Statistics Iceland reports that from 1996 – 2004, 411 children were adopted in Iceland. 237 of those cases were adoptions where birth parents gave up their rights to the child. 174 of the cases were step-parent adoptions, where a step-parent assumes financial and legal responsibility for his/her spouse’s child(ren).
Of the adoptions where birth parents give up their right to the child, 57 were from Iceland and 180 from abroad. In the past few years, most children came from China – 46 girls and one boy.
Overall, during the years 1996 – 2004 most of the children came from India – 60 girls and 32 boys.
The average age of individuals adopted via step adoptions was 21.8 years.
