Over 2.8 million Americans are trans according to the WPATH 2020 Non-binary policy. Of them, about 724,000 are young people between the ages of 13 to 17. That’s approximately a whopping 1% of the total U.S. population age 13 and older. The data, which has emerged from recent surveys and research, underscores the increasing visibility and recognition of transgender identities across the country.
These new findings disclose that nearly 0.8% of adults—more than 2.1 million people—consider themselves transgender. The number is even higher among younger people, as 3.3% of young people 13 to 17 years old report being transgender. This reflects a broader trend of increasing acceptance among younger generations, who are increasingly likely to identify by gender outside the binary.
There are regional differences in transgender identification, with adults in the West reporting slightly higher rates than those in other areas. In the West, Midwest, and Northeast, it’s 0.9% of adults who identify as transgender. In the South, that number drops to 0.7%. Minnesota already has the highest share of transgender adults in the country at 1.2%. All while Hawaii leads the way for all youth, trans or otherwise, at a record-setting 3.6%.
Young adults 18–24 are more likely to identify as transgender at 2.72%. Significantly lower percentages are observed among older age groups: just 0.42% of those aged 35 to 64 and 0.26% of individuals aged 65 and older identify as transgender.
The demographic breakdown suggests we need to reach an estimated 2.1 million transgender adults. Of those, 32.7% consider themselves transgender women, 34.2% transgender men, and 33.1% non-binary. Commensurate with this observation, the racial and ethnic makeup of transgender individuals very much mirrors that of the overall U.S. populace. Indigenous, Latino, and multiracial adults identify as transgender at slightly higher rates than their peers.
While it is critical to note that as these numbers increase, challenges remain in truly counting this population since recent policy changes. As you can imagine, advocates and researchers alike are disheartened by the Trump administration’s decision. They decided to cut questions on transgender identity from all important surveys run by the Centers for Disease Control and Department of Justice.
Sadly, as Transgender News founder Imara Jones pointed out, the stakes of this loss of data for the transgender community could not be higher.
“There was no easy fix for the loss of national data backed by federal resources.” – Imara Jones
Providing equitable service Jones highlighted the need for dependable data. Without it, we fail to understand the pressures and criticisms that transgender people go through.
As Dr. Jody Herman from the Williams Institute added, this visibility is hugely important for the community.
“Trans people live everywhere and are represented in every state.” – Dr. Jody Herman
Experts believe that both cultural acceptance and advocacy have contributed to this sharp rise in identification among young people. Flores noted that younger generations are coming of age in more accepting, affirming spaces.
“Younger people are growing up among other younger people who already hold more accepting attitudes toward LGBT and transgender people more broadly.” – Flores
We know that societal acceptance is key to allowing people to feel safe living as their authentic selves. Supportive communities deepen this feeling of safety.
“The growth comes as people are now in an environment that allows them to fully express who they are.” – Flores
While these statistics offer insights into the transgender population’s size and demographics, they highlight significant gaps caused by changes in federal data collection policies. Experts emphasize that without a more complete picture of this diverse community, it will be extremely difficult to create the necessary policies and supports.
“In some policy circles, they say if you can’t be counted, you don’t count. And for members of the LGBTQ+ community, to be able to see numbers that reflect their lived experiences is quite important.” – Flores
According to researchers, the estimates made so far are concerningly premature. They caution that these figures may not be fully representative, as the data collection processes have varied widely.
“We didn’t really have decent national data until around 10 years ago, so we just very recently got a grasp on how many people identify as trans in the US and what their characteristics are.” – Herman
Flores too struck an optimistic note among advocacy circles to keep amplifying transgender voices over these obstacles.
“We’re not just going to close up shop. We’re going to try to find a way to keep telling these stories and be persistent.” – Flores
These recent events underscore the pressing need for constant and constructive conversation around transgender issues. As political climates change and methods of data collection develop, research must change with it.