Since the Self-Determination Act took effect about a year and a half ago, more than 3,500 people in Bavaria have changed their gender marker on official records. As the Bavarian Office for Statistics in Fürth announced, the numbers surged notably in the last two months of 2024: 1,570 cases were registered in November and December alone, compared with 1,632 for the entire year, which also includes procedures under the now- repealed Transsexual Act.
In 2025 the figure had already risen to 2,021 — albeit with a downward trend. While in the first quarter of 2025, according to the Office, 848 people changed their gender marker, the number in the fourth quarter stood at 260 cases.
856 Bavarians changed their entry from female to male (42.4 percent), 584 changes were from male to female (28.9 percent). For the remaining 581 cases (28.7 percent), these were other changes — such as a change from female to nonbinary.
Previously around 300 changes to entries per year
Since the Self-Determination Act has taken effect, people can relatively easily change their gender marker and given name by submitting a declaration at the civil registry office. They must file this three months in advance. For minors under 14, the declaration must be filed by the parents. Beginning at age 14, teens can do it themselves. If the parents object, the consent of a family court is required.
Under the previously applicable controversial Transsexual Act, for those over 40 years old the process was lengthy and costly, involving medical assessments and court rulings — other provisions such as a requirement for surgery or a mandate to divorce were struck down by the Federal Constitutional Court. In the ten years prior to the Self-Determination Act taking effect, Bavaria conducted an average of about 300 procedures per year under the old law.
Apparently not accounted for are changes to a third gender entry, or to an empty gender entry, which intersex people could initiate in a proceeding under the Civil Status Act after the Federal Constitutional Court’s ruling.
