Chinese boys are driving a recent shift in gender balance of international adoptees to the U.S. Share of international adoptees to the U.S. who are
One reason for the shift in the gender of Chinese adoptees may be the recent easing of the country’s one-child policy, which contributed to the large share of girls who were put up for adoption in the past. According to the U.S. State Department, the pool of adoptees from China has also changed from predominantly infant girls a decade ago to being largely comprised of those with special needs or older children split evenly across genders. Increased efforts by the Chinese government to encourage domestic adoption and a stronger Chinese economy are largely responsible for the demographic shifts in the pool of Chinese adoptees.
Because Chinese children make up a large share of adoptees, China has driven the broader gender shift across all international adoptees to the U.S. over the years. From 1999 to 2016, the number of female adoptees far outnumbered males, 61% versus 39%. Yet in 2016, 52% of international adoptees were male and 48% were female.
Chinese boys are driving a recent shift in gender  | balance of international adoptees to the U.S.  | Share of international adoptees to the U.S. who are  | 100%  | Boys  | Not Chinese  | 36%  | Boys  | 52%  | Chinese  | Chinese  | Girls  | Girls  | 64%  | 48%  | Not Chinese  | 1999  | 2002  | 2008  | 2011  | 2014 '16  | 2005  | Note: Figures include cases finalized abroad or in the U.S.  | Source: U.S State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 