Adoption In South Africa

Adoption in the region of South Africa, as with most international adoption sites, is a process that's constantly changing in each of its countries. Due to the high levels of social and political unrest, disease and poverty, the government's stability and that of its people has a direct effect on adoption laws and whether or not the doors are open to placements with American families.

Some African countries, like Rwanda, close their adoption doors until they become Hague Convention certified and can claim to have ethical adoption processes. Ethiopia, which was the second-most country from which Americans adopted children in 2010, places far more children in one year than South Africa has overall, according to data reported by the Bureau of Consular Affairs. Ethiopia is an example of a country that has limited the number of adoptions processed per day to a mere count of five.

South Africa is a Hague Convention certified country. Overall, 130 adoptions have been finalized in South Africa, according to the Bureau of Consular Affairs. The gender distribution of those adoptees is nearly evenly split. A majority of adopted children from South Africa are under two years old.

Many adoptions in Africa require adopters to spend a certain amount of time in the country so as to observe and interact with the child's ethnic background, religious practices, local cuisine and activities.