What percentage of the US population is transgender?
Apr 02 2019 Written by Tijen Butler
There have been various studies and surveys throughout the years regarding transgender statistics in the United States. However, we are yet to get an accurate reading of the transgender population.
Many LGBT+ activists believe that surveys are unreliable and there actually many more trans people than recorded due to the fear of discrimination and transphobia.
But studies and surveys serve a purpose as we can cross-examine them and get a rough idea of the number of trans people in the US.
Transgender population in the United States
According to the Williams Institute, in 2016, approximately 0.6 percent of adults in the United States identified as transgender. This translates to just over 1.3 million adults.
This number shows a huge increase from the institute’s study five years before. In fact, the percentage had doubled.
Researchers had a theory on why this may be. They said the “increase in visibility and social acceptance of transgender people may increase the number of individuals willing to identify as transgender on a government-administered survey.”
Meanwhile, in 2017, LGBT statistics by GLAAD reported that an estimated 3 percent of the US population identified as transgender across various age groups.
Transgender statistics according to states
The university study also broke down its stats per state.
States with the highest transgender population:
California: 0.76 percent
Massachusetts: 0.57 percent
New York: 0.51 percent
New Jersey: 0.44 percent
Pennsylvania: 0.44 percent
States with the lowest transgender population:
Nebraska: 0.39 percent
Montana: 0.34 percent
South Dakota: 0.34 percent
Iowa: 0.31 percent
North Dakota: 0.30 percent
Overall, it was found that more young people are transgender. This is likely due to LGBT+ education becoming more available and known, thus giving youth a chance to understand themselves better and to come out as trans.