The number of children and youth waiting for adoption from foster care has increased throughout the last decade. This is only one type of adoption in the United States; others include private and intercountry adoptions.

These resources provide State, national, and international data and statistics on private, public, foster care, and intercountry adoptions. The data provided do not necessarily include all adoptions because private adoptions may not have been reported.

Reports and briefs

Adoption Data 2016
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau (2018)
Offers various reports on State-specific adoption statistics, including adoption subsidies, adoption finalization, and special needs adoption.

Annual Report on Intercountry Adoption (PDF - 488 KB)
U.S. Department of State (2021)
Describes key components of intercountry adoption in fiscal year 2020, including the number of adoptions and average time required for completion of a Hague Convention adoption. This resource also provides information on the country of origin of adoptees in 2020.  

Discontinuity and Disruption in Adoptions and Guardianships

Series Title
Numbers and Trends
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
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Download (PDF - 427KB)
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Year Published
2021
Reviews the incidence and contributing factors for adoptions and guardianships that terminate prior to finalization (disruptions) or may terminate or be temporarily interrupted after finalization (discontinuity). This brief also discusses discontinuity and disruptions in intercountry adoptions as well as related topics, such as the effects of discontinuity and disruptions and unregulated custody transfers.

Trends in Foster Care and Adoption: FY 2010-2019
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau (2020)
Visualizes national estimates related to children who experience time in foster care and are adopted from the foster care system. Visitors can also download the national dataset, a State-by-State dataset, and a PDF of the national report.

Trends in U.S. Adoptions: 2008–2012

Series Title
Numbers and Trends
Author(s)
Child Welfare Information Gateway
Availability
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Download (PDF - 972KB)
Order (Free)
Year Published
2016
Provides national statistical estimates for the total number of children adopted in the United States in fiscal years 2008–2012. The report includes highlights of the data; findings on the numbers of public agency, intercountry, and other adoptions; and data aggregations in exhibits, tables, and appendices. Data were collected from 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.

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Data sources

Adoption and Foster Care Statistics
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau
Reports case-level information gathered on all children in foster care for whom State child welfare agencies have responsibility of placement, care, or supervision and on children who are adopted under the auspices of the State's public child welfare agency. 

Intercountry Adoption Statistics
U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Counselor Affairs
Presents maps and graphs showing the number of children adopted in the United States from other countries from fiscal years 1999 to 2018. Visitors may view adoption data by country, U.S. State, year, and visa type.

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