A new study by the Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science’s Morten Kjær Thomsen is the first-ever to document the diverse demographic outcomes of transgender individuals at the population level, using data from Danish population registers.
Published in the Social Science & Medicine journal, the study conducted a demographic analysis of transgender populations in Denmark, utilising a variety of data sources.
The study identified the following three transgender subpopulations in Denmark and found that while there is some overlap, each exhibit different demographic outcomes such as:
- Those who have changed their legal sex: A significant portion of immigrants make up this group, adding another layer to their transgender experience.
- Those who self-identified as transgender in a nationally representative survey: This is the only group not found to be substantially disadvantaged when compared to the general population.
- Those with transgender-related diagnostic codes in their health records: Transgender individuals seeking gender-affirming care are identified as the most disadvantaged subpopulation and are potentially among the most at-risk groups.
The study found that those in group 2 who self-identify as transgender share the most similarities with the general population of Denmark in terms of healthcare use, income, sex at birth, age, employment, and educational attainment. However, transgender individuals in groups 1 and 3 are more disadvantaged and share many similarities such as median age, income and employment.
Morten Kjær Thomsen, DPhil student at Oxford’s Sociology department and the Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science said, ‘Our study highlights the importance of using more nuanced methods to identify transgender individuals in research and policy-making, capturing the full spectrum of their experiences and needs. This approach enables tailored support and fosters further research aimed at addressing inequalities faced by transgender individuals and populations.’
Another finding of the study was that the demand for gender-affirming treatments or legal sex changes may not be as high as anticipated. This is because there is a high number of individuals who self-identify as transgender (group 2) and have not sought medical assistance for gender-affirming care or legal sex change, compared to the smaller subpopulations (groups 1 and 3). However, those in groups 1 and 3 who are legally or medically recognised as transgender have the highest rates of hospital admissions for somatic or psychiatric care.
While the study offers insights that may help address areas of inequality for transgender individuals, the authors note that group 2 is the larger sample in the study. They suggest that the other two subpopulations may be underrepresented in national surveys due to a reluctance to participate.
Morten Kjær Thomsen adds, ‘This does not discredit survey studies, but it highlights that they may not always capture the most at-risk transgender subpopulations. Researchers exploring transgender demographics should carefully consider their approach to identifying transgender individuals, as this significantly influences the characteristics of the observed population.’
The full article, ‘Transgender lives at the population level: Evidence from Danish administrative data’, can be found in the Social Science & Medicine journal.
