You’ve probably heard a dozen different numbers. Some people say it's 1 in 100. Others swear it’s so rare you’ll never meet someone like that in your entire life. Honestly, the biggest problem starts with the word itself.
In the medical world and the intersex community, "hermaphrodite" is mostly considered an outdated, scientifically inaccurate, and often offensive term. It comes from Greek mythology—Hermes and Aphrodite’s son—but in biology, it refers to organisms that have full, functioning sets of both male and female reproductive organs. Think snails. Or certain flowers. Humans don't actually work that way. We don't have "true" hermaphroditism where one person can produce both eggs and sperm. Instead, we have a massive, beautiful, and sometimes confusing spectrum called intersex variations.
So, when people ask what percent of people are hermaphrodites, they are usually asking about the frequency of intersex traits.
The number most experts point to is roughly 1.7%.
That sounds small. It isn't. To put that in perspective, that’s about the same percentage of the global population born with red hair. If you’ve met a redhead, you’ve likely met someone who is intersex. But that 1.7% figure isn't a simple tally. It’s a lightning rod for debate among biologists, sociologists, and doctors.
The 1.7 Percent Debate: Where Does the Number Come From?
Most of our modern understanding of these statistics comes from the work of Dr. Anne Fausto-Sterling, a professor at Brown University. In the late 90s and early 2000s, she and her team conducted a massive review of medical literature to see how often "non-dimorphic" sexual traits appeared.
Her finding? That famous 1.7%.
✨ Don't miss: Why Do Women Fake Orgasms? The Uncomfortable Truth Most People Ignore
But here’s the kicker. Not everyone agrees with her math. Critics, like psychologist Leonard Sax, argue the number is way lower—closer to 0.018%. Why the huge gap? It comes down to what you count.
Sax argues that only "ambiguous" genitalia or conditions where chromosomal sex doesn't match phenotype should count. Fausto-Sterling’s broader net includes things like Late-Onset Adrenal Hyperplasia (LOCAH) and Klinefelter syndrome (XXY). These are conditions where a person might look "standard" on the outside but have internal biological markers that don't fit the classic male/female binary.
It’s messy. Biology doesn't like neat little boxes, even though humans love building them.
The Different Ways "Intersex" Shows Up
Intersex isn't just one thing. It's an umbrella for about 40 different variations.
Take Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS). A person is born with XY chromosomes (typically male) but their body doesn't respond to testosterone. They are usually born with a vagina, raised as girls, and often don't find out they are intersex until they realize they aren't starting their period in their teens.
Then there’s Turner Syndrome, where a person has only one X chromosome. Or Klinefelter Syndrome, where a person has XXY.
🔗 Read more: That Weird Feeling in Knee No Pain: What Your Body Is Actually Trying to Tell You
You can't just look at someone and know.
Sometimes it’s a mosaic. Some cells in the body might be XY and others might be XX. This is called chimerism. It’s rare. Really rare. But it happens. It’s a reminder that the "standard" biological path is more like a highway with a thousand different exits rather than a straight line from point A to point B.
Why Do We Care About the Percentage?
Numbers matter because they drive policy. If the percentage of people with intersex traits is as high as 1.7%, then intersexuality is a natural part of human diversity. If it's 0.018%, it's seen as a medical "disorder" to be "fixed."
For decades, doctors performed "normalizing" surgeries on infants with ambiguous genitalia. They’d just pick a side—usually female, because it was surgically "easier"—and move on. This often led to devastating results later in life when the child grew up identifying as a man but had been surgically altered without consent.
Groups like interACT (Advocates for Intersex Youth) have fought hard to change this. They argue that unless there is a medical emergency—like a blocked urinary tract—doctors should leave the kids alone. Let them grow up. Let them decide.
The Social Reality of Being Intersex
Living as an intersex person isn't just about biology. It's about how you navigate a world built for two.
💡 You might also like: Does Birth Control Pill Expire? What You Need to Know Before Taking an Old Pack
Think about sports. The International Olympic Committee has struggled for years with how to handle athletes like Caster Semenya. She has naturally high testosterone levels due to an intersex variation. Is it an "unfair advantage"? Or is it just a biological gift, no different than Michael Phelps having double-jointed ankles and a massive lung capacity?
The world loves categories. Male. Female. Black. White. But nature loves a gradient.
Most people with intersex traits live "normal" lives. They are your accountants, your baristas, your doctors. Many don't even know they carry these traits. They might go their whole life thinking they just have a hormonal imbalance or some weird fertility issues.
Beyond the Numbers: Actionable Insights
If you’re trying to understand what percent of people are hermaphrodites because you or someone you love just received a diagnosis, take a breath. It’s a lot to process, but you aren't alone.
Here is what you actually need to do next:
- Stop using the H-word. Unless someone explicitly tells you they identify with it, stick to "intersex" or "variations in sex characteristics." It’s more accurate and less loaded with historical baggage.
- Seek out specialists, not just generalists. Most family doctors have never treated an intersex patient. If you're dealing with a diagnosis, find an endocrinologist or a urologist who specifically mentions intersex care or "Differences in Sexual Development" (DSD).
- Find a community. Organizations like the Intersex Community Trust or Intersex Campaign for Equality provide resources that aren't just dry medical papers. Hearing from people who have actually lived through the surgeries and the secrecy is invaluable.
- Don't rush into surgery. If you're a parent of an intersex child, realize that most "corrective" surgeries are cosmetic. There is a global movement of doctors and human rights advocates recommending that parents wait until the child can participate in the decision.
- Educate yourself on the science. Read As Nature Made Him by John Colapinto or Sexing the Body by Anne Fausto-Sterling. Knowledge is the best antidote to the "shame" that society often tries to attach to these natural variations.
The world isn't a binary. It's a spectrum. Whether the number is 1.7% or 0.02%, these are real people with real lives. They don't need to be "fixed"—they just need to be understood.
The data tells us that humans are incredibly diverse. Your DNA is a blueprint, but sometimes the builder adds an extra room or changes the layout halfway through. That's not a mistake. That's just how life works. Focus on the person, not the percentage.