Trends in U.S. Adoptions: 2008–2012

There is no single source for the total number of children adopted in the United States, and there is currently no straightforward way of determining the total number of adoptions, even when multiple data sources are used. This report gives best estimates of the numbers of children adopted in each State for 2008–2012 and uses these numbers to estimate the composition and trends of all adoptions in the United States. Data for this report were collected primarily from the following sources: State courts, State departments of social services, State bureaus of vital records, the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs.