Number of International Adoptions in U.S. Plummets

International Adoptions Plummet as Global Surrogacy Increases

A Pew Research Center analysis of the most recent State Department data has found that the number of international adoptions by U.S. parents dropped 94% between 2004, when there were almost 23,000 and 2023, which saw only 1,275. The U.S. trend aligns with that of other countries that have previously recorded relatively high rates of international adoptions. Between 2007 and 2011, Italy’s number hovered around 4,000 a year. By 2023, that number h…

Number of International Adoptions in U.S. Plummets

International adoptions to the United States have fallen to a record low, marking a 94 percent decline since their peak in the early 2000s. 2023 was the lowest year for international adoptions, according to the Pew Research Center’s analysis based on U.S. State Department data. Why it Matters The collapse in international adoptions represents a significant shift in how children without parental care are placed and cared for worldwide. While once…