Spain has highest adoption rate in world

19 July 2006

MADRID — Spain, once the Catholic country famous for large families, has the highest adoption rate in the world, it was reported on Wednesday.

Each day last year, Spaniards adopted 15 foreign children, most from Asian countries.

There are 12.3 adoptions per 100,000 people in Spain – the highest figure in the world, according to the social services minister Amparo Valcarce.

China is the favourite country for Spanish couples or single parents wanting to adopt.

Of  5,423 children adopted last year, 2,573 were Chinese – more than half.

This represents a rise compared to the 2,389 adopted from China a year before.

Russia is the second favourite destination for parents, followed by Colombia and Ethiopia.

The high adoption rate is a result of a series of factors.

Since the death of Franco in 1975, and women’s entry into the labour market, more are putting off having children until later.

This is partly due to the instability of mainly part-time jobs which are mostly done by women. This makes affording a child more difficult.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news