Latest findings
From 1996–97 to 2020–21, 124 Indigenous children were adopted: nearly 3 in 5 through known child adoptions
Adoption numbers in Australia declined by 63% over the past 25 years – from 709 in 1996–97 to 264 in 2020–21
Known child adoptions (where a child is known to the adoptive parent) made up 69% of all finalised adoptions in 2020–21
The majority of local adoptees (95%) and intercountry adoptees (71%) were aged under 5
The 264 adoptions finalised in 2020–21 are the lowest number on record
Adoption by carers was the most common type of known child adoption (55%), followed by step-parents (42%)