Image Credits : Discovering Tea
China has officially ended its foreign adoption program after more than 30 years, according to a recent announcement by the government. The decision marks a significant shift in the country’s policy, which has allowed tens of thousands of children, many from orphanages, to be adopted by families abroad since the early 1990s.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs confirmed the move, citing improvements in domestic adoption rates and changing demographics as key reasons for the policy change. Over the past decade, China has seen a steady rise in the number of children adopted within its borders, reducing the need for international placements. Additionally, the country’s orphanages have reported fewer children needing permanent homes, thanks to broader social changes and policies aimed at reducing child abandonment.
Foreign adoptions from China had already been declining in recent years. At its peak in the early 2000s, China was one of the largest sources of children for international adoption, with more than 13,000 adoptions occurring annually. However, that number has fallen dramatically, with fewer than 2,000 adoptions recorded in 2019, before the pandemic brought global adoptions to a near halt.
China’s one-child policy, introduced in 1979 and partially relaxed in 2015, contributed to the large numbers of children, particularly girls, placed in orphanages in the 1990s and early 2000s. Many of these children found homes in the United States, Canada, and Europe. But as China’s population policies evolved and domestic conditions improved, the number of children available for international adoption dwindled.
Officials have highlighted the government’s focus on encouraging domestic adoption as a major factor in the decision to end the foreign adoption program. Over the past decade, campaigns to promote adoption within China have gained traction, leading to more children being placed in local homes.