On August 28, 2024, China announced the termination of its international adoption program, a policy that had been active for over three decades. This decision marks a significant shift in the country’s demographic strategy, reflecting its changing population dynamics and policy priorities. The move aligns with international trends and China’s current demographic challenges, as the country faces a shrinking population and low fertility rates.
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- Policy Termination: On August 28, 2024, China ended its international adoption program, which had been in place since 1992.
- Reason for Change: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that the decision aligns with international trends.
- Demographic Shift: Yi Fuxian, a demographer, indicated that the policy change reflects a shift from viewing children as a burden to seeing them as a resource.
- Historical Context: The international adoption program began in 1992 as a response to the one-child policy, which led many families to abandon children.
- Adoption Statistics: Over 160,000 Chinese children were adopted internationally, with half going to the United States.
- Current Demographics: China now faces a declining population and one of the world’s lowest fertility rates, with 2023 seeing a 5.7% drop in births.
- Policy Reversal: After ending the one-child policy in 2016, China encouraged larger families but faced resistance due to economic and social concerns.
- Shift in Focus: Domestic adoptions now account for nearly 90% of all adoptions in China, leading to the termination of foreign adoptions.
- Pending Applications: It is unclear how pending foreign adoption applications will be handled, with exceptions only for certain cases.
- Impact of COVID-19: The pandemic had already disrupted international adoptions, with many families facing delays of up to four years.
