A variable data rate error protection transcoder includes an input mapper receiving an input transcodeable codeword and outputting an input intermediate codeword. The input transcodeable codeword includes at least one input transcodeable information bit and at least one input transcodeable parity bit. The variable data rate error protection transcoder also includes an intermediate codeword transcoder receiving the input intermediate codeword and outputting an output intermediate codeword. The variable data rate error protection codeword also includes an output mapper receiving the output intermediate codeword and outputting an output transcoded codeword. The output transcoded codeword includes at least one output transcoded information bit and at least one output transcoded parity bit.