The Continuing Decline in
Intercountry Adoption 2004-13
Dr Peter Selman
Newcastle University, UK
pfselman@yahoo.co.uk
The Rise and Fall of ICA
• The period from 1997-2013 has seen a remarkable
rise and fall in the number of children moving for
intercountry adoption each year.
• In 1997 there were about 27,000 adoptions; by
2004 this had risen to over 45,000; By 2013 the
global total has fallen below 17,000, the lowest
figure since the early 1990s.
• The number of children adopted has fallen in most
states of origin – the exception has been for Africa
where numbers have risen in many countries.
Aim of presentation
I have examined the rise in numbers
elsewhere – “Global Trends in Intercountry
Adoption, 2000-2010” Adoption Advocate 44
https://www.adoptioncouncil.org/publications/a
doption-advocateno-44.html
My aim in this presentation is to look in
more detail at the global decline 2004-13 and
at changes in the characteristics of children
moving. I will also look at likely future trends.
Global Trends 2003-2013
50,000
WORLD
45,000
Annual number of adoptions
40,000
TOP 5
35,000
30,000
USA
25,000
Europe
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
Intercountry Adoption 2004-2012
2004
2007
2009
2011
2012
USA
22,884
19,613
12,753
9,320
8,668
Spain
France
Italy
5,541
4,079
3,400
3,648
3,162
3,420
3,006
3,017
3,964
2,573
1,995
4,022
1,669
1,569
3,160
Top 4
35,904
29,843
22,740
17,900
15,056
Sweden
Norway
Denmark
Ireland
Finland
1,109
706
528
398
289
800
426
429
392
176
912
347
496
307
187
(538)
304
338
188
163
(466)
239
219
119
175
23 States
45,281
37,245
29,433
23,412
19,338
FIVE RECEIVING STATES 2003-2013
6,000
Annual Number of Adoptions
Spain
5,000
France
Italy
4,000
Canada
3,000
Netherlands
2,000
1,000
0
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
4 Nordic States and Ireland 2003-2013
1,200
SWEDEN
1,000
Number of Intercountry Adoptions
NORWAY
800
DENMARK
600
IRELAND
400
FINLAND
200
0
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
Trends in Intercountry Adoption
•
Between 1997 and 2004 numbers rose
by 60% worldwide: by 80% in the USA;
by 140% in Ireland; by 475% in Spain.
•
Between 2004 and 2012 numbers fell by
58% worldwide; by 62% in France & USA;
by 67% in Ireland; and by 70% in Spain.
• Italy: 18% growth to 2011 but down in 2012
Change in Numbers 2004 - 2012
2004
2008
2012
% change
Ireland
Netherlands
USA – FY
Spain
France
398
1,307
22,824
5,541
4,079
422
697
12,149
2,891
3,504
119
528
9,320
2,573
1,995
- 70
- 60
- 59
- 54
- 51
23 states
45,299
29,127
23,609
- 48%
Sweden
Denmark
Canada
Italy
1,109
528
1,955
3,400
729
419
1,946
4,130
630
338
1,969
4,022
- 43
- 36
+1
+18
Receiving States 2009-2013
2009
2011
2013
% Change
2011 to 2013
USA
12,753
9,320
7,094
- 24 %
ITALY
3,964
4,022
2,825
- 30%
FRANCE
3,017
1,995
1,343
- 33%
SPAIN
3,006
2,573
1,188
- 54%
HOLLAND
682
528
401
- 24%
DENMARK
496
338
174
- 49%
IRELAND
307
188
72
- 62%
Standardised Rates
• Although the United States receive most
children for ICA , other countries have a
higher level per 100,000 population or per
1,000 live births (adoption ratio).
• In 2004 the highest ratios were found in
Norway, Spain and Sweden; one for every
100 live births. Ireland’s ratio was similar
• In 2011 the highest ratio was found in Italy.
Adoption Ratios: - per 1,000 births
Receiving States: 2004 – 2011
Year >
2004
2008
2011
Norway
12.8
5.1
5.0
Spain
12.4
6.4
5.2
Sweden
11.7
7.4
5.6
Ireland
9.8
9.4
2.6
Italy
6.4
7.3
7.2
USA
5.5
4.0
2.2
UK
0.5
0.4
0.2
Top 7 Sending Countries: 1980-2013
1980-89
1998
2004
2010
2013
Korea
Russia
China
China
China
India
China
Russia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Colombia
Vietnam
Guatemala
Russia
Russia
Brazil
Korea
Korea
Haiti
Ukraine
Ukraine
Columbia
Congo
Sri Lanka Colombia
Chile
Guatemala
Colombia
Vietnam
Columbia
Philippines
India
Ethiopia
Korea
Philippines
Top States of Origin 2003-2012
2003
2005
2007
2009
2012 2003-12
China
11,231 14,483 8,748
5,012 4,135 83,460
Russia
7,737
7,492
4,881
4,033 2,586 53,637
Ethiopia
858
1,789
3,036
4,553 2,800 28,471
Guatemala
2,676
3,873
4,854
785
16
24,431
Colombia
1,749
1,472
1,634
1,407
917
15,500
S Korea
2,332
2,121
1,226
1,396
814
15,387
Ukraine
2,051
1,989
1,614
1,505
715
14,673
Top 4 States of Origin 2003-2013
Annual Number of Adoptions
16,000
14,000
China
12,000
Russia
10,000
Guatemala
8,000
Ethiopia
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
Age of Children Adopted
EURADOPT 2010
EURADOPT 2005
0-1
1-4
5+
0-1
1-4
5+
Korea
92%
8%
0%
96%
4%
0%
S Africa
76%
23%
1%
86%
14%
0%
Ethiopia
36%
56%
8%
47%
38%
15%
China
11%
87%
1%
28%
72%
0%
India
4%
68%
28%
8%
76%
16%
Ukraine
---
21%
79%
---
40%
60%
Brazil
---
22%
78%
---
41%
59%
Gender of Children Adopted
EURADOPT 2010
China
India
Ethiopia
Korea
EURADOPT 2005
Female
Male
% girls
Female
Male
% girls
308
482
39%
1,724
118
94%
44
21
68%
123
71
63%
137
196
41%
164
201
45%
44
106
29%
65
186
26%
Intercountry Adoptions from four
continents – as % of all
2003
2007
2011
2012
ASIA
43%
40%
36%
35%
EUROPE
32%
21%
25%
24%
Latin
America
17%
23%
12%
12%
AFRICA
6%
13%
24%
28%
Adoptions from Asia
•
Since the late 1990s China has been the
most important source of children worldwide,
sending more than 135,000 from 1992-2012.
• Before that Korea had been main source of
children and by 2011 had sent more than
165,000. in the 1980s three of the top 5 states
of origin were Asian: Korea, India & Sri Lanka.
• In 2004 47 per cent of adoptions were from
Asia but by 2012 this had fallen to 35 per cent.
KOREA 1976-2010: CHINA 1990-2011
16,000
NUMBER OF ADOPTIONS
14,000
12,000
10,000
KOREA
8,000
CHINA
6,000
4,000
2,000
1976 1980
1990
2000
2010
Adoptions from Asia 2003-2012
2003
2005
2007
2009
2012
200312
China
11,226
14,493
8,748
5,012
4,135
83,460
Korea
2,308
2,121
1,223
1,396
814
15,387
936
1,198
1,695
1,504
214
11,092
1,173
875
1,003
722
394
8,092
Philippines
418
508
568
556
407
4,918
Thailand
490
467
440
336
262
3,903
Taiwan
220
262
266
389
298
2,975
Vietnam
India
CHINA 2003-2013
Country 2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
USA
6,857
7,903
5,453
3,000
2,589
2,306
Spain
1,043
2,753
1,059
573
677
293
Canada
1,115
960
662
451
343
216
NL
567
666
365
283
197
136
Sweden
373
462
280
248
107
59
Norway
298
299
156
106
66
31
Ireland
16
52
31
10
6
3
8,748
5,012
4,367
3,400
TOTAL
11,231 14,483
Adoption from China
•
If adoptions had continued at the 2005
level, by 2010 China would have sent as
many children in 17 years as Korea in 50.
• In fact numbers have fallen and the total
sent 1993-2012 is about 135,000, well below
the Korean total of 165,000 from 1953-2011
• A majority of children now have special
needs – and many more are older boys.
Sex Ratio in Chinese ICA
YEAR
Total
Girls
Boys
% female
2005
14,221
13,556
665
95%
2006
10,646
9,638
1,008
90%
2007
7,858
6,650
1,208
85%
2008
5,531
4,169
1,362
75%
2009
5,294
3,901
1,393
74%
CHINA 2008-2012 (CCCWA)
Intercountry
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
5,541
4,459
4,911
3,845
4,030
Domestic
37,009 39,801 29,618 27,579
----
Total
42,550 44,260 34,528 31.424
----
% ICA
7%
10%
14%
11%
Annual Number of Intercountry Adoptions
4 Other Asian Countries
2,500
Korea
2,000
India
Vietnam
1,500
Philippines
1,000
500
0
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
Adoption from South Korea
•
In 2007 for the first time for many years there were
more domestic than intercountry adoptions.
•
But annual number of intercountry adoptions
remained high for a country which is now rich and
has lowest fertility in Asia. Number fell from
2,287 in 2004 to 916 in 2011 and 236 in 2013
•
A new Act in 2012 prioritises domestic adoption
and introduced dual citizenship and in May 2013
Korea finally signed the Hague Convention.
SOUTH KOREA 1953-2010
Annual number of Adoptions
Total Intercountry Adoptions = 165,000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
1955
1965
1975
1985
1995
2005
Intercountry Adoption 1963-2010
50,000
45,000
40,000
35,000
30,000
25,000
WORLD
20,000
15,000
10,000
KOREA
5,000
0
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Adoption in India
•
India has the lowest adoption ratio (0.02 in
2011) of any major sending country and
numbers have been falling – from 1,364 in
2000 to 350 in 2013 - but may rise again.
•
In-country adoptions are now more
numerous but remain few in relation to need.
• At the same time concern over irregularities
– e.g. children stolen or sold by parents - have
been increasing.
INDIA 1998-2013
Country
1998
2002
2006
2011
2013
USA
478
466
320
228
119
Italy
194
102
136
148
76
Canada
179
127
36
54
20
Denmark
120
93
30
7
3
Spain
97
109
79
35
7
Sweden
78
60
38
23
5
TOTAL
1,618
1,247
846
628
350
VIETNAM 2003-2012
Receiving
Country
1998
2003
2005
2009
2011
2012
France
1,343
234
790
308
264
76
USA
603
382
7
481
0
0
Sweden
186
32
80
65
0
0
Canada
79
45
0
159
54
43
Italy
n/a
59
140
231
142
41
Ireland
n/a
39
92
136
0
0
Spain
0
10
0
65
178
41
TOTAL
2,484
936
1,198
1,518
704
214
The rise and fall of Eastern
European adoptions
•
The fall of Ceausescu in December 1989 and
media coverage of the terrible conditions in
Romanian orphanages led to a flood of
rescuers taking children – an estimated 10,000
adoptions from mid-1990 to the end of 1991
•
15 years later, Romania – under strong
pressure from the EU – called a total end to
inter-country adoptions other than by close
relatives.
Eastern Europe 2003-2013
Russia
Ukraine
Bulgaria
Belarus
Romania
Poland
Lithuania
Hungary
Latvia
2003
7,743
2,052
963
656
474
347
85
70
65
2004
9,425
2,021
386
616
289
408
103
70
124
2008
4,140
1,577
138
6
8
408
127
115
90
2011
3,325
1,073
316
150
5
298
143
155
119
2013
1,767
641
419
6
22
310
69
112
131
Adoption from Russia
•
On January 1st 2013 a new law came in
banning adoption by American citizens following the death of Dima Yakovlev from
heat-stroke; the case of Artyam Savelyev,
sent back by his adoptive mother; and other
incidents involving children adopted in USA.
•
Russia is also talking of banning all
adoptions from countries not signing a
bilateral agreement. Ireland has no agreement.
•
Russia has signed but not ratified the
Hague Convention, so no new DES in 2013.
RUSSIA 2004-2013
Receiving
Country
2004
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
US (FY)
5,865
4,639
2,310
1,586
970
250
Spain
1,618
1,262
955
868
712
350
Italy
738
628
492
704
781
730
France
445
357
402
288
286
185
Ireland
189
131
160
100
124
17
Israel
95
73
108
75
102
67
Total
9,384
7,492
4,881
4,033
3,292
1,767
Intercountry Adoption from
Africa
For many years intercountry adoption from
Africa was rare. However, the growing demand
for young infants - and fall in numbers from
many other sending countries – has changed
all that, notably in Ethiopia, which sent 4,575
children in 2009 and was the main supplier of
children to Belgium: 2nd largest to the USA,
Canada, France and the EurAdopt agencies;
3rd largest to Australia.
Madonna and Child
TOP 7 AFRICAN STATES 2012
2009
2007
2005 2003
Ethiopia
2012
2,800
4,575
3,034
1,788
855
Congo DR
517
156
69
46
24
Nigeria
266
186
83
101
64
Uganda
248
74
57
22
12
Ghana
181
122
58
50
18
Sth Africa
165
299
212
233
188
Mali
145
191
158
93
135
All Africa
5,268
6,465
4,741
3,445
2,317
Standardised Rates 2009
AFRICA
Adoptions
Other Adoptions
per 1,000 Countries per 1,000
births
births
Peak rate
(year)
Ethiopia
1.28
Haiti
4.52
9.6 (2010)
Ghana
0.5
Ukraine
3.24
5.0 (2003)
Cote d’Ivoire
0.4
Korea
3.16
13.3 (1985)
Mali
0.35
Russia
2.59
7.7 (2004)
S Africa
0.27
Guatemala
1.75
10.8 (2007)
Congo RD
0.05
China
0.28
0.8 (2005)
Nigeria
0.03
India
0.03
0.05 (2003)
% of adoptions from Africa
2003-12
2003
2005
2007
2009
2013
All countries: % of adoptions from Africa
5.4%
7.8%
12.7 %
21.7%
27.9%
% of adoptions to USA from African states
1.8%
3.8%
9.3%
21.8%
29.6%
% of adoptions to France from Africa
24.4%
26.2%
29.2%
32.6%
42.1%
% of adoptions to Italy from Africa
2.4%
9.1%
9.8%
12.5%
20.1%
Source of African Adoptions
% of adoptions from Ethiopia
% of adoptions from Ethiopia
ETHIOPIA 2001-2013
2001
2004
2007 2009 2011
2013
USA
158
289
1,255 2,277 1,727
993
Spain
0
220
481
722
440
260
France
234
390
417
445
288
140
Italy
79
192
256
348
296
293
Canada
15
31
137
145
154
39
Belgium
38
62
124
143
144
57
Ireland
0
16
17
21
42
26
TOTAL
728
1,524 3,035 4,542 3,456 2,025
CONGO-Kinshasa 2003-13
2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2012 2013
USA
7
11
10
21
133
240
313
Italy
2
5
17
67
123
140
159
France
6
5
5
42
40
84
62
N’lands
0
0
2
10
24
28
26
Canada
2
10
3
4
26
20
20
Spain
8
12
29
1
0
0
0
TOTAL
24
46
69
517
583
157 348
Uganda 2003-13
2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2012 2013
USA
3
17
54
69 207 238 276
Netherlands
0
1
0
2
12
8
10
Canada
6
3
2
2
5
2
3
Sweden
3
1
1
1
1
0
0
Belgium
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
TOTAL
12
22
57
73 225 248 291
South Africa 2003-13
2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013
Denmark
13
46
32
78
49
41
Finland
23
27
25
41
45
37
Netherlands
43
58
34
30
23
26
Belgium
13
14
12
22
22
22
Sweden
54
46
44
41
30
25
USA
26
10
7
5
3
17
TOTAL
188
233
235
297
190
213
Mali 2003-2013
2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2012 2013
France 132 85 135 117 61
33
2
Spain
1
1
0
39
77
66
2
Italy
0
2
12
13
16
19
7
Belgium
2
5
7
17
2
15
0
Canada
0
0
2
2
4
5
0
TOTAL
135
93
158 195 163 132
11
Adoption from Latin America
•
In the 1980s six of the top 10 sending
countries were from Latin America. In 2008
there were three Guatemala, Colombia and
Haiti; by 2011 only two: Colombia and Brazil.
•
By 2008, Haiti had became a new major
source for France, Canada, the USA and the
Netherlands, which led to major issues over
• Adoption after the 2010 earthquake
• Brazil still sends 2-500 children a year but
most are older or have special needs. Chile
and El Salvador send less than 100 a year
• .
Latin America 2003-2013
2003
2005
2007
2010
2012
2013
58
40
26
Guatemala
2,676 3,872 4,851
Colombia
1,750 1,466 1,635 1,798
917
566
Haiti
1,056
958
783
2,601
256
471
Brazil
472
473
485
380
338
241
Bolivia
273
252
152
73
59
17
Mexico
122
163
181
117
62
37
Peru
114
174
171
24
109
111
Annual Number of intercountry Adoptions
4 Latin American Countries 2003-2013
5,000
4,500
Guatemala
4,000
3,500
Colombia
3,000
Haiti
2,500
2,000
Brazil
1,500
1,000
500
0
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
Child Rescue or Child Theft ?
•
In 2010 the Haitian Earthquake raised fears of
“rescue” of children affected. 10 members of an Idahobased Baptist charity were arrested for trying to take 33
Haitian children across the border with the Dominican
Republic – none were orphans
•
Meanwhile fears were also raised over plans to
“expedite” adoptions which were “in the pipe-line” –
leading to a major report from ISS and debate at the
Hague Special Commission
• 2,600 children were taken to Canada, France, the USA and
the Netherlands. None to Italy, Spain or the Nordic Countries.
HAITI 2006-2013
Receiving
2006
2007
2008
2010
2011
2013
France
571
403
731
992
34
31
USA
309
190
302
(1,223)
33
388
Canada
130
89
111
135
77
34
N/lands
41
28
91
108
0
7
Spain
15
22
27
0
0
0
Total
1,103
786
1,332
2,564
161
471
Country
SPECIAL NEEDS ADOPTION
•
For the 2010 Hague Special Commission,
states were asked to indicate how many of the
children adopted had “special needs” i.e.
• “those who may be suffering from a behaviour
disorder or trauma, physically or mentally
disabled, older children (usually above 7
years of age) or are part of a sibling group”
• The issue of special needs adoption has been
identified as a key topic for the next Special
Commission in June 2015
REUTERS INVESTIGATES
• Reuters investigative reporter Megan Twohey
spent 18 months examining how American
parents use the Internet to find new families
for children they regret adopting. Reporters
identified eight online bulletin boards where
participants advertised unwanted children,
often international adoptees, as part of an
informal practice that's called "private rehoming.”
• http://www.reuters.com/investigates/ad
option/#article/part1
Age of Children Adopted in
key receiving states - Hague
2005
% over % under
5
1
2007
2009
% over
5
% under
1
% over
5
% under
1
Italy
47%
6%
50%
10%
58%
7%
France
24%
32%
33%
23%
34%
21%
USA
16%
42%
18%
39%
25%
25%
Iceland
6%
17%
11%
11%
29%
6%
Australia
8%
47%
8%
41%
9%
37%
Children with special needs
- selected sending countries (Hague)
2005
2007
2009
Chile
100%
100%
100%
Latvia
53%
42%
80%
Albania
59%
42%
66%
Lithuania
30%
34%
71%
China
9%
30%
49%
2013
97%
71%
% of Children Adopted from
China with special needs (Hague)
Sweden
Netherlands
USA
All States
France
Norway
Spain
2005
2007
2009
6%
13%
14%
9%
6%
0.1%
0.1%
25%
42%
42%
30%
13%
7%
4%
69%
66%
61%
49%
34%
28%
9%
The Impact of falling numbers
•
Declining numbers of children placed for
adoption has led to a growing imbalance
between supply and demand so that
prospective adoptive parents outnumber
annual adoptions and many are waiting many
years after approval for a child.
•
The Hague conference has noted that as a
result agencies have falling income while
having to deal with the higher costs of placing
children with special needs, while excess of
demand over supply creates new pressures
on states of origin.
European Central Authorities Meeting
• The 2013 meeting in Dublin noted that:
• Children available for adoption are getting
older and a majority are regarded as ‘special
needs’
• Preparation of PAPs must take account of this
and service providers must manage
expectations in line with current realities
• Decreasing numbers of ICA mean viability of
many accredited bodies is in doubt
Children in Families First - CHIFF
• Meanwhile in the US a proposed new law would
aim to increase intercountry adoptions.
•
Its proponents see the Hague Convention as
bureaucratic and denying homes to thousands of
“orphans”. It would simplify procedures and allow
easier adoption from non-Hague states.
•
Opponents see it as driven by the Christianbased Orphan Movement – see Kathryn Joyce’s
The Child Catchers – and ignoring the dangers
for countries like Uganda.
Waiting Dossiers in Spain and Ireland
•
By the end of 2012 there were more than
23,000 adoption dossiers waiting for a child.
• In 2013, there were only 1,188 ICA completed
–
•
At the current rate, the “waiting” dossiers
would be ‘sufficient’ for more than 19 years!!!
[San Roman & Marre 2014]
• In Ireland there are c 650 valid declarations
for ICA – and in 2013 there were less than 20
Hague –compliant referrals
Will PAPs turn to Domestic Adoption?
•
There is also interest in whether
prospective adopters will turn (or turn
back) to in-country adoptions. Some
European countries are asking why they
have had so few in the last 2-3 decades.
• In Ireland, there were more domestic
than intercountry adoptions in 2013 but
a majority were step-parent adoptions.
Cross-Border Surrogacy
As the number of intercountry adoptions
falls, many expect the interest in crossborder surrogacy to increase further. It is
clear that already the number of such
commercial arrangements is higher than
number of ICA – hence concern of Hague
Conference for a future international
convention: - see recent forum in Den Haag
Thank you !
Dr Peter Selman
Newcastle University, UK
pfselman@yahoo.co.uk