As many as 547 children were adopted in Moldova during the last five years and in the first half of 2020. Most of them, 123, were adopted in 2017, while the lowest number, 87, in 2019. A number of 229 children were aged between three and six when they were adopted and only two minors were aged 16 and 17.
In a response to an inquiry made by IPN, the Division for the Protection of the Rights of Children and Families with Children of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Protection said that 492 children were adopted by Moldovan citizens, while 55 were adopted by foreign families, according to international procedures. The applications to adopt 14 children are now pending in court.
The number of persons who want to adopt children has slightly decreased. In 2018, there were 321 adopters, while in 2019 the number decreased to 303. This was also due to the fact that the families want to adopt children of an early age, while the State Adoption Register includes more children older than 7 and siblings who cannot be separated.
