Proportion of people identified as transgender and non-binary gender in Brazil

Giancarlo Spizzirri,Baudewijntje P C Kreukels,Hélio Rubens De Carvalho Nunes,Carmita Helena Najjar Abdo,Raí Eufrásio,Thomas D Steensma,Maria Cristina Pereira Lima

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-81411-4

Abstract

Studies estimate that gender-diverse persons represent 0.1 to 2% of populations investigated, but no such assessment was performed in Latin America. In a representative sample of Brazil’s adult population (n = 6000), we investigated participants' sociodemographic characteristics and possible associations between these and current gender identity, categorized as cisgender, transgender or non-binary gender. We also investigated transgender individuals' distress associated with gender-related body characteristics. As main results, we found that transgender individuals represented 0.69% (CI95% = 0.48–0.90) of the sample, whereas non-binary persons were 1.19% (CI95% = 0.92–1.47). These percentages were not different among Brazil’s 5 geographic regions. Preliminary analyses showed that transgender individuals were on average younger (32.8 ± 14.2 years, CI95% = 28.5–37.1), compared to cisgender (42.2 ± 15.9, CI95% = 42.5–42.8) and non-binary (42.1 ± 16.5 years, CI95% = 38.3–46.5) groups. Non-binary persons are less likely to be in a relationship compared to cisgender individuals (OR = 0.57, CI95% = 0.35–0.93). In the transgender group, 85% of transgender men and 50% of transgender women reported distress due to gender-related body characteristics. Our main findings draw attention that gender-diverse Brazilian individuals represent around 2% of the country's adult population (almost 3 million people), and are homogeneously located throughout the country, reiterating the urgency of public health policies for these individuals in the five Brazilian sub-regions.

Highlights

Studies estimate that gender-diverse persons represent 0.1 to 2% of populations investigated, but no such assessment was performed in Latin America
40 (0.69%, 95% CI = 0.48 to 0.90) people were categorized as transgender, 20 (0.33%) were registered as male, and 20 (0.33%) as female; 71 (1.19%, CI 95% = 0.92 to 1.47) people were categorized as Non-binary gender (NBG), 33 (0.55%) were registered as male, and 38 (0.64%) as female
The NBG group was less likely to be in a relationship compared to the cisgender group (33% vs. 48.7%)

Summary

Introduction

Studies estimate that gender-diverse persons represent 0.1 to 2% of populations investigated, but no such assessment was performed in Latin America. Apart from estimating the proportion of gender-diverse people, a study shows an increase in the number of US citizens who identify as TG in the last decade[12]. They indicate the importance of both informing the population about gender diversity[3] and performing research that is conducted in samples that are diverse regarding age, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status[13]. Seventy-eight percent of all murders targeting this population occurred in Latin A merica[18], and most of them in Brazil[19]

Methods

Results

Conclusion