The Office for National Statistics has published a bulletin presenting annual statistics on adoptions which took place following court orders in England and Wales in 2011.
Figures on adoption orders apply to adoptions by relatives and stepparents as well as adoptions from care.
Key findings of the bulletin include:
- The number of adoptions in England and Wales in 2011 was 4,734, an increase of 6% since 2010 when there were 4,481 adoptions.
- In 2011, most children adopted (62%) were aged between one and four years, rising from 58% in 2010.
- The percentage of children adopted who were born outside of marriage increased slightly to 82% in 2011, up from 80% in 2010.
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