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Counting ourselves: Findings from the 2022 Aotearoa New Zealand trans and non-binary health survey
Yee, Ashe; Bentham, Ryan; Byrne, Jack L.; Veale, Jaimie; Ker, Alex; Norris, Megan; Tan, Kyle K. H.; Jones, Harris; Polkinghorne, Taine; Gonzalez, Sofia; Withey-Rila, Cassie; Wi-Hongi, Ahi; Brown-Acton, Phylesa; Parker, George; Clunie, Moira; Kerekere, Elizabeth; Fenaughty, John; Treharne, Gareth; Carroll, Rona
Abstract
Counting Ourselves is a comprehensive national survey of the health and wellbeing of trans and non-binary people aged 14 and older living in Aotearoa New Zealand. The survey takes place every four years.
We report findings from 2,631 trans and non-binary people who completed our second survey in 2022. This is more than double the 1,178 survey participants from our first survey in 2018 and gives us very strong data about a range of trans and non-binary people living in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The 2022 survey participants lived in all regions of Aotearoa New Zealand and ranged in age from 14 to 86. Most were either youth aged 14–24 (53%) or adults aged 25–54 (43%). Over half (56%) of participants were non-binary, with an equal mix of trans men (22%) and trans women (22%). Compared with the general population, the survey had a higher proportion of European participants (77%), a similar proportion of Māori (14%), and a lower proportion of Asian (7%) and Pasifika (2%) participants.
More than two out of five (42%) of our participants were disabled. This included people who identified as Deaf or disabled (29%) and/or who met the definition of disability used in Stats NZ’s population surveys (38%). This was higher than the Stats NZ measure of disability in the general population (10%).
Throughout the report we identify statistically significant differences between participants based on age, gender, ethnicity, location, or disability. In 2025, the Counting Ourselves team hopes to produce fact sheets, articles, and other resources looking at the key findings for Māori, Pasifika, Asian, and disabled trans and non-binary people.
In this report we use the term gender affirming healthcare to refer to any healthcare interventions that trans or non-binary people may require to affirm their gender. We also use the term unmet need to describe the percentage of all participants who wanted but had not had a type of gender affirming healthcare.
Type
Report
Type of thesis
Series
Citation
Yee, A., Bentham, R., Byrne, J., Ker, A., Norris, M., Tan, K., Jones, H., Polkinghorne, T., Gonzalez, S., Withey-Rila, C., Wi-Hongi, A., Brown-Acton, P., Parker, G., Clunie, M., Kerekere, E., Fenaughty, J., Treharne, G., Carroll, R., & Veale, J. (2025). Counting ourselves: Findings from the 2022 Aotearoa New Zealand trans and non-binary health survey. Transgender Health Research Lab, University of Waikato. https://doi.org/10.15663/hu87271
Date
2025
Publisher
Transgender Health Research Lab, University of Waikato
Degree
Supervisors
Rights
© 2025 Transgender Health Research Lab, University of Waikato.