Estonia Adoption Statistics

“The number of children adopted in Estonia last year reached 110, 21 fewer than in the year prior, data of the Ministry of Social Affairs has shown.

Ministry spokeswoman Helen Nõmmik told uudised.err.ee that of the children adopted last year, 15 were placed in families residing abroad. In 2010, the number of Estonian children adopted into a foreign country, however, was almost two times higher, she said.

Currently families from three countries – the US, Sweden and Finland – can freely adopt children from Estonia. Parents from other countries are allowed to adopt from Estonia only if they have an Estonian background or are related to the child, Nõmmik said.

 According to Aire Nurm, head specialist of the ministry’s children and families department, there have so far only been a couple of incidents where an Estonian child adopted into a foreign country is forced to change his or her family.

 All such incidents have been resolved according to the Hague Adoption Convention, which foresees that the child’s new country of residence is responsible for providing a new home, said Nurm.

Estonia became a signatory to the convention in 2002.”

Fewer Children Adopted in 2011

[Estonia Public Broadcasting 4/16/12]

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