Adoptions Australia 2020–21, the 31st report in the series, covers the latest data on adoptions of Australian children and children from overseas, and highlights important trends in the number of adoptions dating back to 1996–97. Data cover characteristics of adopted children, their parents and adoptive families, as well as applications and vetoes for contact and information exchange.

Key findings:

• Adoption numbers in Australia declined by 63% over the past 25 years – from 709 in 1996–97 to 264 in 2020–21. This decline consisted of a 50% decrease in domestic adoptions and 84% decrease in intercountry adoptions. The 264 adoptions finalised in 2020–21 are the lowest number on record.
• In 2020–21, 183 known child adoptions (where the child is already known to the adoptive parent) were finalised, a decrease of 27% on the previous year. Over the long term, there has been an increase of 14% from 160 in 2001–02 to 183 in 2020–21.
• In 2020–21, the 42 intercountry adoptions (of children from countries other than Australia with which Australia had an official adoption program) made up 16% of all adoptions. Intercountry adoptions declined each year between 2004–05 and 2019–20 but remained relatively stable in 2020–21.