Beijing, China — China has announced the end of most foreign adoptions of its children, leaving hundreds of families, particularly in the United States, with pending applications stranded in uncertainty. The decision marks the conclusion of a significant chapter that began in the early 1990s, during which China sent tens of thousands of adoptees abroad, with about half going to the U.S.
The adoption program was fueled by China’s now-defunct one-child policy, which led many families to abandon children, especially girls and children with disabilities. However, in recent years, as China’s birth rate has declined and its economy has grown, international adoptions have slowed. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the process has been mostly paused.
On Thursday, China’s Foreign Ministry officially ended the adoption program, with only a few exceptions. Foreigners will still be able to adopt children or stepchildren of blood relatives living in China. “This is in line with the spirit of relevant international conventions,” said ministry spokesperson Mao Ning. She expressed gratitude to foreign adoptive families but underscored the need to address the country’s declining birthrate and demographic challenges.
The U.S. State Department is now seeking clarification from Chinese authorities, as hundreds of American families are in the process of adopting Chinese children. According to the Associated Press, Chinese officials have stated that they will not continue processing any adoption cases except those covered by the exceptions.
More than 160,000 Chinese children have been adopted globally since China opened international adoptions in 1992. Of these, 82,674 were adopted by American families, making up 29% of all U.S. overseas adoptions from 1999 to 2023. However, no Chinese children were sent to the U.S. for adoption between 2021 and 2022, with only 16 adopted in 2023.
The end of the program coincides with China’s efforts to reverse its declining birthrate, which has been exacerbated by the consequences of the one-child policy. Despite scrapping the policy in 2015 and further relaxing birth limits in 2021, China continues to face a shrinking workforce and aging population, threatening its economic and social stability.
Efforts to boost the birthrate through policies like extended maternity leave and tax incentives have yet to yield significant results amid changing social attitudes, economic uncertainty, and rising costs of living.
Families awaiting clarification on their adoption cases remain in a state of uncertainty as China adapts to its new demographic reality.