Domestic Adoption in China

Many people wonder why so many children in Chinese orphanages aren't adopted within their own country. Brian Stuy has done some research into this question, which you can read about here. Today, there is an article in Toronto's Globe and Mail about the frustrations some Chinese families are facing in trying to adopt domestically.

Locals unwelcome at Chinese orphanages

BEIJING -- When he saw the poignant photos of orphans on an adoption agency website this year, Sun Xiaoping yearned to adopt one of them.

But it was just the beginning of a story of frustration for the 30-year-old civil servant and his wife. They soon discovered how hard it can be for a couple in China to adopt a Chinese baby. Several months later, they are still searching.

"It's easier for foreign couples," Mr. Sun said. "Chinese organizations don't care to provide services for us. Information is very limited and hard to find. It's unfair, but I guess it's understandable -- our children are expected to lead a better life in developed countries."

Further on in the article, it says that

In 2005, only about 38,000 children were adopted by Chinese families -- a relatively small number for a country of 1.3 billion people.

Considering there are about 10,000 adopted internationally per year, this seems to indicate that most Chinese children are adopted domestically. That still leaves many children in Chinese orphanages awaiting adoption by someone.