ABSTRACT
International adoption has been in existence in North America and Western Europe throughout history with noticeable surges after World War II and the wars in Korea and Vietnam. Consistently in each year since 1987, the adoption of females has prevailed: girls have made up about 62% of all international adoptees. Similar to every high-profile human undertaking, especially one that involves large monetary transactions; international adoption is not immune to controversy and has its passionate proponents and ardent adversaries. There are many reasons for the upsurge of international adoption in the affluent Western societies, such as an inability to have a biological child, desire to expand the family, and willingness to give a child a permanent home. International adoption provides an existential benefit for both children and parents. Adopted children of all ages are better off than their peers who remain in orphanages. International adoption is alive and active, but it changes its qualitative and quantitative characteristics.
