Since the turn of the millennium, international adoptions into Sweden have seen a substantial decline, with recent statistics revealing that fewer than a hundred children are adopted each year. A report from Statistics Sweden (SCB) outlines that from 2000 to 2024, approximately 14,700 children aged 0-17 were adopted from abroad, with the peak year being 2004 when 1,100 children were welcomed into Swedish homes. Dalia Hamdan, a demographer at SCB, notes that this trend has been steadily downward over the past two decades.

By 2024, only about 60 children were adopted from abroad, representing a significant drop in international adoptions. The reasons behind this decline might include changing international adoption laws, increased scrutiny of the adoption process, or shifting social dynamics in Sweden that could make domestic adoption more appealing. This topic resonates deeply with the overall sentiment toward family formation in contemporary society and international relations surrounding child welfare.

Interestingly, the more common form of adoption currently taking place in Sweden involves adult adoptions within the country, where individuals adopt their partner's adult children. This trend highlights a shift in the nature of what adoption means in Sweden, moving towards fostering closer family bonds through non-traditional pathways rather than relying on international avenues for expansion of family units.