8 Demography of Adoption

This chapter reviews demographic research focusing on the adoption of children. Included are the following topics: the construction of adoption and kinship structures; global adoption trends and comparisons; and global developments in GLBT adoptions. Summarized are historical changes in adoption generally and adoption trends following The Hague Convention of 29 May 1993 on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. Discussed are data available for demographic analysis, Hague Convention Statistics, and the limitations of international standardized information regarding child adoption. Both Hague Convention adoption data and demographic indicators of the top sending countries are then used to examine child adoption. Also included is a section on child adoption in the United States.