STV NewsThe number of children approved for adoption in Scotland has risen for the first time in three years, but fewer are being placed with adoptive families, new figures show.
A report by the Care Inspectorate found 206 children were approved for adoption in 2025, an 8% increase on the previous year and the highest number since 2022.
However, the number of children placed with new adoptive families fell by 3.5% to 164, while the number legally adopted dropped by 13.7% to 139.
The figures also show a continued decline in foster care, with fewer households providing placements and fewer children and young people living with foster families.
Foster care numbers fall
There were 2,681 foster care households in Scotland at the end of 2025, down 5.2% from 2,828 the previous year.
The number of children and young people living in foster families also fell, from 3,680 to 3,576.
The report found 216 new foster care households were approved during 2025, marking an increase for the second year in a row.
However, more than a quarter of family groups placed in foster care were separated, with 26% of groups placed in different households.
Almost eight in ten fostering services said they had difficulty recruiting households willing to take groups of children.
The number of young people in continuing care placements rose to 527 in 2025, the highest level recorded over the five-year period covered by the report.
There were also 533 approved continuing care households, again the highest number in five years.
Meanwhile, the number of new adoptive households approved increased to 196, up by 30 from the previous year.
The number of households waiting for a child to be placed fell to 131, the lowest level in five years.
However, 157 children approved for adoption were still waiting to be matched with a family, an 18% increase on 2024.
The statistics come after a report by STV News last week showed that babies and young children in Scotland’s care system still wait more than two years on average for decisions about a permanent home.
Experts, who gathered for a national summit on the issue, have renewed calls for changes to a decision-making process that they say is fragmented, too slow and too expensive.
As part of work to deliver the Promise to transform the lives of care-experienced young people, the Scottish Government has committed to a review of the impact of these delays.
The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment on the latest figures.
Jackie Irvine, chief executive of the Care Inspectorate, said: “All children need strong supports and steady, caring relationships to thrive.
“Foster care and adoption services are vital for assessing, approving and supporting foster carers and prospective adoptive parents to care for children at a crucial point in their lives. Matching children to families who can provide high-quality care is essential.
“We hope that the insights in this report can play a part in improving and strengthening the supports which are in place for children and young people through adoption, fostering and continuing care services.”
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