Non–binary equality action plan 2023-2028: progress report 2024

Data and Evidence

Since publishing the Plan, we now have data on the number of non-binary people living in Scotland as a result of Scotland’s Census 2022, which included a new question on trans status or history for the first time^[1].

The question was “Do you consider yourself to be trans, or have a trans history?”. People were asked to tick “No” or “Yes”. People who ticked “Yes” were asked to describe their trans status (for example, non-binary, trans man, trans woman).

This was a voluntary question for people aged 16 and over. In 2022, 5.92% of people did not answer the trans status question. The percentage of people who were trans or have a trans history was calculated using the overall population (aged 16 and over), not just those who answered the question.

The census found that there were 19,990 people in Scotland who were trans or had a trans history. This is 0.44% of people aged 16 and over. Almost half (45.2%) of trans people identify as ‘non-binary’. This is 9,030 people in total.

One in six trans people identified as trans men (3,310). A similar number of people identified as trans but did not provide any further detail (3,110). A similar number of people identified as trans women (3,090).

The ‘other trans status or history’ category (1,450 people) included a number of different groups of people. The most common responses in this category were ‘genderfluid’, ‘agender’ and ‘genderqueer’. Those three different groups account for around two thirds of people in this category.

This data is useful for us as it is the first time that Scotland’s Census has collected data on trans status or history. The trans status or history question was developed in direct response to user need for information on the size and location of the trans population in Scotland.

This data will help us, charities and other service providers to understand more about the needs of non-binary and trans people and consider how we can make changes to improve their lives.