Gender Dysphoria Statistics in the United States

Gender dysphoria is a psychological condition where the gender identity an individual experiences differs from the sex assigned at birth, causing significant distress. 

Experiencing gender dysphoria can severely impact mental health and compromise quality of life. In the United States, over 55% of young people with gender dysphoria reported experiencing suicidal thoughts in recent years.

In this article, we’ll explore the prevalence of gender dysphoria in the U.S., trends in treatment and care, the onset of symptoms, suicide risk, and demographic factors.

Key Takeaways: 

• Approximately 1.4 million American adults identify as transgender, with about 0.6% of adults experiencing gender dysphoria.
• Among teenagers (aged 13-17), 1.4% identify as transgender, equating to roughly 300,000 individuals experiencing gender dysphoria.
• From 2017 to 2021, there was a nearly threefold increase in diagnoses of gender dysphoria among children and adolescents in the U.S., from 15,172 in 2017 to 42,167 in 2021.
• Between 2017 and 2021, 17,683 youth diagnosed with gender dysphoria began treatment (puberty blockers, hormones, or both).
• 73% of trans women and 78% of trans men first experienced gender dysphoria by age 7.
• On average, transgender men live with untreated gender dysphoria for 22.9 years, while transgender women spend an average of 27.1 years before seeking treatment.
• 36% of individuals with gender dysphoria had suicidal thoughts in 2016, rising to 55% by 2019.
• In 2019, 66% of hospitalized youth with gender dysphoria were admitted for suicide attempts or self-harm.
• Self-harm rates among young people with gender dysphoria were 13% in 2016 and 15% in 2019, compared to 1% for peers without dysphoria.
• 61.3% of students with gender dysphoria reported suicidal ideation, over 3 times higher than cisgender peers.
• 30.3% of American youth with gender dysphoria reported at least 1 suicide attempt.
• In 2016, 66% of individuals with gender dysphoria were White, increasing to 71% by 2019.
• Black Americans constituted 7% of those with gender dysphoria in both 2016 and 2019.

The Prevalence of Gender Dysphoria Among Americans

• According to Anderson et.al’s 2022 study titled “Gender Dysphoria and Its Non-Surgical and Surgical Treatments,” around 1.4 million American adults identify as transgender, and about 0.6% of all American adults experience gender dysphoria. 
• According to a 2022 UCLA report titled “How Many Adults and Youth Identify as Transgender in the United States?” around 1.4% of teenagers (aged 13 to 17), which equates to roughly 300,000 individuals, experience gender dysphoria and identify as transgender. For adults, this figure stands at 0.5%, which equates to about 1.3 million people.
• According to Michell et. al.’s 2022 study “Prevalence of gender dysphoria and suicidality and self-harm in a national database of pediatric inpatients in the USA,”  the overall percentage of young people (aged 6 to 20) with gender dysphoria in the U.S. rose from 0.16% in 2016 to 0.48% in 2019.
• According to a 2021 study by Reuters Investigates and Komodo Health Inc: 
• In 2021, approximately 42,000 children and adolescents in the U.S. (aged 6 to 17) were diagnosed with gender dysphoria, marking a nearly threefold increase from 2017.

• Between 2017 and 2021, a total of over 121,000 American children between the ages of 6 and 17 were diagnosed with gender dysphoria. 

Gender Dysphoria and Gender-Affirming Treatment

• According to 2021 research by Reuters Investigates and Komodo Health Inc: 

• From 2017 to 2021, 17,683 American youth diagnosed with gender dysphoria began treatment with either puberty blockers, hormones, or a combination of both.
• Between 2017 and 2021 at least 4,780 people (aged 6 to 17) with a prior diagnosis of gender dysphoria began treatment with puberty blockers. During this period, the number of children with gender dysphoria who began puberty blockers multiplied by 2—increasing from 633 in 2017 to 1,390 in 2021. 

• Between 2017 and 2021, a minimum of 14,726 minors initiated hormone therapy after being diagnosed with gender dysphoria. This number doubled, increasing from 2,905 children in 2017 to 4,231 in 2021. 

• Komodo’s review of insurance data identified 56 instances of genital surgery among patients aged 13 to 17 who had a previous gender dysphoria diagnosis between 2019 and 2021. 
• From 2019 to 2021, at least 776 mastectomies were performed on teens aged 13 to 17 with a gender dysphoria diagnosis in the U.S., with “top surgery” being a more frequent procedure for this age group.

Onset of Gender Dysphoria in the U.S.

• According to a 2020 study by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center titled “Age at First Experience of Gender Dysphoria Among Transgender Adults Seeking Gender-Affirming Surgery”:

• 73% of surveyed transwomen and 78% of surveyed transgender men in America first experienced gender dysphoria by the age of 7.
• The first experience of gender dysphoria for most transgender adults was only  1.5 to 2.2 years after their first memories, which usually form between ages 3 and 4.
• On average, transgender men live with untreated gender dysphoria for 22.9 years before starting treatment (social transition and/or hormonal therapy).
• For transgender women, the average time living with untreated gender dysphoria is 27.1 years before treatment begins.

Gender Dysphoria and De-transitioning Statistics in the U.S. 

• According to a 2021 study by Littman L.et al titled “Individuals Treated for Gender Dysphoria with Medical and/or Surgical Transition Who Subsequently Detransitioned: A Survey of 100 Detransitioners,” among transgender Americans experiencing gender dysphoria: 

• 23% of survey respondents cited facing discrimination as a reason for reversing their transition.
• 60% decided to detransition after feeling more comfortable identifying with their birth-assigned gender.
• 49% were concerned about possible medical risks associated with transitioning.
• 38% believed their initial gender dysphoria was linked to factors such as past trauma, abuse, or mental health issues.
• 23% mentioned challenges in accepting their sexual orientation, such as identifying as lesbian, gay, or bisexual, as a factor influencing their transition and subsequent reversal.
• 55% felt they did not receive a thorough evaluation from medical or mental health professionals before starting their transition.

Gender Dysphoria and Suicide Risk 

• Michell et.al’s 2022 study titled “Prevalence of gender dysphoria and suicidality and self-harm in a national database of pediatric inpatients in the USA”  was conducted on young transgender and non-binary people (aged 6 to 20) in the United States. It found that: 

• In 2016, 36% of people with gender dysphoria had suicidal thoughts or behaviors, compared to 5% of those without gender dysphoria.
• By 2019, the rate of suicidality in people with gender dysphoria increased to 55%, while it remained at 4% for those without gender dysphoria.
• In 2019, 66% of hospitalized young individuals with a gender dysphoria diagnosis were admitted for suicide attempts or self-harm, compared to just 5% of those without a gender dysphoria diagnosis.
• In 2016 and 2019, the prevalence of self-harm among hospitalized young people with gender dysphoria was much higher than those without, at 13% versus 1% in 2016 and 15% versus 1% in 2019.

• According to Jackman et.al’s 2018 study “Stigma, gender dysphoria, and nonsuicidal self-injury in a community sample of transgender individuals,” over half (53.3%) of transgender individuals with gender dysphoria reported having self-injured at some point in their lives, while 22.3% had engaged in self-harm within the past year in 2018.
• Eisenberg et.al’s 2017 study titled “Risk and Protective Factors in the Lives of Transgender/Gender Nonconforming Adolescents” looked at data from 81,885 9th and 10th graders in Minnesota. It found that about 61.3% of students with gender dysphoria reported suicidal ideation, over 3 times higher than their cisgender peers. 
• Peterson et.al’s 2017 study titled “Suicidality, Self-Harm, and Body Dissatisfaction in Transgender Adolescents and Emerging Adults with Gender Dysphoria” revealed that 58% of youth (aged 12 to 22) diagnosed with gender dysphoria were also dealing with an additional psychiatric condition. 30.3% of these individuals reported having attempted suicide at least once.
• A 2016 study by Aitken et.al titled “Self-Harm and Suicidality in Children Referred for Gender Dysphoria” looked at children referred to gender dysphoria-related care in the United States. It found that:
• Children seeking care for gender dysphoria were 5.1 times more likely to talk about suicidal thoughts compared to those who did not seek such care.
• Children experiencing gender dysphoria were 8.6 times more likely to engage in self-harming behaviors or attempt suicide than their peers who were not referred for such issues, even when controlling for general behavior issues and difficulties in peer relationships.

Gender Dysphoria and Ethnicity 

• According to Michell et. al.’s 2022 study titled “Prevalence of gender dysphoria and suicidality and self-harm in a national database of pediatric inpatients in the USA” conducted on young transgender and non-binary people (aged 6 to 20) in the United States: 

• In 2016, 66% of those with gender dysphoria were White, compared to 46% of the overall surveyed individuals. By 2019, this rose to 71% of individuals with gender dysphoria, while White individuals still made up 46% of the surveyed group.
• For Black individuals, 7% of those with gender dysphoria were Black in 2016, compared to 18% of the total surveyed population. This stayed the same in 2019, with 7% of those with gender dysphoria being Black, while Black individuals accounted for 17% of the surveyed group.
• Hispanic individuals made up 9% of those with gender dysphoria in 2016, while 21% of the total surveyed population were Hispanic. In 2019, the percentage of those with gender dysphoria who were Hispanic increased slightly to 10%.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gender Dysphoria No Longer a Disorder in the U.S.?

No, the DSM-V reclassified “gender identity disorder” to “gender dysphoria” in 2013. While gender dysphoria is still viewed as a mental health condition, the term “disorder” is no longer used. The focus is now on addressing the distress caused by gender misalignment.

For Which Age Is Gender Dysphoria Most Common?

Gender dysphoria is most strongly felt among young children. In a 2020 study titled “Age at First Experience of Gender Dysphoria Among Transgender Adults Seeking Gender-Affirming Surgery,” nearly all transgender individuals experienced gender dysphoria before the age of 7. 

Is Gender Dysphoria a Risk Factor for Teen Suicide?

Yes, transgender or gender dysphoric adolescents are much more likely to experience persistent suicidal ideation and make suicide attempts.

Day, Derek et.al’s 2019 study “Gender Dysphoria and Suicidal Ideation: Clinical Observations from a Psychiatric Emergency Service” reported that about 26% to 31% of adolescents experiencing gender dysphoria have attempted to take their own lives.Learn more about teen suicide in our post “Teen Suicide Statistics in the United States”.