According to Statistics Finland, 195 children born abroad were adopted to Finland in 2008. The number was 12 lower than in 2007. The number of adoptions of children born abroad has now reached the level where it was in the early 2000s. The number of adoptions of children born in Finland was seven bigger than in previous year.
A total of 365 persons born either in Finland or abroad were taken as adoptive children in 2008, which is 5 fewer than in the year before. Among the adopted persons, 165 were female and 200 male. Most (198) of them were aged under five. Seventy-six were over the age of 18.
Adoptions of children born abroad to Finland 1984–2008

The largest group in the adoptions from abroad to Finland was children born in Thailand (41). Thirty-nine of the children adopted from abroad to Finland were born in Russia and 35 in South Africa. China and Thailand were the countries from where the largest numbers of children were adopted to Finland in 2007. The vast majority (81%) of the adoptions from abroad were made by two parents. Fewer than half (35%) of the adoptions of children born in Finland were made by two parents.
Source: Population and Cause of Death Statistics. Statistics Finland
Inquiries: Matti Saari (09) 1734 3401
Director in charge: Jari Tarkoma
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Updated 29.5.2009