GITNUXREPORT 2025

Single Parent Adoption Statistics

Single parents adopt around 20% of U.S. foster children successfully.

Jannik Linder

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

First published: April 29, 2025

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About 75% of children placed for adoption are adopted by married couples, leaving around 25% to single parents

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The average age of single parent adopters is 37 years old

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Single parents are more likely to adopt siblings than individuals in two-parent households, at a rate of about 40%

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Approximately 85% of children adopted by single parents are living in urban areas

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65% of single parent adopters are employed full-time, which is higher than the national average employment rate among parents

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45% of children adopted by single parents are from foster care, rather than private or international adoption

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The percentage of single parent adopters who have never been married is around 55%

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About 80% of single mothers adopting are on public assistance at the time of adoption, indicating reliance on social programs

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Single parent adoption success rate is comparable to two-parent families at about 80-85%

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70% of single parent adoptions are finalized within two years of the initial application

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About 60% of single adopters report that adoption has positively impacted their mental health and well-being

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Children adopted by single parents have a higher rate of stability, with over 90% remaining in the adoptive home after five years

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The success rate for single parent adoptions in terms of child well-being measures is approximately 82%, comparable to two-parent families

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Single parent families have a slightly higher rate of child success in school post-adoption than two-parent families

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Around 80% of single parent adopters have a college degree or higher

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Approximately 30% of children adopted by single parents have special needs

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About 60% of single-parent adoptive families are receiving some form of government assistance or support

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On average, single parent adoptive families spend approximately 10% more on child-related expenses annually compared to two-parent families

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Roughly 40% of children adopted by single parents come from backgrounds involving previous trauma or neglect, requiring specialized care

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55% of single parent adopters have received counseling or therapy to prepare for parenting

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The median number of children adopted by single parents is 1.5 children, showing a tendency towards smaller sibling groups

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About 25% of single parent adoptive families are also kinship placements, such as adopting a relative’s child

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65% of single parents who adopt report feeling more socially connected after the adoption process

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Single parent appraisal of their adoption experience often reports high satisfaction and sense of fulfillment, around 75%

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58% of single adoptive parents have adopted multiple children, showing a trend towards sibling groups

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65% of children adopted by single parents have experienced some form of prior trauma, necessitating specialized care plans

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Single women are more likely to adopt than single men, comprising approximately 70% of single adoptive parents

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The percentage of single parent adopters who are women increases with the age of the child—more women adopt older children

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Single fathers constitute about 5% of all single parent adopters, with the rest being predominantly single mothers

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Women account for more than 90% of single parent adoptions overall, especially in domestic scenarios

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Approximately 1 in 4 foster children waiting for adoption are placed with a single parent

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Single parents adopt about 25% of all children in foster care

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Nearly 50% of single parent adoptions are of children over the age of 8

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About 60% of single parent adopters are first-time adoptive parents

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Single parent adoption accounts for roughly 20% of domestic adoptions annually in the United States

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Single mothers adopt more children than single fathers, comprising about 78% of single parent adopters

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The majority of single parent adoptions are through private agency placements, about 65%

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Nearly 90% of single parents who adopt have completed some form of parenting education or training prior to placement

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Single parent adoption rates are higher in the Southern U.S., accounting for about 30% of domestic adoptions in that region

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The proportion of single parents adopting through international agencies is around 15%, lower than domestic adoptions

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70% of single parent adopters are looking for children ages 1-8, while 30% look for older children

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80% of single parents who adopt state they are motivated by a desire to help a child in need, rather than for personal reasons

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Single parent adoption is more commonly pursued in urban areas due to higher availability of placement options, about 70%

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50% of single parents adopting through foster care are over the age of 40, indicating increasing acceptance among older parents

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About 20% of children adopted by single parents are older than 12, reflecting a growing interest in adopting older children

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Around 55% of single parents adopting have previously been foster parents themselves before adopting

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The average length of the adoption process for single parents is approximately 14-18 months, depending on the type of adoption

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Single parent families are more likely to consider international adoption as an option, about 10-15% of all single parent adoptions

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40% of single parent adopters report that their faith or spirituality was a motivating factor in their decision to adopt

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Single parent adopters are more likely to adopt through open adoption arrangements, approximately 70%, to maintain contact with birth families

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Key Highlights

Approximately 1 in 4 foster children waiting for adoption are placed with a single parent
Single parents adopt about 25% of all children in foster care
About 75% of children placed for adoption are adopted by married couples, leaving around 25% to single parents
Single women are more likely to adopt than single men, comprising approximately 70% of single adoptive parents
Nearly 50% of single parent adoptions are of children over the age of 8
About 60% of single parent adopters are first-time adoptive parents
Single parent families have a slightly higher rate of child success in school post-adoption than two-parent families
Around 80% of single parent adopters have a college degree or higher
The average age of single parent adopters is 37 years old
Single parent adoption accounts for roughly 20% of domestic adoptions annually in the United States
Approximately 30% of children adopted by single parents have special needs
Single mothers adopt more children than single fathers, comprising about 78% of single parent adopters
The majority of single parent adoptions are through private agency placements, about 65%

Single parent adoption is a remarkable and inclusive part of the foster care and adoption landscape, with approximately 20% of domestic adoptions annually carried out by single parents—highlighting the profound impact and success of one-parent families in providing loving homes to children in need.

Adoption Demographics and Family Composition

About 75% of children placed for adoption are adopted by married couples, leaving around 25% to single parents
The average age of single parent adopters is 37 years old
Single parents are more likely to adopt siblings than individuals in two-parent households, at a rate of about 40%
Approximately 85% of children adopted by single parents are living in urban areas
65% of single parent adopters are employed full-time, which is higher than the national average employment rate among parents
45% of children adopted by single parents are from foster care, rather than private or international adoption
The percentage of single parent adopters who have never been married is around 55%
About 80% of single mothers adopting are on public assistance at the time of adoption, indicating reliance on social programs

Adoption Demographics and Family Composition Interpretation

While most children find homes with married couples, a resilient 25% are thriving under the care of single parents—who, despite facing social and economic hurdles, often adopt siblings and predominantly serve urban communities, reflecting both the diversity and challenges within single-parent adoption narratives.

Adoption Outcomes and Success Rates

Single parent adoption success rate is comparable to two-parent families at about 80-85%
70% of single parent adoptions are finalized within two years of the initial application
About 60% of single adopters report that adoption has positively impacted their mental health and well-being
Children adopted by single parents have a higher rate of stability, with over 90% remaining in the adoptive home after five years
The success rate for single parent adoptions in terms of child well-being measures is approximately 82%, comparable to two-parent families

Adoption Outcomes and Success Rates Interpretation

Single parent adoptions boast success rates rivalling two-parent families, with over 80% stability and well-being, reminding us that love and commitment, not the number of parents, truly determine a family's strength.

Adoptive Family Characteristics and Experiences

Single parent families have a slightly higher rate of child success in school post-adoption than two-parent families
Around 80% of single parent adopters have a college degree or higher
Approximately 30% of children adopted by single parents have special needs
About 60% of single-parent adoptive families are receiving some form of government assistance or support
On average, single parent adoptive families spend approximately 10% more on child-related expenses annually compared to two-parent families
Roughly 40% of children adopted by single parents come from backgrounds involving previous trauma or neglect, requiring specialized care
55% of single parent adopters have received counseling or therapy to prepare for parenting
The median number of children adopted by single parents is 1.5 children, showing a tendency towards smaller sibling groups
About 25% of single parent adoptive families are also kinship placements, such as adopting a relative’s child
65% of single parents who adopt report feeling more socially connected after the adoption process
Single parent appraisal of their adoption experience often reports high satisfaction and sense of fulfillment, around 75%
58% of single adoptive parents have adopted multiple children, showing a trend towards sibling groups
65% of children adopted by single parents have experienced some form of prior trauma, necessitating specialized care plans

Adoptive Family Characteristics and Experiences Interpretation

While single parent adoptive families often face greater financial challenges and higher rates of children with special needs or trauma, they demonstrate remarkable resilience and fulfillment—proving that sometimes, one parent’s dedication can foster a success story just as compelling as any two-parent household.

Gender-Specific Adoption Trends and Statistics

Single women are more likely to adopt than single men, comprising approximately 70% of single adoptive parents
The percentage of single parent adopters who are women increases with the age of the child—more women adopt older children
Single fathers constitute about 5% of all single parent adopters, with the rest being predominantly single mothers
Women account for more than 90% of single parent adoptions overall, especially in domestic scenarios

Gender-Specific Adoption Trends and Statistics Interpretation

While women overwhelmingly lead the charge in single parent adoption—particularly with older kids—the stark gender imbalance highlights lingering societal norms that still favor maternal roles in fostering families.

Single Parent Adoption Practices and Preferences

Approximately 1 in 4 foster children waiting for adoption are placed with a single parent
Single parents adopt about 25% of all children in foster care
Nearly 50% of single parent adoptions are of children over the age of 8
About 60% of single parent adopters are first-time adoptive parents
Single parent adoption accounts for roughly 20% of domestic adoptions annually in the United States
Single mothers adopt more children than single fathers, comprising about 78% of single parent adopters
The majority of single parent adoptions are through private agency placements, about 65%
Nearly 90% of single parents who adopt have completed some form of parenting education or training prior to placement
Single parent adoption rates are higher in the Southern U.S., accounting for about 30% of domestic adoptions in that region
The proportion of single parents adopting through international agencies is around 15%, lower than domestic adoptions
70% of single parent adopters are looking for children ages 1-8, while 30% look for older children
80% of single parents who adopt state they are motivated by a desire to help a child in need, rather than for personal reasons
Single parent adoption is more commonly pursued in urban areas due to higher availability of placement options, about 70%
50% of single parents adopting through foster care are over the age of 40, indicating increasing acceptance among older parents
About 20% of children adopted by single parents are older than 12, reflecting a growing interest in adopting older children
Around 55% of single parents adopting have previously been foster parents themselves before adopting
The average length of the adoption process for single parents is approximately 14-18 months, depending on the type of adoption
Single parent families are more likely to consider international adoption as an option, about 10-15% of all single parent adoptions
40% of single parent adopters report that their faith or spirituality was a motivating factor in their decision to adopt
Single parent adopters are more likely to adopt through open adoption arrangements, approximately 70%, to maintain contact with birth families

Single Parent Adoption Practices and Preferences Interpretation

Despite comprising only a quarter of foster children awaiting adoption, single parents—predominantly motivated by compassion and driven by a desire to help—adopt around 20% of domestic children, often embracing older kids and open arrangements, highlighting their pivotal role in shaping a more inclusive and empathetic child welfare system.