DATA AS OF OCTOBER 2016

Legally possible Legal with no restrictions (5 countries) In these countries, making a change is simply based on the request of the individual. Legal but with social or medical requirements (41 countries) Almost all countries that allow a legal change require a diagnosis of mental disorder. Many require a person to be childless or unmarried; some require hormone therapy, surgery, and/or sterilization. Advocates denounce such rules as violations of human rights.

Legal regionally or with difficulty Legality and requirements vary regionally (4 countries) In some countries, including the United States, local practices may take precedence, making legality and the requirements for changing a matter of geography. Legal but inconsistently allowed (27 countries) Even if a country’s rules allow a change to be made, unclear regulations, court decisions, and bureaucratic barriers can block changes in status.