Adoptions have gone down in the United States in recent years. While it is unclear as to why this is happening, it should be discussed so that adoption remains at the forefront of the conversation of choosing life. The beauty of adoption should be celebrated, especially so that those who feel called to adopt can hear the positive stories and outcomes that happen when a child is brought into a home through the power of adoption. Adoption remains a life-affirming option that gives children a future and supports women who choose life, even when parenting isn’t possible.
Foster Care Adoptions Reach Lowest Level Since 2003
In May of this year, the U.S. Administration for Children and Families (ACF) published its annual report on adoption and foster care data. An article describing the report noted that it “shows that adoptions from foster care have continued to decline, reaching their lowest level since 2003. In FY 2023, 50,193 children were adopted from foster care—a decrease of over 5% from the previous year, and over a 24% decrease since 2019.”
The report also pointed out that some of this is because there are fewer children in foster care, leading to smaller numbers of children being adopted out of the system:
“Additionally, while the number of children adopted decreased significantly in 2023, when compared to the total number of children in foster care, the percentage of children adopted (15%) remained almost the same as the prior year.”
Aging Out of Foster Care Remains a National Concern
Still, over 15,000 young adults aged out of the foster care system in Fiscal Year 2023, which the article points out is the worst way for children to leave. When children leave foster care because they are no longer young enough to be included, there are more adverse effects on their lives and communities.
International Adoptions in the U.S. Continue to Decline
International adoptions in the United States have also decreased, as they have around the world. A Pew Research Center report noted, “[a]fter peaking in 2004, the annual number of international adoptions to the United States has fallen by 94% as of 2023, according to the most recent available U.S. State Department data.” The report noted that since 1999, people in the U.S. have mainly adopted children from either China, Guatemala, South Korea, Ethiopia or Russia. However, those countries have stymied the ability of Americans to adopt children from their countries for various reasons.
Global Trends Mirror the U.S. Adoption Decline
Countries around the world have also seen international adoptions decline. From 2004 to 2024, France saw a 97% drop in international adoptions, and Spain saw a 96% drop from 2004 to 2023. The Netherlands is planning to phase out international adoptions by the year 2030 after a report led to concerns about possible abuse. But international adoptions in the Netherlands had already gone down recently, with just 50 adoptions from other countries in 2023.
Cultural Shifts and Lower Birth Rates Play a Role
The decline in adoption rates in the United States is due in part to external factors, such as the roles of other countries and their leaders’ decisions. However, the cultural shift away from starting a family may also be at play. The birth rate in the United States recently reached its lowest level ever – 1.6 births per woman. Some believe that this is not a real drop in birth rate, but rather a delay in having children. Many women are putting off having children or simply choosing not to have children.
While the decision to have a family is a personal one, the downward slope of adoptions from foster care in the United States also points to a broader move away from having large families or having families at all. A culture that devalues family or encourages abortion as the default response to unplanned pregnancy may contribute to fewer children entering the system in the first place—not because fewer lives are being welcomed, but because fewer are allowed to be born.
Adoption Must Remain a Celebrated, Supported Option
It is a wonderful thing to watch people choose adoption due to their willingness to open their home and bring a new person into their family. Adoption should be celebrated – and passing laws that enable people to adopt and ensure the safety of children involved should be a priority for all leaders. Supporting birth moms, foster care reform, adoptive parents, and pro-life policies ensures that every child has a chance at life and belonging, not just survival.
Read next: The Gift of Adoption: Celebrities Who Have Embraced Family in a Unique Way
