Since the 1970s, the number of adoptions in Australia has been declining and is now around 200 a year. This report has the latest data for 2022–23, including the characteristics of adopted children, their parents, and adoptive families, as well as adoption processes, consent arrangements and intercountry adoption processing times.
- Cat. no: CWS 94
Findings from this report:
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There were 201 adoptions finalised in Australia in 2022–23, compared with 330 in 2017–18
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Overseas adoptions rose from 16 in 2021–22, to 28 in 2022–23
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Most children (173) were adopted within Australia. Of those 8 in 10 were known child adoptions
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The median length of time from approval of an application, to placement of an intercountry adoptee, was about 3 years