I offered some information about prevalence in a previous post. I am re-posting those studies here with the addition of some new studies, filling in some omissions, adding links where available and adding some new thoughts.
These are studies that observed at least the year 1990 to the present and where prevalence estimates where made. Sorted by the last year of the study (not the publication year).
(Note: N =number of people in the study, MtF = Male to Female, FtM=Female to Male, Prevalence should be read as ‘one in 42,000′)
Author Period Reported Country Incusion Criteria N MtF : FtM Prevalence
Weitze & Osburg (1996) 1981-1990 Germany Granted legal change of name or gender status 1047 2.3 :1 MtF:1 : 42,000 FtM:1 : 104,000
Bakker, van Kesteren, Gooren, & Bezemer (1993) 1986-1990 Netherlands Receiving hormone therapy 713 2.5 :1 MtF:1 : 11,900 FtM:1 : 30,400
Wilson, Sharp, & Carr (1999) circa 1998 Scotland Gender Dysphoria 273 4 : 1 MtF:1 : 7,400 FtM:1 : 31,200
Wilson, Sharp, & Carr (1999) circa 1998 Scotland Receiving Hormone therapy or post-surgery 160 3.8 :1 MtF:1 : 12,800 FtM:1 : 52,100
Horton, M.A. (2008) 2001 USA based on survey of surgeons who performed SRS 2:1 MtF:1 : 750 FtM:1 : 1,400
Conway, L. (2001) 2001 USA based on estimates of the numbers of sex reassignment surgeries MtF:1 : 1500* the estimate was between 1 in 250 to 1 in 2500
De Cuypere et al. (2007) 1985-2003 Belgium Completed sex reassignment surgery 412 2.4 :1 MtF:1 : 12,900 FtM:1 : 33,800
Gomez Gil et al. (2006) 1996-2004 Spain Diagnosis of Transsexualsism 161 2.6 :1 MtF: 1 : 21,000 FtM: 1: 48,100
Reed, et al (GIRES) (2009) 2007 (also see 2011 updatehere) United Kingdon people who sought tx for gender variance MtF: 1 : 10,000
Veale, J. (2008) 2008 New Zealand people who changed gender markers on New Zealand passport 385 MtF: 1 : 3639 FtM: 1: 22,714
Conron, K.J, et. al (2011) 2010 USA – Mass phone survey of housholds in MA 28000 MtF: 1 : 200 * survey did not distinguish between MtF or FtM
A few points
- The Male to Female numbers are much more reliable than the Female to male numbers at this point. Many researchers argue that FtM transgendered individuals can live more easily with male gender expression and may present for treatment less.
- The incidents of gender variance being reported are more or less increasing over time (see the graph below). Some researchers have noted that reported incidents are higher in cities and in more tolerant cultures.
- Gender Variance is extremelty hard to count due to individuals remaining hidden or choosing not to seek any type of treatment because of stigma.
Chart of MtF transgender prevalence
Find out about Psychotherapy when dealing with Gender variance in yourself or someone close to you.
