Foreign adoptions down
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public
18. feb 2009 kl. 13:42 
Foreign adoptions down
2008 saw the lowest foreign adoption rate for the past 35 years in Denmark, with most children coming from China.
Only 19 South American children were adopted by Danish parents in 2008. This girl is from an adoption house in Guatemala City. Archive photo. - Foto: ALEXANDRE MENEGHINI/AP
Danes are adopting fewer foreign children and more children from Danish spouses, according to the latest figures from Statistics Denmark.
Last year, 308 foreign children were adopted – the lowest figures in the 35 years statistics have been collated.
China
Some of the foreign adoptions were stepchild adoptions – that is a spouse adopting the child of a partner. Two hundred and thirty two adoptions were into a new family, a fifth of them being children from China. Other major foreign adoption countries were Ethiopia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Denmark
On the other hand, the number of adoptions of children born in Denmark rose to 791 – the majority of which were stepchild adoptions, with only 67 Danish-born children having been adopted into a new family, by a family member or foster parents.
Men adopt partner’s children
Of stepchild adoptions, a woman only adopted a man’s children in 28 cases, whereas a man adopted a woman’s child in 614 cases.
One hundred and fifty eight children were adopted by one of those in a same-gender registered partnership.
Almost half of the stepchild adoptions were of children of 18 years of age or older.
Last year, 308 foreign children were adopted – the lowest figures in the 35 years statistics have been collated.
China
Some of the foreign adoptions were stepchild adoptions – that is a spouse adopting the child of a partner. Two hundred and thirty two adoptions were into a new family, a fifth of them being children from China. Other major foreign adoption countries were Ethiopia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Denmark
On the other hand, the number of adoptions of children born in Denmark rose to 791 – the majority of which were stepchild adoptions, with only 67 Danish-born children having been adopted into a new family, by a family member or foster parents.
Men adopt partner’s children
Of stepchild adoptions, a woman only adopted a man’s children in 28 cases, whereas a man adopted a woman’s child in 614 cases.
One hundred and fifty eight children were adopted by one of those in a same-gender registered partnership.
Almost half of the stepchild adoptions were of children of 18 years of age or older.
Edited by Julian Isherwood
2009 Feb 18