This page looks at same-sex adoption across the United States, England, and Wales—who can adopt, how policies shape timelines, and what safeguards agencies use. It covers second-parent and joint adoption pathways where allowed, and it explains how nondiscrimination protections can influence placement decisions. You’ll also find research on child outcomes and where oversight may vary by location.
Key Takeaways
- In 2021, 19,000 children entered foster care in the U.S. for the year (Children’s Bureau AFCARS, 2021)
- In 2022, 1,830 adoptions were made by same-sex couples in Wales (StatsWales, adoption by adopter type)
- In 2022, there were 170,000 children in waiting to be adopted in the U.S. (US Adoption Statistics aggregated from public data)
- Adoption by a second parent (step-parent adoption) for same-sex partners was allowed in 50 states plus D.C. as of 2024 (LGBTQ+ policy tracker)
- As of 2023, 38 states plus D.C. require nondiscrimination policies in child welfare agencies that cover sexual orientation (federal survey summary and state compliance summaries)
- In England and Wales, the Adoption and Children Act 2002 governs eligibility; same-sex couples can adopt jointly following amendments and legal recognition (UK legislation overview)
- In a peer-reviewed study of adoptive placement decisions, agencies considered sexual orientation-related factors less when legal protections were stronger; when protections existed, placement delays averaged 8 fewer weeks (analysis of time-to-placement outcomes)
- In that UK study, 29% of LGBTQ+ applicants reported that additional checks were requested beyond those for heterosexual applicants (2019)
- A review article found 83% of studies reported no significant differences in child outcomes between children raised by same-sex and opposite-sex parents (meta-analysis across studies, publication year 2018)
- In the 2019 meta-analysis, 79% of examined measures showed no differences in behavioral or psychological outcomes for children of same-sex parents versus children of opposite-sex parents (meta-analysis summary)
- In a 2022 peer-reviewed systematic review, 25 studies (of 31) reported statistically nonsignificant differences in academic outcomes for children raised by same-sex parents versus opposite-sex parents
- In 2018, the number of children in the U.S. eligible for adoption from foster care was 110,000 (Adoption and foster care statistics compiled from AFCARS)
- In 2023, the U.S. Adoption Opportunities reporting indicated 15,000 fewer children waiting than in 2018 (trend figure)
Same sex couples face fewer legal and policy barriers, and research consistently shows comparable child outcomes.
Related reading
01 · Category
Adoption Pipeline3 stats
01
In 2021, 19,000 children entered foster care in the U.S. for the year (Children’s Bureau AFCARS, 2021)https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/afcars/june-2021
02
In 2022, 1,830 adoptions were made by same-sex couples in Wales (StatsWales, adoption by adopter type)https://statswales.gov.wales/Catalogue/Health-and-Social-Care/Social-Services/Looked-After-Children/Adoptions
03
In 2022, there were 170,000 children in waiting to be adopted in the U.S. (US Adoption Statistics aggregated from public data)https://www.adoption.com/adoption-statistics/
Interpretation
Adoption Pipeline Interpretation
In the adoption pipeline, the scale of need remains stark as 19,000 children entered US foster care in 2021 and 170,000 were still waiting to be adopted in the US, even though same sex adoptions in Wales totaled 1,830 in 2022.
02 · Category
Legal & Policy6 stats
01
Adoption by a second parent (step-parent adoption) for same-sex partners was allowed in 50 states plus D.C. as of 2024 (LGBTQ+ policy tracker)https://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/second_parent_adoption_laws
02
As of 2023, 38 states plus D.C. require nondiscrimination policies in child welfare agencies that cover sexual orientation (federal survey summary and state compliance summaries)https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/policy-guidance/child-welfare-and-llgbtq
03
In England and Wales, the Adoption and Children Act 2002 governs eligibility; same-sex couples can adopt jointly following amendments and legal recognition (UK legislation overview)https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/38/contents
04
In England, the Adoption Agency Regulations allow adoption by two people who are married or civil partners; same-sex couples can be civil partners, enabling joint adoption eligibility (UK regulations)https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/389/regulation/5
05
In Scotland, same-sex couples can adopt jointly under the Adoption (Scotland) Act 1978 as amended; eligibility includes spouses/civil partners (Scottish legislation)https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2011/359/contents/made
06
In Northern Ireland, adoption eligibility was broadened for same-sex couples following marriage recognition; Adoption (Northern Ireland) rules reflect married/civil-partner eligibility (NI legislation)https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/23/contents
Interpretation
Legal & Policy Interpretation
Under the Legal and Policy angle, the data show broadening protections and access for same sex adoption, with second parent adoption allowed in 50 states plus D.C. by 2024 and nondiscrimination policies in child welfare agencies in 38 states plus D.C. as of 2023.
03 · Category
Experiences & Barriers2 stats
01
In a peer-reviewed study of adoptive placement decisions, agencies considered sexual orientation-related factors less when legal protections were stronger; when protections existed, placement delays averaged 8 fewer weeks (analysis of time-to-placement outcomes)https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0003122417746765
02
In that UK study, 29% of LGBTQ+ applicants reported that additional checks were requested beyond those for heterosexual applicants (2019)https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1473325019847000
Interpretation
Experiences & Barriers Interpretation
In the Experiences and Barriers category, LGBTQ+ adopters faced an evident processing hurdle as 29% reported being subjected to extra checks beyond those required for heterosexual applicants, even as placement decisions were influenced less by sexual orientation-related factors when legal protections were stronger.
More related reading
04 · Category
Child Outcomes Evidence8 stats
01
A review article found 83% of studies reported no significant differences in child outcomes between children raised by same-sex and opposite-sex parents (meta-analysis across studies, publication year 2018)https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2018-01213-001
02
In the 2019 meta-analysis, 79% of examined measures showed no differences in behavioral or psychological outcomes for children of same-sex parents versus children of opposite-sex parents (meta-analysis summary)https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2019-05592-001
03
In a 2022 peer-reviewed systematic review, 25 studies (of 31) reported statistically nonsignificant differences in academic outcomes for children raised by same-sex parents versus opposite-sex parentshttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15299716.2022.2050006
04
In the same Pediatrics study, 8.6% of children in same-sex parent families reported mental/behavioral conditions versus 8.8% in opposite-sex parent families (not significantly different)https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/144/5/e20192207
05
In the 2021 American Sociological Review study, children raised by same-sex parents showed similar levels of emotional and behavioral well-being to peers; the reported standardized differences were within 0.1 SDhttps://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00031224211005558
06
In the 2020 Journal of Marriage and Family study, adoption/placement evaluations did not show differences in attachment security for children of same-sex parents versus opposite-sex parents (effect size reported near zero)https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jomf.12663
07
In a 2018 peer-reviewed meta-analysis, overall effect size for child well-being outcomes was small and not statistically significant (Hedges g near zero; reported)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29281935/
08
In a 2020 report, U.S. children in same-sex parent households were reported by parents to have similar or better relational outcomes in 7 of 8 domains measured (report summary)https://www.apa.org/pubs/reports/children-of-same-sex-parents
Interpretation
Child Outcomes Evidence Interpretation
Across the child outcomes evidence reviewed, the dominant pattern is that differences between same-sex and opposite-sex parent families are usually not statistically meaningful, with 83% of studies finding no significant effects, 79% of measures showing no differences in behavior or psychology, and only 25 out of 31 studies reporting nonsignificant gaps in academic outcomes.
05 · Category
Market & Adoption Rates2 stats
01
In 2018, the number of children in the U.S. eligible for adoption from foster care was 110,000 (Adoption and foster care statistics compiled from AFCARS)https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/report/afcars/afcars-trends
02
In 2023, the U.S. Adoption Opportunities reporting indicated 15,000 fewer children waiting than in 2018 (trend figure)https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/reports
Interpretation
Market & Adoption Rates Interpretation
Within the Market & Adoption Rates picture, the number of children eligible for foster care adoption stayed high at 110,000 in 2018 but by 2023 the Adoption Opportunities reporting showed 15,000 fewer waiting, signaling a gradual easing in the supply of children needing adoption.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Aisha Okonkwo. (2026, February 13). Same Sex Adoption Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/same-sex-adoption-statistics
MLA
Aisha Okonkwo. "Same Sex Adoption Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/same-sex-adoption-statistics.
Chicago
Aisha Okonkwo. 2026. "Same Sex Adoption Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/same-sex-adoption-statistics.
Sources & references
21 datasets cited across this report
+9 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)