Gender diversity of Canadian postsecondary students, 2021/2022

Release date: June 25, 2024
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Infographic: Gender diversity of Canadian postsecondary students, 2021/2022
Description: Gender diversity of Canadian postsecondary students, 2021/2022

Of all Canadian studentsNote 1 enrolled in a public postsecondary institution during the 2021/2022 academic year, 0.64% were transgender or non-binary.

Among the cisgender student population, women (59%) outnumbered men (41%). However, among the transgender student population, men (57%) outnumbered women (43%).


Student population of Canadian public postsecondary institutions, by gender diversity, 2021/2022 academic year
Table summary
This table displays the results of Student population of Canadian public postsecondary institutions. The information is grouped by Gender diversity (appearing as row headers), Percentage (appearing as column headers).
Gender diversity Percentage
Cisgender persons 99.36
Cisgender men 40.80
Cisgender women 58.56
Transgender or non-binary persons 0.64
Transgender men 0.16
Transgender women 0.12
Non-binary persons 0.36

Gender diversityNote 2 was proportionally highest among students in graduate-level university programs. For example, more than 1% of all doctoral degree students were transgender or non-binary.


Student population of Canadian public postsecondary institutions, 2021/2022 academic year
Table summary
This table displays the results of Student population of Canadian public postsecondary institutions. The information is grouped by Educational qualification (appearing as row headers), Total number of persons, Number of transgender or non-binary persons and Percentage (appearing as column headers).
Educational qualification Total number of persons Number of transgender or non-binary persons Percentage
College-level certificate 89,790 540 0.60
College-level diploma 311,550 1,880 0.60
Bachelor’s degree 952,140 6,320 0.66
Master’s degree 142,060 1,160 0.82
Doctoral degree 40,030 510 1.27

Fields of study with the highest proportion of transgender or non-binary postsecondary students:

  • Arts and humanities: 1.34%
  • Social and behavioural sciences: 0.88%
  • Mathematics and computer and information sciences: 0.76%
  • Trades, services, natural resources and conservation: 0.74%
  • Science and science technology: 0.52%

Field of study with the lowest proportion of transgender or non-binary postsecondary students:

  • Business and administration: 0.33%

Sources: Statistics Canada, Postsecondary Student Information System, 2021/2022, and Census of Population, 2021.

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Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2024

Use of this publication is governed by the Statistics Canada Open Licence Agreement.

Catalogue no. 11-627-M

Frequency: Occasional

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