Adoption & Fostering
Christians are more likely to adopt, to foster, and to support the families who do.
See how each study defines Christians and who they are compared with.
Three anchor findings
Explore all
1. Adoption
Have adopted a child.
2.5× as likely
2. Considering adoption
Have seriously considered adopting.
1.5× as likely
3. Supporting families
Supported foster or adoptive families.
2.2× as likely
The case in brief
Commitment shows up where children need homes.
Practicing Christians are more than twice as likely as U.S. adults overall to have adopted, and Christians are about three times as likely as religious nones to have fostered. The support extends to families who foster or adopt and to families at risk of separation.
Jump straight to the evidenceTesting the claim
Is the commitment real?
The case is strongest when interest in adoption turns into action, when foster parents serve for the child’s sake, and when people who never adopt or foster still help the families who do.
From considering adoption to doing it.
In Barna’s 2013 survey, 38% of practicing Christians had seriously considered adoption, compared with 26% of all U.S. adults, and 5% had adopted, compared with 2%. Because the all-adults group includes practicing Christians, the gap with everyone else is likely somewhat larger. In a 2025 survey, Christians were about three times as likely as religious nones to have fostered a child.
Faith-motivated foster parents serve for the child’s sake.
In a national survey of current and former foster parents, those who described a religious motivation were more likely to say they fostered to give a home to a child who would otherwise live in an institution, and far more likely to reach the top of the study’s altruism scale. Their average altruism score was 4.24 out of 5, compared with 3.69 for other foster parents.
The data were collected in 1993, and the comparison is among foster parents rather than between Christians and the general public.
Many who never adopt still help.
Most people never adopt or foster, but many help those who do. In a 2025 survey of 1,515 U.S. adults, Christians were about twice as likely as religious nones to support foster or adoptive families, to mentor or aid families at risk, to give money or goods to child-welfare efforts, and to volunteer with child-welfare organizations.
A Christian advocacy alliance commissioned this survey, and it compares religious identity only, without adjusting for age or income. We rate it medium confidence for that reason.
Why are the numbers so small?
Rare actions, large relative gaps.
Only a few percent of adults have ever adopted, so small rates can hide large relative differences: 5% versus 2% is a 3-point gap but two and a half times the rate. Small rates also move more with sampling error, which is one reason most rows on this page are rated medium confidence. We do not average this page’s 10 rows because they mix completed actions, intentions, motives, and support.
All studies
Explore the full evidence
Compare the results at a glance. Open any finding for its methods and full summary.
Showing 10 of 10 findings
Adoption 2 findings
Fostering 4 findings
Institutional-home motive
United States foster parents1993 data
Altruism among foster parents
United States foster parents1993 data
Top altruism score among foster parents
United States foster parents1993 data
Supporting families 4 findings
Supported foster or adoptive families
U.S. adults2025 survey
Volunteered with a child-welfare organization
U.S. adults2025 survey
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.