Every year the Belonging Network compiles adoption statistics for British Columbia. The most recent statistics cover the fiscal year that ran from April 1, 2022-March 31, 2023. This page was last updated in February 2024.

A young boy with brown hair does addition. He writes in a spiral-bound notebook using a blue felt pen. There are colourful foam numbers scattered on the white tabletop.

About these statistics

Here are a few things you should know:

  • These adoption statistics are collected and provided to the Belonging Network by British Columbia’s Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD). 
  • We hope this page will answer your questions, but some information isn’t tracked or isn’t available to the public. 
  •  We can’t provide any statistical information beyond what you see here. If you need clarification or further detail, please visit the MCFD Reporting Portal or contact MCFD directly.
  • Data collection and reporting processes change over time; direct comparisons from year to year aren’t always possible. 

Statistical data about adoptions in British Columbia

Adoption placements in British Columbia by type
 20232022202120202019201820172016
Placements from government care44140157177245244282362
International adoptions6651254736777159
Domestic placements through agencies*1717353329302229
Direct placementsLess than 10Less than 102588610
Othern/a00n/a10344520
TOTAL127-138208-217219265328393426480
*Usually infant adoptions

The next two tables only apply to adoptions from government care facilitated by MCFD.

Children and youth in British Columbia government care with status of ‘available for adoption’
         
 20232022202120202019201820172016
All children & youth148198n/a10051255134714491539
Over 1273*77*n/a331441445466572
5 to 1158**88**n/an/an/an/an/an/a
Sibling groups26**31**n/an/an/an/an/an/a
*Children and youth 12 and older
**On June 30
Adoptive homes in British Columbia with a status of “approved” (on June 30)
         
 20232022202020192018201720162015
All homes154132n/an/an/an/an/an/a
Indigenous homes1511n/an/an/an/an/an/a
Non-Indigenous homes139121n/an/an/an/an/an/a
Foster-to-adopt and child-specific homes22n/an/an/an/an/an/an/a
Excluding foster-to-adopt and child-specific homes132n/an/an/an/an/an/an/a

Commentary

Decreased numbers

Compared to 2021-2022, there has been a 69% decrease in adoption placements by the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) and a 25% decrease in children and youth with the status of “eligible for adoption.”

Children are eligible for adoption if they are in the permanent guardianship of the Director of Child Protection under the Child Family and Community Service Act, or Infants Act or under the guardianship of the Provincial Director of Adoption under the Adoption Act and adoption has been determined to be their permanency plan.

Adoption numbers have been declining for several years. These figures continue that downward trend but represent a more substantial decrease than in previous years

Reasons for the decreases

Many factors impact adoption statistics in British Columbia. Here are two of them.

There is an increased focus on prevention (providing services, supports, and interventions to prevent the need for children and youth to be in government care and to help their original families to raise them in safe, healthy home), family reunification, and other forms of permanency for all children and youth, which has led to fewer children being placed for adoption. 

There have also been recent amendments to the province’s Adoption Act and Child, Family and Community Service Act to support Indigenous jurisdiction. Although the new Act is not likely making a significant contribution to the current decline, it will in the future as more Nations assume jurisdiction. 

The modernized legislation supports Indigenous Peoples to re-establish, develop, and exercise child welfare laws for their communities and to recreate their own models for child and family service delivery, including child protection and adoption services.

Implementing these critical changes means that children and youth will maintain connections to their families and communities, thus enabling them to develop a holistic sense of self.

Sources

Ministry for Children and Family Development
Representative for Children and Youth