There's no single "easiest" country, as it depends on your profile, but Colombia, India, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand are often cited as having smoother processes due to stable programs, while countries like Bulgaria, Haiti, and Ukraine can offer quicker timelines or lower costs, but often with older children or special needs, requiring openness to specific profiles. The best country for you depends on your age, marital status, and willingness to adopt a child with medical needs or older.
Adoption fees in Ukraine is very attractive compared the rest of the world where adoption is possible. Actually, Ukraine is one of the cheapest countries for adoption. We offer an inexpensive program, from $9,500 depends on the age, health and the region where a child is placed.
Origin countries of United States adoptions
In 2019, the top sending countries for children adopted by US citizens were China (819), Ukraine (298), Colombia (244), India (241), South Korea (166), Bulgaria (134), Haiti (130), and Nigeria (116).
Yes, international adoption is more complex than domestic adoption, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. Many countries have strict requirements, and you'll need to follow U.S. laws, the laws of the child's birth country, as well as international agreements like the The Hague Adoption Convention.
There isn't one single "hardest" age, but older children (school age to teens) are generally the most challenging to place in adoption due to longer foster care histories, trauma, and fewer prospective parents willing to take on older kids; however, toddlers (ages 2-4) can also be difficult as they're forming attachments and challenging behaviors emerge, requiring significant support for bonding and development. While newborns have long waits, older children often face the greatest hurdles in finding permanent homes, despite potentially forming strong bonds with extra help.
Countries like South Korea, Colombia, and Latvia are considered among the easiest to adopt from due to their structured legal processes and strong U.S. partnerships. International adoption often offers fewer restrictions on age, marital status, and family structure than domestic U.S. rules.
A world map showing countries colored by total international adoptions to the US in 2022. The countries with the most are Colombia (235), India (223), and South Korea (141).
Afghan children face the worst chances of survival on the planet. Considered one of the most dangerous places on earth, Afghanistan is wracked with political turmoil, war, drought, and extreme winters. The country has the highest proportion of chronically malnourished children, resulting in widespread stunting.
How Much Is International Adoption by Country?
Contacting a local agency
To get started or find out more about adopting in your particular state or territory, contact your local public agency and/or one or more private agencies: Public agency services are usually free or very low cost—and often reimbursable.
But most adoptions from foster care are free. Families who adopt from foster care usually adopt from a county, state, territory, or tribal public child welfare agency. Adopting a child from foster care is often funded by the state, and in most cases there are few or no fees.
Intercountry adoption costs
Fees for intercountry adoption are approximately $10,000. There are also other costs involved, such as: airline travel. overseas accommodation.
For domestic and international adoptions, the age of the prospective parents must be legal age, which is 21 years or older. In the US there is usually no age cutoff, meaning you can adopt a child as long as you are 21 or over.
How Can I Speed Up the Adoption Process?
Amsterdam in the Netherlands. These kinds of comings and goings aren't unique to their family. Many Dutch children enjoy a freedom of movement that most American kids don't, which might be the key to why Dutch kids are the happiest kids in the world, according to a 2025 UNICEF report.
Best Countries for Raising Kids
Below are the most recent statistics from 2022, provided by the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS).
Let's take a closer look at each one.
Let's take a look at who adopts the most.
Yes. Both US citizens and non-citizens living outside the United States are eligible to adopt from US foster care. For information on international adoptions, please refer to the US State Department's information on intercountry adoptions. Is it possible to adopt a child with Native American heritage?
There are many children in foster care who are suitable for adoption. The process of adoption is very involved and can take approximately two years or more from the time a family decides to adopt, to the time when an adoption is finalised.
One of the countries that Americans cannot adopt from is Cambodia. The United States ceased adoption collaborations with Cambodia due to rampant unethical and illegal practices within the adoption process. Such practices raised concerns about the well-being and rights of the children involved.
Results. DM indicated that Black children (0.81) were underrepresented in adoption, and DI indicated that the likelihood of adoption for Black children (0.73) was one third lower than that for White children.