Overview

Adoption is one of the options used to provide permanent care for children who are unable to live with their families. The adoption process establishes a permanent, legal parent–child relationship between a child and their adoptive parent(s).

Featured reports

Latest findings

Adoption numbers in Australia declined by 63% over the past 25 years – from 709 in 1996–97 to 264 in 2020–21

The majority of local adoptees (95%) and intercountry adoptees (71%) were aged under 5

From 1996–97 to 2020–21, 124 Indigenous children were adopted: nearly 3 in 5 through known child adoptions

Adoption numbers in Australia declined by 63% over the past 25 years – from 709 in 1996–97 to 264 in 2020–21

The 264 adoptions finalised in 2020–21 are the lowest number on record

In 2020–21, the median length of time to process an intercountry adoption was 3 years and 4 months

More reports and statistics on adoption can be found under Child protection and Children & youth.