Gender Recognition Certificates in UK Top 8,000 as Demand Grows

More than 8,000 gender recognition certificates (GRCs) have been issued in the UK since the Gender Recognition Act came into effect 20 years ago, allowing adults to legally change the sex recorded on their birth certificates. The Act, which began on April 4, 2005, enables individuals to apply for a GRC through the Gender Recognition Panel, a body of legal and medical experts who grant certificates only if applicants meet specific criteria.

To qualify for a GRC, applicants must have a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, have lived in their acquired gender for at least two years, and intend to continue living in that gender permanently. According to the Ministry of Justice, a total of 8,464 full certificates had been granted in the UK by the end of March 2024.

The number of certificates issued has risen sharply in recent years, with 1,088 granted in 2023/24—up from 871 in 2022/23 and 495 in 2021/22. This is the second-highest annual total since the scheme’s inception, surpassed only by the 1,179 certificates granted in 2005/06. Applications have also increased significantly, reaching a record 1,397 in 2023/24, likely influenced by changes such as the reduction of the application fee from £140 to £5 in May 2021 and the introduction of online applications in July 2022.

The demographic profile of applicants has evolved over time. Initially, a majority of certificates were granted to people assigned male at birth, but by 2023/24, the distribution was nearly equal, with 52% granted to those assigned male and 48% to those assigned female at birth. Most recipients in 2023/24 were single (973 out of 1,088), and nearly two-thirds were born after 1990, including 18% born in 2000 or later.

These figures reflect ongoing changes in societal attitudes and procedural reforms surrounding gender recognition in the UK.

To qualify for a GRC, applicants must have a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, have lived in their acquired gender for at least two years, and intend to continue living in that gender permanently. According to the Ministry of Justice, a total of 8,464 full certificates had been granted in the UK by the end of March 2024.

The number of certificates issued has risen sharply in recent years, with 1,088 granted in 2023/24—up from 871 in 2022/23 and 495 in 2021/22. This is the second-highest annual total since the scheme’s inception, surpassed only by the 1,179 certificates granted in 2005/06. Applications have also increased significantly, reaching a record 1,397 in 2023/24, likely influenced by changes such as the reduction of the application fee from £140 to £5 in May 2021 and the introduction of online applications in July 2022.

The demographic profile of applicants has evolved over time. Initially, a majority of certificates were granted to people assigned male at birth, but by 2023/24, the distribution was nearly equal, with 52% granted to those assigned male and 48% to those assigned female at birth. Most recipients in 2023/24 were single (973 out of 1,088), and nearly two-thirds were born after 1990, including 18% born in 2000 or later.

These figures reflect ongoing changes in societal attitudes and procedural reforms surrounding gender recognition in the UK.

More than 8,000 gender recognition certificates (GRCs) have been issued in the UK since the Gender Recognition Act came into effect 20 years ago, allowing adults to legally change the sex recorded on their birth certificates. The Act, which began on April 4, 2005, enables individuals to apply for a GRC through the Gender Recognition Panel, a body of legal and medical experts who grant certificates only if applicants meet specific criteria.

To qualify for a GRC, applicants must have a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, have lived in their acquired gender for at least two years, and intend to continue living in that gender permanently. According to the Ministry of Justice, a total of 8,464 full certificates had been granted in the UK by the end of March 2024.

The number of certificates issued has risen sharply in recent years, with 1,088 granted in 2023/24—up from 871 in 2022/23 and 495 in 2021/22. This is the second-highest annual total since the scheme’s inception, surpassed only by the 1,179 certificates granted in 2005/06. Applications have also increased significantly, reaching a record 1,397 in 2023/24, likely influenced by changes such as the reduction of the application fee from £140 to £5 in May 2021 and the introduction of online applications in July 2022.

The demographic profile of applicants has evolved over time. Initially, a majority of certificates were granted to people assigned male at birth, but by 2023/24, the distribution was nearly equal, with 52% granted to those assigned male and 48% to those assigned female at birth. Most recipients in 2023/24 were single (973 out of 1,088), and nearly two-thirds were born after 1990, including 18% born in 2000 or later.

These figures reflect ongoing changes in societal attitudes and procedural reforms surrounding gender recognition in the UK.