There is no reliable worldwide number of trans women participating in sports. Sports organizations generally do not maintain a global database recording athletes by transgender status, and many athletes do not publicly disclose their gender identity.
The best available research can give us examples of documented athletes, but it cannot provide a complete worldwide total.
How Many Trans Women Athletes Have Been Documented?
A 2024 study examined transgender athletes who were identified in English-language newspaper coverage between 2016 and 2021. Researchers found 68 transgender athletes who met their criteria: 52 were trans women and 16 were trans men. The athletes competed across 23 sports.
The sports represented in the study included:
- Athletics
- Soccer
- Cycling
- Ice hockey
- Volleyball
- Boxing
- Golf
- Swimming
- Muay Thai
- Skiing
- Tennis
- Weightlifting
However, the 52 trans women should not be interpreted as the total number of trans women in sports worldwide. The researchers specifically noted that there are more transgender athletes than those identified in their study. Their sample was limited to athletes who had been identified through English-language newspaper coverage and met the study’s selection criteria.
Why Is There No Exact Number?
There are several reasons an exact figure is unavailable.
First, sports organizations do not generally collect a worldwide census of transgender athletes.
Second, participation occurs at many different levels. A trans woman might participate in recreational leagues, school sports, college athletics, amateur competition or professional sport. These groups are not tracked through one international database.
Third, athletes may choose not to disclose their transgender status publicly. That means publicly documented athletes represent only a portion of the overall population.
Finally, eligibility rules differ between sports and governing bodies. An athlete may be permitted to train or compete in one setting but face different eligibility requirements in another.
How Common Are Trans Women in Elite Sports?
Trans women appear to represent a very small proportion of athletes in elite and mainstream competitive sport, but there is not enough data to calculate a reliable worldwide percentage.
The 2024 study is useful because it demonstrates that documented trans women have competed across many different sports and countries. However, its 52 trans women were identified from media reports rather than from a complete athlete census.
Therefore, it would be misleading to say that there are exactly 52 trans women athletes worldwide—or to use that number as a percentage of all athletes.
What About College Sports in the United States?
College sports provide another example of why there is no simple nationwide total.
The NCAA tracks participation across its member schools, but its standard demographic reporting does not provide a comprehensive count of transgender athletes. The NCAA reported 554,298 student-athletes participating in championship sports during the 2024-25 academic year.
The NCAA also changed its transgender participation policy in February 2025. Under the current policy, competition in NCAA women’s sports is restricted to student-athletes assigned female at birth, while student-athletes assigned male at birth may practice with women’s teams and receive certain benefits while practicing.
Because policies and reporting systems vary, NCAA participation numbers cannot be used to calculate a reliable national count of trans women athletes.
Does Every Trans Woman Athlete Compete in Women’s Sports?
No.
Being a trans woman and competing in sports are not the same thing as competing in a women’s category. Trans women can participate in different sporting environments and may compete according to the eligibility rules applicable to their sport and competition.
Policies can differ substantially between recreational, school, collegiate, professional and international competitions.
For example, the NCAA’s current policy is different from policies used by other sporting organizations. Individual international federations can also establish their own eligibility requirements.
How Many Trans Women Were in the 2024 Study?
The study identified:
| Group | Number |
|---|---|
| Transgender athletes | 68 |
| Trans women | 52 |
| Trans men | 16 |
| Sports represented | 23 |
These figures describe the study’s sample, not the worldwide population of transgender athletes.
The researchers reviewed 2,220 newspaper articles and initially identified 93 athletes before applying their selection criteria to arrive at the final sample of 68.
That methodology is important because it shows why publicly documented numbers should not be treated as a complete census.
Are There Trans Women in Professional Sports?
Yes. Trans women have competed in professional and elite sports, although they are a small and highly visible group.
The documented athletes identified in research have competed at different levels, including regional, national and international competition. The 2024 study included athletes from 15 countries and 23 sports.
However, there is no authoritative database that lists every professional trans woman athlete worldwide.
Why Do Sports Have Different Rules?
Sports organizations create eligibility policies based on the characteristics and competitive demands of individual sports.
For example, the physical factors considered relevant to eligibility can differ between a contact sport, an endurance sport and a precision sport. Governing bodies therefore do not necessarily use identical policies.
Rules have also changed over time. The NCAA’s 2025 policy change is one example of a major change in eligibility requirements in the United States.
For international competition, athletes must follow the rules of the relevant international federation and event.
What Is the Best Answer to “How Many Trans Women Are in Sports?”
The most accurate answer is:
The exact number of trans women in sports worldwide is not publicly available.
One peer-reviewed study identified 52 trans women among 68 transgender athletes documented in mainstream sports through English-language newspaper coverage from 2016 through August 2021. Those athletes competed in 23 sports, but the study explicitly did not attempt to count all transgender athletes worldwide.
Consequently, 52 is a documented research sample, not a global total.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many trans women are in sports worldwide?
No reliable worldwide total exists. Sports organizations do not maintain a comprehensive global registry of transgender athletes.
How many trans women athletes have been identified in research?
One 2024 study identified 52 trans women among 68 transgender athletes who met its research criteria. The athletes competed in 23 sports.
Are there trans women in professional sports?
Yes. Trans women have participated in professional, national and international sports, although they represent a small and highly visible group.
Does the NCAA publish the number of trans women athletes?
The NCAA publishes extensive participation data but does not provide a comprehensive public count of transgender athletes. Its current policy restricts competition in NCAA women’s sports to student-athletes assigned female at birth.
Is there a global database of transgender athletes?
No comprehensive global database is publicly available. Published research generally relies on specific samples or individual sports organizations rather than a worldwide census.
Do transgender sports rules apply equally everywhere?
No. Eligibility rules can differ by sport, governing organization, country and level of competition.
Conclusion
There is no exact worldwide count of trans women in sports. The strongest available research provides documented samples rather than a global census.
A 2024 study identified 52 trans women among 68 transgender athletes in mainstream sports during the period it examined, across 23 sports. But the researchers emphasized that their sample did not represent every transgender athlete worldwide.
Therefore, if you see a claim that there are a specific number of trans women athletes worldwide, it should be treated cautiously unless the source explains how that number was calculated and what population it covers.