New Data Shows Changes In United States Adoptions

According to the U.S. Department of State's data, the number of children from outside the United States adopted by Americans declined steadily in 2016. Males were more than females among those adopted from abroad. The changing adoption patterns in China inform this trend.

From the data, Americans adopted roughly 5,370 kids from other countries in the fiscal year 2016. This translates to 77% fewer in comparison to the peak in 2004. It was also 66% fewer compared to 1999.

A huge drop in adoptions from these five countries has occasioned the reduction in international adoption:

• Ethiopia
• South Korea
• Guatemala
• Russia
• China

In the past, together, the 5 countries have represents for 71% of adoptions to the United States since 1999. Since 2004, they've driven 88% of the overall decline.

In the recent past, the above five countries have revised their adoption protocols. They've made it more difficult for Americans to adopt.

For instance, in Russia, a diplomatic rift with the United States resulted to a ban of any new American adoptions of children from the country as of 2013. In Ethiopia, South Korea and China, the reduction in the number of international adoptions reflect the tightening of domestic laws on the same. Since April, the Ethiopian government suspended all adoptions internationally in April.

Adoptions in China has declined sharply too but far exceeds the adoptions from other countries. In the year 2016, Chinese adoptees comprises of up 42% of kids adopted internationally by Americans. Nonetheless, the demographics of adoptees from China have drastically shifted in the recent past. Most notably, males consist of a majority of adoptees from this country on record for the first time in 2016. This represents a stark change from 1999. In this year, Chinese adoptees to the United States were 98% female.

In addition to gender, the internal adoptees on average have increased. Prior to 2008, the largest chunk of adoptees was less than one year old – 44%. Between 2008 – 2014, the number of adoptees of ages 1 -2 was twice as those of under 1 year. In 2016 and 2015, the largest share of adoptees to the United States was considerably older.

To learn more about adoptions, contact our Adoptions From The Heart offices in:
Greensburg, PA (Pittsburgh)
1225 S Main St #207
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724) 853-6533

Philadelphia, PA
30 Hampstead Cir
Wynnewood, PA 19096
(610) 642-7200 

Allentown, PA
2212 Union Blvd
Allentown, PA 18109
(610) 432-2384