The Times newspaper has launched a campaign to help double the number of families who adopt children.
The latest figures show that only 3,200 children were adopted in 2010 compared with more than 20,000 in 1970.
Data compiled by the Department for Education revealed that the proportion of children leaving care for adoption plunges from one in three when a child is under four to one in 15 after their fifth birthday. By the age of 12, only one in 100 is adopted. It takes on average two years and seven months for a young person to be adopted.
Children's minister Tim Loughton said: "For kids who have had a pretty traumatic childhood, getting them into a stable loving family placement is the utmost priority."
The Times's Britain's Adoption Crisis campaign is calling for more families to consider adoption and for the process to be sped up.
Data compiled by the Department for Education revealed that the proportion of children leaving care for adoption plunges from one in three when a child is under four to one in 15 after their fifth birthday. By the age of 12, only one in 100 is adopted. It takes on average two years and seven months for a young person to be adopted.
Children's minister Tim Loughton said: "For kids who have had a pretty traumatic childhood, getting them into a stable loving family placement is the utmost priority."
The Times's Britain's Adoption Crisis campaign is calling for more families to consider adoption and for the process to be sped up.
