Save the Children halts new international adoptions in Finland due to declining numbers

The charity organization Save the Children announced that it will not accept new families into its international adoption process next year. The organization cites statistics from Statistics Finland, which indicate that the number of adopted children born abroad in Finland has decreased by 54% from 2010 to 2023. This decline is attributed to a reduced number of children in need of international adoption, as conditions and child welfare have improved in many countries.

In Finland, fewer people have expressed interest in adopting a child from abroad, a trend influenced by advancements in infertility treatments. In 2010, Save the Children facilitated the arrival of 65 adopted children to Finland, while only 10 children were adopted last year.

The change will not affect families currently in the adoption process. Save the Children’s international adoption service has been operational since 1985, during which nearly 2,000 children have found families in Finland. Additionally, international adoption services are offered by Interpedia ry in Finland.