Home > Statistics > Adoptions > 2018 > Number of adoptions remained unchanged

Published: 21 August 2019

Number of adoptions remained unchanged

According to Statistics Finland, there were 404 adoptions in Finland in 2018. The number of domestic adoptions was 309 and that of international adoptions 95. The number of international adoptions was nine lower compared to the previous year, while the number of domestic adoptions increased by 17. In total, the number of adoptions was eight higher than in 2017.

Adoptions by place of birth of adopted in 1987–2018

Slightly more adoptions of adults than before

In total, 212 were girls and 192 boys of all persons adopted in Finland in 2018. Of those adopted, 131 were persons aged 18 or over, which is a slightly higher number than in previous years. The majority of those adopted as adults were born in Finland and in most cases, it was adoption within the family. In nearly 60 per cent of adoptions of persons born abroad the adopted child was aged under five, whereas in domestic adoptions only slightly under one-half of the adopted were aged under five.

Most adoptions from Thailand

Of adopted children born abroad most were born in Thailand (22). The next most common countries of birth were South Africa (13 children) and China (nine children). Around 52 per cent of adopted children born abroad were boys. Thailand, South Africa and China have been the most common countries of adoption in previous years as well.

Adoptive parents most typically aged 40 to 44

Six out of ten adoptions of children born abroad were adoptions by two parents. Of domestic adoptions, 16 per cent were adoptions by two parents. In adoptions of children born abroad by two parents, both the adoptive mother and the adoptive father were most typically aged 40 to 44.

Two out of three adoptions within families

Thirty-five per cent (143) of adoptions were adoptions outside the family and 65 per cent (261) were adoptions within the family. Adoption within the family refers to the process by which a married spouse or the other partner of a registered partnership adopts his/her spouse's biological child. Of the adoptions within the family, 127 were adoptions in families of registered partnerships or same-sex married couples.

Source: Population and Justice Statistics. Statistics Finland

Inquiries: Katariina Heikkilä 029 551 3638, info@stat.fi

Director in charge: Jari Tarkoma

Publication in pdf-format (243.4 kB)

Tables

Tables in databases

Pick the data you need into tables, view the data as graphs, or download the data for your use.

• Database tables and their variables
• Archived tables

Appendix tables

• Appendix table 1. Adoptions by childs age and place of birth 2010 - 2018 (21.8.2019)

Figures

• Appendix figure 1. Adoptions by age of adopted in 1987 to 2018 (21.8.2019)
• Appendix figure 2. Adoptions of children born abroad by country of birth in 2018 (21.8.2019)
• Appendix figure 3. Adoptions by adoption type in 1987 to 2018 (21.8.2019)

Quality descriptions

• Quality description, adoptions 2018 (21.8.2019)

---

Updated 21.8.2019