Source: The Williams Institute
Contributors: Flores, A.R., Herman, J.L., Gates, G.J., & Brown, T.N.T.
Topic: Data Collection/Evaluation
Population Focus: Transgender and Gender Nonconforming
This report utilizes data from the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to estimate the percentage and number of adults who identify as transgender nationally and in all 50 states. The report found that 0.6%, about 1.4 million, U.S. adults identify as transgender. This current estimate is double that of the estimate produced by Gary J. Gates in 2011. This may be due to an increase in visibility and social acceptance of transgender people. The youngest age group, 18 to 24 years old, is more likely than older age groups to identify as transgender. As new data collection efforts emerge at the state and national levels, estimates continue to be refined to improve our understanding of the size and characteristics of the transgender population.