Most children are adopted at the average age of six years old. However, a significant number are adopted at older ages.
Adoption Ages: Key Statistics
Here's a breakdown of adoption ages and related facts based on the reference provided:
- Average Age: The average age at the time of adoption is 6 years old.
- Older Adoptions: 29% of children adopted are nine years or older. This highlights that many children wait until an older age to be adopted.
Types of Adoption
The reference also gives insights into who is adopting the children:
- Foster Parents: 55% of children are adopted by their foster parents.
- Relatives: 34% of children are adopted by a relative.
Adoption Category | Percentage |
---|---|
Adopted by Foster Parent(s) | 55% |
Adopted by a Relative | 34% |
Older Adoptions (age 9+) | 29% |
Average Adoption Age | 6 years old |
Insights
These statistics point to the fact that while the average adoption age is 6, many children wait longer to be adopted, and many children are adopted by families they are already familiar with.