44% of Americans Know Someone Who Is Transgender

More than 100 million Americans (44 percent of adults) know someone who is transgender (their gender differs from their sex assigned at birth), according to the results of a Pew Research Center survey. More than 50 million (20 percent) know someone who is nonbinary (they identify as neither male nor female). 

Overall, 1.6 percent of adults are either transgender (0.6 percent) or nonbinary (1.0 percent). The figure is highest among 18-to-29-year-olds (5.1 percent) and falls with age. Among people aged 30 to 49, 1.6 percent say they are transgender or nonbinary. Among those aged 50 or older, the share is just 0.3 percent. 

The number of transgender and nonbinary adults may be small but their reach is large...

Percent who personally know someone who is transgender

Total aged 18-plus: 44%

Aged 18 to 49: 52%

Aged 30 to 49: 48%

Aged 50 to 64: 43%

Aged 65-plus: 33% 

Percent who personally know someone who is nonbinary

Total aged 18-plus: 20%

Aged 18 to 49: 37%

Aged 30 to 49: 24%

Aged 50 to 64: 13%

Aged 65-plus: 7% 

Source: Pew Research Center, About 5% of Young Adults in the U.S. Say Their Gender is Different from Their Sex Assigned at Birth

How Many Know Someone Who Is Transgender?

Nearly one-third of Americans aged 18 or older personally know someone who is transgender, according to a Gallup survey. Here's the question asked by Gallup: "Do you have any friends or relatives or coworkers who have told you, personally, that they are transgender?" Young adults are most likely to say yes.

Percent who personally know someone who is transgender

Total 18-plus: 31%

Aged 18 to 29: 50%

Aged 30 to 49: 31%

Aged 50 to 64: 24%

Aged 65-plus: 19%

Source: Gallup, Mixed Views among Americans on Transgender Issues