Adoption Crisis Deepens as IVF Popularity Rises, Charity Warns

Britain is experiencing its most severe adoption shortfall in decades, with experts pointing to the growing popularity of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) as a contributing factor. A charity has warned that the number of children awaiting permanent homes now outnumbers approved adoptive families by approximately 1,600.

Over the past five years, the number of children requiring permanent placement has surged by 52 percent, while the number of approved families has concurrently decreased by 46 percent. New projections from the adoption charity Coram suggest this disparity is poised to worsen, potentially reaching a record high by 2030.

Dame Carol Homden, chief executive of Coram, noted that individuals are increasingly pursuing multiple rounds of IVF treatment before considering adoption. "Our analysis shows a growing gap between the number of children who need adoption and the number of prospective adopters stepping forward, meaning too many children risk spending longer in care during some of the most important years of their lives," Homden stated. "These are not just days on a calendar. They are opportunities to build relationships, grow in confidence and experience the security of knowing they belong."

Coram's data indicates that there are currently enough approved families for only 41 percent of children in need of a permanent home. If current trends persist, this figure could drop to as low as 13 percent by the end of the decade.

Adoption Focus, another UK adoption agency, has launched a campaign titled 'They're Still Waiting' to highlight the plight of children seeking permanent families. "There are thousands of children across the country who are waiting for the sense of belonging and security that a permanent family can provide," said CEO Anna Sharkey. "There are memories waiting to be made, bedrooms waiting to be filled and, most significantly, children waiting for someone to say: you belong here."

The findings emerge as IVF has become more prevalent in Britain. In 2024, approximately 21,400 babies were born through IVF, representing 3.2 percent of all births in the UK that year. The number of IVF births has more than doubled since 2004, even as the overall UK birth rate has declined.