WALES
The figures presented below are taken from statistical reports gathered and published by government departments and bodies. Details of sources are provided at the foot of this page.
Looked After Children
Placements
Legal Status
Adoption and Special Guardianship
Adoptions from Care
Special Guardianship
Sources
LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN
On 31 March 2025:
- 7,072 children were in the care of local authorities, a decrease of 1% on the previous year
- This is a rate of 114 looked after children per 10,000 population under 18 years
Placements
On 31 March 2025:
- 68% (4,793) of children looked after were living with foster carers. Of these 1,668 were relatives or friends foster carers.
- 12% (872) were living with their parents or another person with parental responsibility
- 14% (970) were living in secure units, children's homes or hostels
- 2% (135) were placed for adoption
- 2% (129) were living independently, in residential schools or in other placements
- 8% of children (601) looked after at 31 March 2025 had three or more placements during 2024-25.
Legal Status
On 31 March 2025 there were:
- 5,600 children looked after under care orders
- 1,035 children with a single period of accommodation
- 10 children in remand, detained or with an other compulsory order.
- 430 children were looked after with an other legal status
ADOPTION AND SPECIAL GUARDIANSHIP
Adoptions from Care
During the year ending 31 March 2025:
- 212 children were adopted from care, with 11% adopted by their former foster carer
- 91% (190) of adoptions were by couples and 10% (20) were by single adopters
- 21% (40) of all adoptions were by same sex couples (25 male same sex couples and 15 female same sex couples)
Special Guardianship
During the year ending 31 March 2025:
- 303 (32%) children left care through a Special Guardianship Order
- 83% (250) Special Guardianship Orders were made to former foster carers, and 17% (50) to carers other than former foster carers
SOURCES
Welsh Government StatsWales: Children's Service Statistics
The StatsWales tables include data on children looked after by local authority, gender, age, ethnicity, legal status, placement type, children starting to be looked after and episodes finishing for children looked after as well as respite care. Data on adoptions is broken down by ethnicity, gender and marital status of adopters, age and gender of child, average age at adoption, foster carer adoptions and timeliness of adoption process. There are also tables on care leavers at 19th birthday, educational qualifications of care leavers and applications for adoption intermediary services.
Welsh Government: Children looked after by local authorities: April 2024 to March 2025
This statistical release presents figures about children looked after by Welsh local authorities and includes sections on placements, children looked after by need for care, children looked after leaving care, adoptions, educational attainments and qualifications and key quality information.