How Many Genders Are There? Types and Key Facts

How many genders are there? There is no single internationally agreed number of gender identities. Man and woman are widely recognised categories, but some people identify outside these categories, including as non-binary, agender or genderfluid. The number depends on how gender is defined, classified and understood across different cultures.

Gender can be confusing because everyday conversations often use words such as sex, gender and gender identity interchangeably, although they describe different concepts. Lists suggesting there are exactly 3, 7, 68 or 72 genders can make the question seem simpler than it is.

This guide explains the types of gender, how gender identity relates to biological sex, what the gender spectrum means and why these distinctions matter in healthcare.

How Many Genders Are There?

There is no universally accepted fixed number of genders. Many people identify as men or women, while others describe themselves as non-binary, genderfluid, agender or through culturally specific identities. These labels sometimes overlap, so counting every term in a glossary does not establish a scientific total of distinct genders.

The answer changes depending on what someone is trying to count.

In a conventional binary framework, gender is described using two broad categories: man and woman. This framework is common in everyday language and many social institutions.

A broader understanding recognises people whose gender identity does not fit exclusively into either category. Non-binary is often used as an umbrella description, although people may prefer more specific terms.

Some cultures also recognise gender identities with particular historical and social meanings. Examples include hijra in parts of South Asia and fa’afafine in Samoa. These identities belong to their own cultural contexts and should not automatically be treated as interchangeable with Western terminology.

Why do some websites say there are 72 genders?

Numbers such as 68 or 72 commonly appear in online discussions and lists of gender-related terminology. However, these are not internationally standardised scientific counts.

Such lists may combine:

• Individual gender identities
• Broad umbrella descriptions
• Terms referring to gender expression
• Cultural gender categories
• Related concepts that describe a person’s relationship with gender

For example, someone can identify as both non-binary and genderfluid. Counting both labels as completely separate, mutually exclusive categories would misunderstand how they are used.

The World Health Organization (WHO) also recognises that terminology and understandings of gender can vary with social, historical and cultural circumstances.

Rather than looking for a definitive number, it is more useful to understand what different terms mean and how people use them.

What Is Gender? Understanding Its Meaning

Gender refers to socially shaped characteristics, expectations, roles and relationships associated with being a man, woman, boy or girl, alongside people’s experiences of gender.

According to the World Health Organization’s guidance on gender and health, gender norms differ between societies and can change over time.

Consider how expectations about clothing, occupations and family responsibilities have evolved. Activities once labelled exclusively masculine or feminine may no longer be viewed that way.

These expectations are examples of gender norms. They are not reliable tests of whether someone is a man, woman or another gender.

Gender and gender identity are related but different

Gender is a broad social concept involving roles, expectations and relationships.

Gender identity, meanwhile, describes a person’s internal experience of their own gender.

Someone may identify as a woman while rejecting traditional expectations about femininity. Another person may identify as a man without following conventional masculine roles.

Understanding this distinction helps explain why personality, behaviour and appearance do not determine someone’s identity.

Types of Gender: Common Gender Identities Explained

Different gender identities help people describe how they experience and understand themselves.

The following table explains commonly used terms. It is an introduction to terminology, not a complete or scientifically numbered classification of every gender.

Gender term	Meaning
Man	A person whose gender identity is male or who identifies as a man.
Woman	A person whose gender identity is female or who identifies as a woman.
Non-binary	An umbrella description for identities that are not exclusively man or woman.
Agender	A person who experiences no gender, or little sense of having a gender.
Genderfluid	Someone whose experience of gender may change over time.
Bigender	Someone who identifies with two genders, either together or at different times.
Demiboy / Demigirl	Someone who identifies partly, but not necessarily entirely, with a boy/man or girl/woman gender.
Genderqueer	A broad identity term used by some people whose gender challenges conventional categories.

Are cisgender and transgender separate genders?

Cisgender and transgender are important descriptions, but they are not simply two additional genders to add to a total.

Cisgender generally describes someone whose gender identity corresponds with their sex assigned at birth.

Transgender generally describes someone whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth.

For example, a transgender woman is a woman. Being transgender describes part of her relationship with the sex registered at birth; it does not make “transgender” a separate gender alongside “woman”.

A non-binary person may also describe themselves as transgender, although not everyone uses that label.

The distinction matters because gender terminology includes overlapping ways of describing identity, personal experience and history.

Gender Identity Explained: What Does It Mean?

Gender identity is a person’s deeply felt internal understanding of their own gender.

For many people, this experience is consistent with the sex recorded at birth. For others, it differs. Some describe their gender as neither exclusively male nor female.

Gender identity is personal. It cannot be accurately identified simply by looking at someone.

Three related concepts are especially useful to distinguish.

Gender identity

This is how someone understands their own gender.

A person might identify as a man, woman, non-binary or another gender.

Gender expression

Gender expression concerns how someone communicates or presents aspects of gender through appearance, clothing, hairstyle, voice or behaviour.

A woman may prefer traditionally masculine clothing. A man may enjoy makeup. Neither example tells us that the person’s gender identity has changed.

Sexual orientation

Sexual orientation concerns romantic, emotional or sexual attraction towards other people.

Someone’s orientation does not establish their gender identity.

A useful distinction is that gender identity describes who someone understands themselves to be, while sexual orientation describes whom they may be attracted to.

The WHO explicitly distinguishes these concepts because treating them as interchangeable can cause misunderstanding, particularly in health and social care.

Difference Between Sex and Gender

The difference between sex and gender is central to understanding this subject.

Biological sex refers to physical and physiological characteristics, while gender involves socially shaped roles, categories and experiences of identity.

Although the concepts interact, they should not be used as exact synonyms.

Biological sex	Gender
Relates to biological and physiological characteristics.	Relates to social roles, norms, categories and identity.
Includes chromosomes, hormones, reproductive anatomy and other characteristics.	Includes experiences of being a man, woman or another gender.
Commonly classified as male or female, with variations in sex characteristics.	Can be described using binary or non-binary frameworks.
May be relevant to diagnosis, screening and medical treatment.	May be relevant to identity, communication, wellbeing and patient care.

What does biological sex mean?

Biological sex involves several characteristics rather than a single feature.

Chromosomes, reproductive anatomy, hormones and developmental processes contribute to sex characteristics. Most people are classified as male or female, although biological variations occur.

For example, chromosome patterns are commonly XX or XY, but other patterns and differences in development exist.

Hormones also influence physical development, including breast tissue and other secondary sexual characteristics. For additional background on the medical factors affecting breast development, HealthPage explains natural variations in chest size.

Physical appearance alone does not provide a complete account of someone’s biology or gender identity.

Where do intersex variations fit?

Intersex is an umbrella term for natural variations in sex characteristics that do not fit typical definitions of male or female bodies.

These variations may involve chromosomes, hormones, reproductive organs or sexual anatomy.

Being intersex is not automatically the same as having a non-binary gender identity.

An intersex person may identify as a man, woman, non-binary person or another gender, just as other people may.

Intersex characteristics concern biological development. Gender identity concerns personal experience of gender.

The existence of intersex variations does not, by itself, establish a fixed number of genders or a universally agreed new count of biological sexes.

Gender Spectrum Meaning: Is Gender a Spectrum?

The gender spectrum is a conceptual way of describing gender experiences that are not restricted to two exclusive categories.

In a binary model, gender is understood as man or woman.

A spectrum model allows for experiences outside or between these categories, as well as identities that do not fit neatly along a masculine-to-feminine line.

Importantly, the gender spectrum is not a medical instrument. It does not assign every person a measurable number or position.

Can someone experience more than one gender?

Yes. Some people use terms such as bigender or genderfluid to describe their experiences.

A bigender person may identify with two genders, while someone who is genderfluid may experience changes in how they understand their gender.

These experiences vary individually.

Does non-binary mean looking gender-neutral?

No. Non-binary is about identity, not a required appearance.

A non-binary person might dress in ways traditionally associated with femininity, masculinity, both or neither.

For instance, someone may consistently identify as non-binary while wearing dresses and having long hair. Their appearance does not make their identity less valid or automatically mean they identify as a woman.

Equally, a person who prefers androgynous clothing is not necessarily non-binary.

Are Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation the Same?

Gender identity and sexual orientation are separate aspects of a person’s experience.

A man may be heterosexual, gay, bisexual or have another sexual orientation. A non-binary person may also experience attraction in different ways.

Knowing someone’s gender identity does not reveal whom they are attracted to.

The same principle works in reverse. Knowing that someone is lesbian, gay or bisexual does not automatically establish whether they are cisgender, transgender or non-binary.

There is also a distinction between attraction and behaviour. People’s relationships or past experiences do not always tell us how they identify.

Understanding these differences supports clearer communication and avoids making assumptions based on appearance, relationships or social labels.

Why Does Understanding Gender Matter in Healthcare?

Gender-related language has practical importance in healthcare, where accurate clinical information and respectful communication both contribute to patient care.

A clinician may need to know someone’s relevant anatomy, medication, medical history or reproductive characteristics. At the same time, a patient’s name, gender identity and communication preferences may affect how comfortably they engage with healthcare services.

These needs are not necessarily in conflict.

Gender identity and NHS screening

Screening eligibility is particularly important.

Some screening programmes relate to specific organs or physical characteristics, while NHS invitation systems may also depend on the sex or gender recorded in a patient’s healthcare registration.

For example, someone who has a cervix may need to consider cervical screening eligibility regardless of whether they identify as a woman, man or non-binary person.

Similarly, breast screening and abdominal aortic aneurysm screening may involve considerations beyond a person’s gender identity alone.

The official NHS population screening guidance for trans and non-binary people, updated on 1 September 2026, explains how adult screening programmes and invitations operate in England.

Patients who think they may be eligible but are not receiving invitations should discuss their circumstances with their GP or screening service.

What are gender dysphoria and gender incongruence?

Gender incongruence describes an experience in which someone’s gender identity differs from their sex registered at birth.

Gender dysphoria describes persistent distress or discomfort associated with that difference.

The two concepts should not be treated as identical.

Not everyone who experiences gender incongruence has significant distress, and being transgender or non-binary does not automatically mean someone experiences gender dysphoria.

The NHS guidance on gender dysphoria and incongruence explains possible symptoms, assessment pathways and treatment options.

Some people experiencing distress may also encounter anxiety or low mood. However, these experiences should not automatically be attributed to gender identity. Other mental health conditions, including adjustment disorder with anxiety, have distinct assessment criteria and require appropriate clinical evaluation.

Someone seeking support can speak with their GP about their circumstances and available services.

Respectful communication and accurate medical records

Good healthcare communication involves asking relevant questions without making unnecessary assumptions.

A patient’s preferred name and pronouns can be respected while recording clinically important information accurately and confidentially.

Likewise, healthcare professionals should explain why particular biological details are needed instead of assuming that identity or appearance provides all the information required.

For readers interested in broader patient education, HealthPage’s general health guides cover additional health and wellbeing topics.

Common Misconceptions About Gender

Myth: Everyone identifies as either a man or a woman

Fact: Many people identify as men or women, but some describe their gender outside those two categories. Non-binary is one commonly used umbrella term.

Myth: There are exactly 72 genders

Fact: No universal scientific system establishes 72 as the definitive number. Online lists often mix identities, overlapping descriptions and related terminology.

Myth: Gender identity and sexual orientation mean the same thing

Fact: Gender identity concerns a person’s understanding of their own gender. Sexual orientation concerns attraction to others.

Myth: Non-binary means the same thing for everyone

Fact: Non-binary experiences vary. Some people identify with aspects of more than one gender; others identify with no gender or a different understanding of gender altogether.

Myth: Being intersex means being non-binary

Fact: Intersex refers to variations in biological sex characteristics. Non-binary refers to gender identity. A person can be both, either or neither.

Myth: Someone needs medical treatment to have a particular gender identity

Fact: A person’s gender identity does not depend on receiving hormones, surgery or other medical interventions. Some people pursue treatment or social changes, while others do not.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many genders are there in the world?

There is no single internationally recognised number of gender identities. Man and woman are widely used categories, while terms such as non-binary, agender and genderfluid describe other experiences. Cultural differences, overlapping labels and changing terminology make a universally fixed count impractical.

What are the main types of gender?

Commonly discussed gender identities include man, woman, non-binary, agender, genderfluid, bigender and genderqueer. Some are broad umbrella categories, while others describe more particular experiences. These terms are not necessarily mutually exclusive, and not everyone uses the same language to describe themselves.

What does non-binary mean?

Non-binary describes gender identities that are not exclusively man or woman. A non-binary person may experience their gender as between categories, beyond them, involving more than one gender or involving no gender. The term describes identity rather than a particular physical appearance or clothing style.

Can gender identity change over time?

Some people experience their gender identity as stable throughout life. Others describe changes in their understanding or experience of gender. Genderfluid is one term for an experience that may vary over time. Changes in the labels a person uses do not necessarily mean that their earlier experiences were insincere.

Is gender identity the same as sexual orientation?

No. Gender identity concerns how someone understands their own gender, whereas sexual orientation concerns romantic, emotional or sexual attraction. A person of any gender may have different sexual orientations, and neither characteristic can reliably be inferred from the other.

What is meant by the gender spectrum?

The gender spectrum is a way of understanding gender beyond two exclusive categories. It recognises that some people identify as men or women while others experience gender differently. It is a descriptive concept, not a medical test, diagnostic measurement or universally agreed numerical classification.

Understanding Gender Without a Fixed Number

The question how many genders are there does not have one universally agreed numerical answer.

Man and woman remain widely recognised gender categories, but many people use additional terms to describe experiences outside or across those categories.

Understanding the distinctions between gender, biological sex, gender identity, expression and sexual orientation provides more useful information than memorising a list of labels.

For health-related questions, reliable resources from organisations such as the WHO and NHS can help readers understand terminology and make informed decisions about relevant healthcare.

Medical information notice: This article provides general educational information and does not replace individual advice from a qualified healthcare professional.