Number of adoptions raises in 2017

A total of 396 adoptions were recorded in Finland in 2017, which was 41 higher than in 2016, according to Statistics Finland.

Out of the adoptions in 2017, 292 were domestic while 104 were international.

More adoptions were made from abroad than in the previous year, while the number of domestic adoptions remained on level with 2016.

In total, 189 were girls and 207 boys of all persons adopted in Finland in 2017. Of adoptions, 92 were persons aged 18 or over, and most of these were domestic adoptions. In over one-half of international adoptions the adopted child was aged under five.

The largest groups in the adoptions from abroad to Finland were children born in South Africa (21). The next most adoptions were made from Thailand (18 children) and China (14 children).

Nearly two-thirds of children adopted from abroad were boys. South Africa, Thailand and China have been the most common countries of adoptions in the previous years as well.

Thirty-five per cent of adoptions (139) were adoptions from outside families and 65 per cent (257) were adoptions within families. Adoption within families refers to the process by which a married spouse or the other partner of a registered partnership adopts his/her spouse's biological child.

Sixty-five of adoptions within families were in families of registered partnerships.