Adoption rates continue to decline

Most international adoptions to Finland are from Thailand and South Africa.

Adoptions in Finland decreased by six percent in 2023 compared to the previous year, according to Statistics Finland on Friday.

In total, 252 adoptions occurred in Finland last year.

Adoptions in Finland have been dropping for years. Since 2010, the number of adoptions has decreased by 48 percent.

One factor driving this decline is the decrease in intra-family adoptions. The 2019 Maternity Act made it easier for female couples to declare parenthood, reducing the number of adoptions.

Last year, 163 children born in Finland and 89 born abroad were adopted. Most internationally adopted children in Finland last year came from Thailand and South Africa.

The number of adoptions started to decrease after the mid-2000s. A significant reason has been the declining number of children available for international adoption.