How Many People Choose Adoption

Adoption Statistics

Where the Numbers Come From

The federal government tracks the numbers of adoptions from the U.S. foster care system, and international adoptions; however, since 1992, numbers of private agency and independent adoptions have not been formally reported. The 2000 Census, for the first time in history, included questions about adopted children in the household.

How Many Children Are Adopted Each Year?

It is estimated that around 120,000 children are adopted by U.S. citizens each year. Approximately half of these children are adopted by individuals not related to them (called "stranger adoptions") and about half are adopted by relatives such as grandparents or stepparents. Anecdotal evidence indicates that stepparents are the largest single group of adopters.

In fiscal year 2003, approximately 21,616 children were adopted through international adoption (source: U.S. Department of State).
In fiscal year 2002, approximately 51,000 children were adopted from the U.S. foster care system (source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services).
There are no statistics on adult adoptions.

How Many People Have a Family Connection to Adoption?

Estimates put the number of adopted persons in the U.S. somewhere between 6 and 10 million. A 1997 survey by the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute found that 6 in 10 Americans have had personal experience with adoption: they themselves, a family member, or a close friend was adopted, had adopted a child, or had placed a child for adoption.

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