Foster care in the U.S. - number of children entering care 2021

In 2021, about 206,812 children in the United States entered into foster care in that year. This is a decrease from the previous year, when 216,842 children across the country entered into foster care.

Number of children entered in foster care in the United States from 2007 to 2021

Characteristic	Number of children
2021	206,812
2020	216,842
2019	252,414
2018	263,776
2017	270,197
2016	273,174
2015	268,860
2014	264,531
2013	254,622
2012	251,352
2011	251,450
2010	256,092
2009	254,896

050,000100,000150,000200,000250,000300,000350,000

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Release date

June 2022

More information

Region

United States

Survey time period

2007 to 2021

Supplementary notes

Data as of September 30 of each year.
Data prior to 2015 has been retrieved from previous publications.

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