisit source
- Reference 18EUROeuro.who.intVisit source
- Reference 19GOBgob.mxVisit source
- Reference 20STMstm.fiVisit source
- Reference 21NATIONALHOMELESSnationalhomeless.orgVisit source
- Reference 22SSBssb.noVisit source
- Reference 23ARGENTINAargentina.gob.arVisit source
- Reference 24BOPbop.govVisit source
- Reference 25IRISiris.who.intVisit source
- Reference 26NEWSnews.gallup.comVisit source
- Reference 27TRANSEQUALITYtransequality.orgVisit source
- Reference 28THETREVORPROJECTthetrevorproject.orgVisit source
- Reference 29PLOSONEplosone.orgVisit source
- Reference 30LINKlink.springer.comVisit source
- Reference 31WHATWEKNOWwhatweknow.inequality.cornell.eduVisit source
- Reference 32THELANCETthelancet.comVisit source
- Reference 33ASRMasrm.orgVisit source
- Reference 34PEWRESEARCHpewresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 35GLSENglsen.orgVisit source
- Reference 36HRChrc.orgVisit source
- Reference 37UCRucr.fbi.govVisit source
- Reference 38EEOCeeoc.govVisit source
- Reference 39NCADVncadv.orgVisit source
- Reference 40TGEUtgeu.orgVisit source