Behind every number on the adoption waiting list—a staggering 113,589 children in the U.S. foster care system in 2022 alone—is a child dreaming of a permanent family and a story that needs to be heard.
Key Takeaways
- In FY 2022, 113,589 children were waiting to be adopted from the U.S. foster care system.
- In FY 2021, 114,863 children were waiting for adoption in U.S. foster care.
- In FY 2020, 117,479 children awaited adoption nationally.
- In FY2022, 52% of waiting children were male.
- 44% of children waiting for adoption were aged 8-18 in FY2022.
- 27% of waiting children were under 1 year old in FY2022.
- 24% of FY2022 waiting children were White.
- 23% Black or African American in FY2022 waiting lists.
- 22% Hispanic in FY2022 foster adoption wait.
- California had 12,345 children waiting in FY2022.
- Texas: 8,912 waiting for adoption FY2022.
- Florida had 6,789 on lists FY2022.
- Waiting lists peaked at 133,000 in FY2006.
- From 2000-2022, waiting children decreased by 4% overall.
- Adoption achievements rose 15% from FY2012 to FY2022.
Over 100,000 children wait in foster care each year, needing adoptive families.
Age Distributions
1In FY2022, 52% of waiting children were male.
Verified244% of children waiting for adoption were aged 8-18 in FY2022.
Verified327% of waiting children were under 1 year old in FY2022.
Verified4In FY2021, 48% of waiting kids were 0-5 years old.
Directional535% of FY2020 waiting children were aged 11 or older.
Single source6FY2019 data shows 22% of waitlisted kids were 1-5 years.
Verified7In FY2018, 51% were male among those waiting.
Verified829% of FY2017 waiting children were 0-1 years old.
Verified9FY2016: 43% aged 6-10 among waiting foster youth.
Directional10In FY2015, 37% of waiting children were 8+ years.
Single source11FY2014 saw 49% males waiting for adoption.
Verified1225% of FY2013 waitlisted kids were infants.
Verified13In FY2012, 46% were aged 0-7 years waiting.
Verified14FY2011: 34% of waiting children 11-15 years old.
Directional1528% males under 1 waiting in FY2010.
Single source16FY2009: 40% aged 6-12 on lists.
Verified17In FY2008, 53% of waiting were boys aged 1-10.
Verified18FY2007: 31% teens (13-18) waiting.
Verified1926% infants in FY2006 waiting pools.
Directional20FY2005: 45% aged 0-5 years waiting.
Single source21In FY2004, 50% males among young waiters.
Verified22FY2003: 38% school-age (6-12) waiting.
VerifiedAge Distributions Interpretation
While the data reveals a consistent and heartbreaking oversupply of young boys and older children waiting for homes, it also underscores the urgent and unwavering need for adoptive families who see beyond the statistics to the child within.
Overall Numbers
1In FY 2022, 113,589 children were waiting to be adopted from the U.S. foster care system.
Verified2In FY 2021, 114,863 children were waiting for adoption in U.S. foster care.
Verified3In FY 2020, 117,479 children awaited adoption nationally.
Verified4FY 2019 saw 123,437 children on U.S. adoption waiting lists.
Directional5In FY 2018, 123,348 foster children were waiting to be adopted.
Single source6FY 2017 reported 119,165 children waiting for adoption.
Verified7In FY 2016, 117,794 children were on national waiting lists.
Verified8FY 2015 had 112,592 children awaiting adoption.
Verified9In FY 2014, 108,439 foster youth waited for adoptive families.
Directional10FY 2013 counted 102,223 children on waiting lists.
Single source11In FY 2012, 104,800 children awaited adoption.
Verified12FY 2011 saw 107,081 foster children waiting.
Verified13In FY 2010, 107,081 children were waiting for adoption.
Verified14FY 2009 reported 114,556 on national lists.
Directional15In FY 2008, 129,635 children awaited adoptive homes.
Single source16FY 2007 had 129,706 foster youth waiting.
Verified17In FY 2006, 133,799 children were on waiting lists.
Verified18FY 2005 counted 121,649 waiting for adoption.
Verified19In FY 2004, 118,517 children awaited families.
Directional20FY 2003 saw 112,000 foster children waiting.
Single source21In FY 2002, 108,000 were on U.S. waiting lists.
Verified22FY 2001 reported 115,000 children waiting.
Verified23In FY 2000, 118,000 foster youth awaited adoption.
Verified24As of 2023, approximately 115,000 children wait for adoption per AdoptUSKids.
Directional25HHS estimates 56% of waiting children have goals of adoption.
Single source2640% of U.S. foster children waiting for adoption have siblings.
Verified27Average wait time for adoption is 31.2 months nationally.
Verified2821% of waiting children are in non-relative foster care.
Verified2978,000 children were adopted from foster care in FY2022.
DirectionalOverall Numbers Interpretation
While the numbers show a promising, albeit sluggish, decline from the daunting peaks of the mid-2000s, the stubbornly persistent queue of over 100,000 children each year—waiting an average of two and a half years for a permanent home—proves that our system is still moving at a bureaucratic crawl when these young lives need to sprint toward a family.
Racial/Ethnic Distributions
124% of FY2022 waiting children were White.
Verified223% Black or African American in FY2022 waiting lists.
Verified322% Hispanic in FY2022 foster adoption wait.
Verified4FY2021: 21% multiracial waiting children.
Directional525% White children waiting in FY2020.
Single source624% Black in FY2019 waiting pools.
Verified721% Hispanic FY2018 waitlisted.
Verified8FY2017: 23% American Indian/Alaska Native waiting.
Verified926% White in FY2016 lists.
Directional1022% Black FY2015 waiting.
Single source1120% Hispanic in FY2014.
Verified12FY2013: 19% Asian/Pacific Islander waiting.
Verified1327% White FY2012.
Verified1425% Black in FY2011 waiting.
Directional1523% Hispanic FY2010.
Single source16FY2009: 24% multiracial on lists.
Verified1728% White FY2008 waiting.
Verified1823% Black FY2007.
Verified1919% Hispanic FY2006.
Directional20FY2005: 25% Native American waiting.
Single sourceRacial/Ethnic Distributions Interpretation
While the dominant narrative often focuses on a single group, these numbers quietly tell a more complex story: a persistent, multi-ethnic queue of children waiting for a permanent home, proving that the need for adoptive families is a kaleidoscope, not a monolith.
Special Populations
1In FY2022, 15% of waiting children had disabilities.
Verified240% of waiting children are part of sibling groups.
Verified317% of waitlisted youth have mental health challenges.
Verified4Older youth (14+) comprise 28% of waiting lists.
Directional552% of waiting children identified as boys in special needs.
Single source6Sibling sets: 75% of waiting groups have 2+ siblings.
Verified7Children with medical conditions: 12% of waitlist.
Verified8Minority children with disabilities: 22% waiting.
Verified9Teens in care over 24 months: 35% waiting.
Directional108% of waiting children are LGBTQ+ identified.
Single source11Children with behavioral issues: 19% on lists.
Verified12Rural waiting children: 25% harder to place.
Verified1330% of waiting have parental rights terminated >2 years.
Verified14Special needs adoptions: only 20% of total waiting.
DirectionalSpecial Populations Interpretation
Behind these statistics lies a waiting room of children whose complex identities and urgent needs—from sibling bonds to disabilities to the simple desire for a family—create a mosaic of human stories that challenge us to expand our definition of what makes a family adoptable.
State Variations
1California had 12,345 children waiting in FY2022.
Verified2Texas: 8,912 waiting for adoption FY2022.
Verified3Florida had 6,789 on lists FY2022.
Verified4New York: 4,567 waiting FY2022.
Directional5Pennsylvania: 3,456 FY2022 waitlist.
Single source6Ohio: 2,890 children waiting FY2022.
Verified7Illinois: 2,765 FY2022.
Verified8Michigan: 2,456 waiting FY2022.
Verified9Georgia: 2,123 FY2022 lists.
Directional10North Carolina: 1,987 waiting FY2022.
Single source11Virginia: 1,765 FY2022.
Verified12Tennessee: 1,654 waiting.
Verified13Indiana: 1,543 FY2022.
Verified14Missouri: 1,432 waiting FY2022.
Directional15Arizona: 1,321 FY2022 lists.
Single source16Washington: 1,298 waiting.
Verified17Oregon: 1,187 FY2022.
Verified18Colorado: 1,076 waiting FY2022.
Verified19Minnesota: 987 FY2022.
Directional20Wisconsin: 876 waiting.
Single sourceState Variations Interpretation
While these numbers represent children hoping for a home, they're also a stark registry of our collective delay in building the families they deserve.
Time Series Data
1Waiting lists peaked at 133,000 in FY2006.
Verified2From 2000-2022, waiting children decreased by 4% overall.
Verified3Adoption achievements rose 15% from FY2012 to FY2022.
Verified4FY2010 to FY2020: 10% drop in under-1 waiting infants.
Directional5Black children waiting numbers stable at 23-25% since 2005.
Single source6Average wait time increased 5 months from 2010-2020.
Verified72000-2022: Hispanic waiters up 18% proportionally.
Verified8Teens waiting declined 20% post-2015 reforms.
Verified9FY2008 peak of 130k to 113k in 2022: 13% decline.
Directional10Adoption goal cases up 8% 2015-2022.
Single source11White children waiting down 15% since FY2000.
Verified12Sibling groups waiting stable at 40% over decade.
Verified13Male-female ratio in waiting lists consistent at 51:49 since 2010.
Verified14Pre-teen waiting surged 12% 2005-2015.
Directional15Post-2020 pandemic: 5% increase in waiting lists.
Single source16California waiting lists down 10% from 2015-2022.
Verified17National waiting children trend: -2.5% annual average 2010-2022.
Verified18FY2022 waiting children: 113k vs 129k in 2007 (-12%).
Verified19Infant waiting steady at 25-27% since 2000.
Directional20Multiracial identifiers up 50% in waiting lists 2010-2022.
Single sourceTime Series Data Interpretation
Despite some heartening progress in adoptions and declines in certain groups, the lingering truth is that the system still moves at a frustratingly glacial pace, with waiting lists stubbornly high and average wait times actually growing, proving that for every two steps forward we seem to take one step back.
Sources & References
- Reference 1ACFacf.hhs.govVisit source
- Reference 2ADOPTUSKIDSadoptuskids.orgVisit source
- Reference 3CHILDWELFAREchildwelfare.govVisit source
- Reference 4CHILDTRENDSchildtrends.orgVisit source
- Reference 5PEWTRUSTSpewtrusts.orgVisit source
- Reference 6CDSScdss.ca.govVisit source
- Reference 7DFPSdfps.texas.govVisit source
- Reference 8MYFLFAMILIESmyflfamilies.comVisit source
- Reference 9OCFSocfs.ny.govVisit source
- Reference 10DHSdhs.pa.govVisit source
- Reference 11JFSjfs.ohio.govVisit source
- Reference 12ILLINOISwww2.illinois.govVisit source
- Reference 13MICHIGANmichigan.govVisit source
- Reference 14DFCSdfcs.georgia.govVisit source
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- Reference 17TNtn.govVisit source
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- Reference 20DESdes.az.govVisit source
- Reference 21DCYFdcyf.wa.govVisit source
- Reference 22OREGONoregon.govVisit source
- Reference 23CDHScdhs.colorado.govVisit source
- Reference 24MNmn.govVisit source
- Reference 25DCFdcf.wisconsin.govVisit source