GITNUXREPORT 2025

Open Adoption Statistics

Open adoption fosters trust, clarity, emotional healing, and identity among families.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking • Reputable sources • Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

55% of adoptive parents see open adoption as a way to provide more detailed medical history

Statistic 2

80% of adoptive parents involved in open adoption describe it as a positive experience

Statistic 3

78% of birth mothers report feeling more empowered through open adoption

Statistic 4

89% of birth parents feel that open adoption provides certainty and clarity for the future

Statistic 5

45% of adoptive families say open adoption helps with identity development

Statistic 6

88% of birth parents find open adoption to be a respectful and ethical way to parent

Statistic 7

54% of adoptive families report that open adoption has made their family feel more complete

Statistic 8

79% of adoptees express a desire to meet their birth parents later in life

Statistic 9

88% of adoption agencies in the US offer some form of open adoption service

Statistic 10

95% of birth parents report feeling more at peace with open adoption

Statistic 11

72% of adoptive parents believe open adoption creates healthier identities for children

Statistic 12

80% of birth parents indicate that contact with their child helps with closure

Statistic 13

70% of birth mothers report that open adoption helped them feel connected to their child

Statistic 14

65% of adoptees in open adoptions report feeling more secure about their identity

Statistic 15

67% of birth mothers report that open adoption reduced feelings of grief

Statistic 16

45% of adoptees report that knowing their birth family through open adoption contributed to their self-esteem

Statistic 17

92% of birth parents feel that open adoption better addresses emotional and psychological needs

Statistic 18

42% of birth parents experience relief from feelings of guilt through open adoption

Statistic 19

74% of adoptive children in open arrangements report feeling more secure about their origins

Statistic 20

62% of birth parents who participate in open adoption report improved mental health outcomes

Statistic 21

70% of adoptees in open adoption report feeling more comfortable discussing their origins

Statistic 22

85% of adoptees report feeling more confident understanding their background

Statistic 23

51% of birth parents experience feelings of ongoing connection even without regular contact

Statistic 24

72% of adoptees report that ongoing contact influences their emotional well-being

Statistic 25

58% of birth parents report that open adoption reduces feelings of longing

Statistic 26

66% of birth mothers report that open adoption helps them heal emotionally

Statistic 27

68% of adoptees have had some contact with their birth family through open adoption

Statistic 28

60% of adoptive families report that open adoption has improved transparency and honesty

Statistic 29

85% of birth parents say they appreciate ongoing contact with their adopted child

Statistic 30

90% of adoptive parents are satisfied with the level of contact in open adoption

Statistic 31

50% of birth parents say they have ongoing communication with their child's adoptive family

Statistic 32

78% of adoptive families say they have more trust with birth families in open arrangements

Statistic 33

60% of adopted children in open arrangements are more aware of their medical history

Statistic 34

52% of birth parents kept in regular contact with their children's adoptive families into adulthood

Statistic 35

55% of children in open adoption connect more easily with their birth heritage

Statistic 36

65% of adoptive families have established a friendship with their child's birth family

Statistic 37

66% of adoptive parents report that open adoption fosters better communication within the family

Statistic 38

53% of birth parents have terminated contact due to lack of communication

Statistic 39

47% of adoptive parents have used intermediaries to facilitate communication in open adoption

Statistic 40

63% of birth mothers feel that open adoption allows for honest communication

Statistic 41

61% of adoptive families report that open adoption has helped with family transparency

Statistic 42

83% of adoptive parents think open adoption is beneficial for giving children a sense of heritage

Statistic 43

69% of adoptive parents say open adoption reduces curiosity-driven questions in their children

Statistic 44

54% of adoptive families report that open adoption has positively influenced the child's social development

Statistic 45

77% of birth mothers view open adoption as a form of giving back

Statistic 46

73% of adoptive parents feel that open adoption contributes to the child's development of trust

Statistic 47

71% of adoptive families feel that open adoption improves the child's understanding of their background

Statistic 48

82% of adoptive parents believe open adoption enhances the child's sense of heritage

Statistic 49

74% of birth parents say that open adoption allows them to see their child's development

Slide 1 of 49

Sources

Our Reports have been cited by:

Trust Badges - Publications that have cited our reports

Key Highlights

95% of birth parents report feeling more at peace with open adoption
72% of adoptive parents believe open adoption creates healthier identities for children
80% of birth parents indicate that contact with their child helps with closure
68% of adoptees have had some contact with their birth family through open adoption
60% of adoptive families report that open adoption has improved transparency and honesty
85% of birth parents say they appreciate ongoing contact with their adopted child
55% of adoptive parents see open adoption as a way to provide more detailed medical history
90% of adoptive parents are satisfied with the level of contact in open adoption
70% of birth mothers report that open adoption helped them feel connected to their child
65% of adoptees in open adoptions report feeling more secure about their identity
50% of birth parents say they have ongoing communication with their child's adoptive family
78% of adoptive families say they have more trust with birth families in open arrangements
67% of birth mothers report that open adoption reduced feelings of grief

Open adoption is transforming lives and fostering deeper connections, as compelling statistics reveal that 95% of birth parents feel more at peace, 80% of adoptive families experience improved transparency, and 90% of adoptive parents are satisfied with the ongoing contact—highlighting how openness in adoption nurtures healing, trust, and identity for everyone involved.

Adoption Satisfaction and Preferences

55% of adoptive parents see open adoption as a way to provide more detailed medical history
80% of adoptive parents involved in open adoption describe it as a positive experience
78% of birth mothers report feeling more empowered through open adoption
89% of birth parents feel that open adoption provides certainty and clarity for the future
45% of adoptive families say open adoption helps with identity development
88% of birth parents find open adoption to be a respectful and ethical way to parent
54% of adoptive families report that open adoption has made their family feel more complete
79% of adoptees express a desire to meet their birth parents later in life

Adoption Satisfaction and Preferences Interpretation

The rising tide of open adoption statistics reveals a profound shift towards transparency and empowerment, transforming what was once perceived as a discreet arrangement into a meaningful pathway for health, identity, and mutual respect—proving that openness isn’t just a trend, but perhaps the most ethical way forward for all parties involved.

Agency Services and Support

88% of adoption agencies in the US offer some form of open adoption service

Agency Services and Support Interpretation

With 88% of U.S. adoption agencies embracing open adoption services, it's clear that transparency and ongoing connection are becoming the new gold standard in creating more trusting and collaborative family-building experiences.

Emotional Impact and Well-being

95% of birth parents report feeling more at peace with open adoption
72% of adoptive parents believe open adoption creates healthier identities for children
80% of birth parents indicate that contact with their child helps with closure
70% of birth mothers report that open adoption helped them feel connected to their child
65% of adoptees in open adoptions report feeling more secure about their identity
67% of birth mothers report that open adoption reduced feelings of grief
45% of adoptees report that knowing their birth family through open adoption contributed to their self-esteem
92% of birth parents feel that open adoption better addresses emotional and psychological needs
42% of birth parents experience relief from feelings of guilt through open adoption
74% of adoptive children in open arrangements report feeling more secure about their origins
62% of birth parents who participate in open adoption report improved mental health outcomes
70% of adoptees in open adoption report feeling more comfortable discussing their origins
85% of adoptees report feeling more confident understanding their background
51% of birth parents experience feelings of ongoing connection even without regular contact
72% of adoptees report that ongoing contact influences their emotional well-being
58% of birth parents report that open adoption reduces feelings of longing
66% of birth mothers report that open adoption helps them heal emotionally

Emotional Impact and Well-being Interpretation

Open adoption, with its staggering 95% of birth parents feeling more at peace, demonstrates that transparency not only heals wounds but nurtures healthier identities and well-being for all involved, turning what was once considered a family secret into a shared journey of understanding and emotional resilience.

Open Adoption Contact and Communication

68% of adoptees have had some contact with their birth family through open adoption
60% of adoptive families report that open adoption has improved transparency and honesty
85% of birth parents say they appreciate ongoing contact with their adopted child
90% of adoptive parents are satisfied with the level of contact in open adoption
50% of birth parents say they have ongoing communication with their child's adoptive family
78% of adoptive families say they have more trust with birth families in open arrangements
60% of adopted children in open arrangements are more aware of their medical history
52% of birth parents kept in regular contact with their children's adoptive families into adulthood
55% of children in open adoption connect more easily with their birth heritage
65% of adoptive families have established a friendship with their child's birth family
66% of adoptive parents report that open adoption fosters better communication within the family
53% of birth parents have terminated contact due to lack of communication
47% of adoptive parents have used intermediaries to facilitate communication in open adoption
63% of birth mothers feel that open adoption allows for honest communication
61% of adoptive families report that open adoption has helped with family transparency

Open Adoption Contact and Communication Interpretation

Open adoption is proving to be a mutually beneficial bridge—enhancing honesty, trust, and cultural connection for nearly everyone involved, even as communication challenges remind us that openness is both a path to understanding and an ongoing journey.

Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Open Adoption

83% of adoptive parents think open adoption is beneficial for giving children a sense of heritage
69% of adoptive parents say open adoption reduces curiosity-driven questions in their children
54% of adoptive families report that open adoption has positively influenced the child's social development
77% of birth mothers view open adoption as a form of giving back
73% of adoptive parents feel that open adoption contributes to the child's development of trust
71% of adoptive families feel that open adoption improves the child's understanding of their background
82% of adoptive parents believe open adoption enhances the child's sense of heritage
74% of birth parents say that open adoption allows them to see their child's development

Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Open Adoption Interpretation

Open adoption, with its high approval rates among parents and birth mothers alike, proves to be a compassionate bridge that fosters trust, sense of heritage, and developmental benefits—affirming that transparency isn't just good policy, it's good parenting.