Approximately 2.8 million people ages 13 and older identify as transgender in the US, including roughly 2.1 million adults and 724,000 youth.
Understanding the size and scope of the transgender population helps policymakers, healthcare providers, and communities plan for the future. Current data reveals a distinct generational shift. While the overall percentage of adults identifying as transgender remains around 1% or slightly less depending on the survey, younger generations report much higher rates of identification. Surveys from major research bodies like the Williams Institute and Gallup show that visibility has grown, yet the population remains a small minority of the total US census.
We break down the latest numbers to show exactly who identifies as transgender, where they live, and how age plays a massive role in these statistics.
US Transgender Population By The Numbers
Getting an exact headcount is challenging because the US Census has not historically asked about gender identity directly in its decennial count. Instead, researchers rely on large-scale surveys like the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). The most authoritative data comes from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law.
Their recent findings indicate a total of about 2.8 million individuals over the age of 13. This figure combines both adults and adolescents. When you look closer at the age groups, a clear pattern emerges. Teenagers and young adults are significantly more likely to identify as transgender than their parents or grandparents. This suggests that as social stigma decreases, more young people feel safe expressing their gender identity.
The table below provides a detailed look at these estimates across different age brackets.
Table of Estimates by Age Group
| Age Group | Estimated Count | Percentage of Group |
|---|---|---|
| Youth (13–17) | ~724,000 | 3.30% |
| Young Adults (18–24) | ~483,000 | 2.72% |
| Adults (25–64) | ~1,400,000 | 0.42% |
| Seniors (65+) | ~186,000 | 0.26% |
| Total Adults (18+) | ~2,100,000 | 0.80% |
| Total Population (13+) | ~2,800,000 | 1.03% |
| Gen Z Adults (18-27) | Varies by poll | ~2.8% |
Generational Shifts In Identity
The gap between youth and older adults stands out in every major study. While less than 0.5% of Americans over 65 identify as transgender, over 3% of high school-aged youth do. This does not necessarily mean more people are “becoming” transgender in a biological sense. Rather, it likely reflects a change in language, safety, and understanding.
Younger generations grow up with more vocabulary to describe their experiences. Terms like “nonbinary” or “gender-fluid” are familiar to a 16-year-old today in a way they were not to a 60-year-old growing up in the 1970s. Access to information online allows young people to find communities that validate their feelings earlier in life.
Data from the Williams Institute at UCLA confirms that youth aged 13 to 17 make up about 25% of the entire transgender population in the US, despite being a much smaller slice of the overall general population. This concentration of youth suggests that schools and pediatric healthcare systems will continue to see higher rates of gender-diverse individuals than geriatric care centers for the time being.
State-By-State Population Estimates
Geography also influences where transgender people live, or at least where they feel comfortable reporting their identity. Current estimates show that the transgender population is not evenly distributed across the fifty states. Regions with more legal protections often show slightly higher percentages, though transgender people live in every community in the nation.
Northeast And West Lead In Percentages
The Northeast and the West Coast generally report higher percentages of transgender residents. For adults, states like Minnesota and New York report rates above 1%. Minnesota, for instance, has an estimated adult transgender population of 1.2%, one of the highest in the country. This correlates with the state’s strong legal protections for gender-diverse individuals.
In contrast, states in the South and Midwest often report lower percentages, typically around 0.4% to 0.7%. However, because the South is so populous, the actual number of transgender people living there is quite high. A smaller percentage of a huge population still equals hundreds of thousands of people. Roughly 35% of all transgender adults live in the South, meaning this region is home to more transgender people than any other, despite the lower per-capita rate.
Youth Trends By Region
Youth statistics tell a slightly different story. New York estimates show about 3.0% of youth identify as transgender, while Hawaii leads the nation with nearly 3.6%. The range for youth is tighter across states compared to adults. Even in states with restrictive policies, youth identification rates remain consistently above 2% or 3%. This suggests that while adults may move to friendlier states, young people identify as transgender regardless of their state’s political climate.
Demographics Beyond Age
When asking “How many people in the US are transgender?”, we must also look at race, ethnicity, and the specific type of gender identity. The population is diverse and mirrors the general makeup of the US in many ways.
Race And Ethnicity
Transgender individuals come from every racial and ethnic background. In fact, people of color are slightly more likely to identify as transgender than White individuals. Surveys indicate that about 1.5% of African American adults and 1.8% of Hispanic/Latino adults identify as transgender, compared to roughly 0.5% of White adults. This challenges the myth that gender diversity is primarily a White or affluent phenomenon.
For youth, the numbers are even more robust across all racial groups. Latino youth, in particular, show high rates of identification in several state-level surveys. Understanding these intersectional demographics helps organizations direct resources effectively, ensuring that support reaches marginalized communities who may face the dual stress of racism and transphobia.
Gender Identity Breakdown
Not all transgender people identify strictly as men or women. A significant portion identifies as nonbinary, genderqueer, or gender-fluid. Among transgender adults, the split is remarkably even.
- Transgender Women: Approximately 33%
- Transgender Men: Approximately 34%
- Nonbinary/Genderqueer: Approximately 33%
This even distribution highlights the importance of inclusive language that goes beyond the binary. Policy discussions often focus heavily on transgender women, but the data shows that transgender men and nonbinary individuals make up two-thirds of the community. Ignoring these groups leads to incomplete healthcare and legal strategies.
Healthcare And Support Systems
With a population of nearly 3 million, the demand for competent healthcare is substantial. Mental health remains a priority area. Data from The Trevor Project and other advocacy groups consistently highlights that transgender youth face higher risks of depression and anxiety, often linked to bullying or lack of family acceptance.
Access To Professionals
Finding the right care provider is a common hurdle. Many transgender individuals seek out mental health support to navigate their transition or cope with minority stress. It is vital to understand the qualifications of the professionals you see. For example, knowing the difference between counselors and therapists can help patients choose the right level of care for their specific needs. While both can provide support, their training and scope of practice often differ.
Access to gender-affirming medical care, such as hormone therapy, varies widely by state. In states with bans on youth care, families often travel long distances. This forced mobility impacts the “official” counts in certain areas, as families may relocate permanently to states where their children can access medical services.
Trends Over Time
Is the transgender population growing? The answer depends on how you look at the data. The raw number of people identifying as transgender has risen, but this is largely attributed to younger people aging into the adult cohort and older adults feeling safer to come out. Stability in the older demographic suggests that the “core” rate of transgender identity has likely always existed but was suppressed by social stigma.
A Pew Research Center study found that 1.6% of US adults are transgender or nonbinary. This is higher than previous estimates from a decade ago, which often hovered around 0.3%. The rapid increase in the last ten years seems to have plateaued slightly for adults, while youth numbers remain high.
| Identity Type | Percentage Share | Estimated Count (Adults) |
|---|---|---|
| Transgender Women | ~33% | ~698,500 |
| Transgender Men | ~34% | ~730,500 |
| Nonbinary/Genderqueer | ~33% | ~707,100 |
Why Accurate Data Matters
Counting the transgender population is not just an academic exercise. It has real-world consequences for funding, civil rights, and public health initiatives. When the Census Bureau or other federal agencies fail to collect this data, it renders the community invisible in the eyes of the government.
Accurate numbers help justify the need for specialized clinics, anti-discrimination laws, and school programs. For instance, knowing that 3.3% of high schoolers are transgender helps school boards understand why gender-neutral bathrooms or inclusive sports policies are relevant to their student body. Without this data, opponents can dismiss these needs as affecting “nobody.”
The Challenge Of Undercounting
Most experts agree that current numbers likely undercount the true population. Many people do not disclose their identity on government surveys due to fear of harassment or lack of trust in how the data will be used. Additionally, survey questions can be confusing. Some surveys ask for “sex assigned at birth” and “current gender identity” separately, which is the gold standard. Others may simply ask “Are you male or female?”, forcing nonbinary or transgender respondents to choose a category that doesn’t fit, or to out themselves in a way that feels unsafe.
As data collection methods improve, we may see these numbers inch higher. The Gallup poll data from 2024 shows that overall LGBTQ+ identification is now nearly 8% for the general population and over 20% for Gen Z. While the specific transgender subset is smaller, it is part of this broader wave of increased openness.
Looking Forward
The question “How many people in the US are transgender?” has a clearer answer today than ever before. We know there are millions of transgender Americans. We know they are younger, diverse, and present in every state. The stability of these numbers over recent years suggests we are reaching a baseline understanding of the population’s true size.
Future research will likely focus less on the raw headcount and more on the specific needs of this group. Disaggregating data to look at the health outcomes of nonbinary people versus binary transgender people, or the economic status of transgender people of color versus White transgender people, will provide the nuance needed to support this community effectively.