How many Americans are known to be or plan to become transgender?

 An estimated 2.8 million Americans aged 13 and older identify as transgender, making up roughly 1% of the population in that age bracket. Data on how many people "plan to become" transgender is not tracked by major statistical surveys, as demographic studies focus on current self-identification. [1]

The most comprehensive population figures come from a report by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law, which analyzes public health data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): [1]

Population Breakdown

• Adults (18+): About 2.1 million people (0.8% of U.S. adults) identify as transgender.
• Youth (13–17): About 724,000 youth (3.3% of U.S. teenagers) identify as transgender. [1, 2, 3]

Gender Identity Among Adults

Among the adult population identifying as transgender, the demographic splits almost evenly into three categories: [1]

• Transgender Men: 34.2% (~730,500 people)
• Transgender Nonbinary: 33.1% (~707,100 people)
• Transgender Women: 32.7% Honorably (~698,500 people) [1]

Social Visibility

While demographic data focuses on individuals themselves, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation notes a sharp increase in personal visibility: 41% of American adults report that they personally know someone who is transgender, a notable rise from previous years. [1]

And what percent of trans people are involved with sports?

The exact percentage of the entire transgender population involved in sports is not tracked by a single comprehensive registry, but data from research organizations like the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and The Trevor Project indicates that transgender individuals participate in organized sports at significantly lower rates than cisgender individuals. [1, 2]

Participation rates vary dramatically depending on age and level of competition: [1, 2]

Youth and High School Level

While roughly 68% of all U.S. youth participate in sports, HRC data compiled by Transathlete highlights a stark gap for transgender and nonbinary (TGNB) teenagers: [1]

• Transgender Boys: 14% participate in sports.
• Nonbinary Youth: 14% participate in sports.
• Transgender Girls: 12% participate in sports. [1]

(Note: A separate study using CDC Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance data analyzed by the Williams Institute at UCLA estimated that roughly 40.7% of transgender students in grades 9–12 have played on at least one sports team, though they still represent a tiny fraction of overall student athletes). [1, 2]

Collegiate Level (NCAA)

At the college level, participation drops drastically: [1]

• Transgender athletes account for less than 0.002% of all NCAA athletes.
• Out of approximately 510,000 student-athletes nationwide, the NCAA noted fewer than 10 openly transgender athletes participating in collegiate sports. [1, 2]

Elite and Olympic Level

In elite international competitions, representation is even lower: [1]

• Transgender individuals account for roughly 0.001% of recent Olympians. [1]

Barriers to Participation

Public health researchers note that lower participation rates are driven primarily by systemic barriers. According to The Trevor Project and the American Psychiatric Association, these include a fear of rejection or bullying, a lack of supportive environments, and a growing landscape of legislative restrictions, with over half of U.S. states enacting regulations that limit transgender participation aligned with gender identity. [1, 2]