New figures published by the Department of Health in Northern Ireland show that 1 in 6 adoptions in the country in 2024 were to same-gender couples.

This is the highest proportion of adoptions to LGBTQ+ people in a year ever seen in the Northern Ireland. 

In England and Wales in 2023 the proportion stood at 1 in 5. Scotland saw 1 in 8 adoptions in 2023 to same-gender couples.

New Family Social calculated the proportion based on the narrative published by the Department of Health in the report Children Adopted from Care in Northern Ireland 2023/24. The report says:

'Almost three quarters (74%) of the adopters were different sex couples who were either married or unmarried. Some 16% were same sex couples who were married, in a civil partnership or unmarried.'

16 per cent is the equivalent of 1 in 6 (1 in 6.25).

All data published by UK governments undercounts LGBTQ+ people's engagement with adoption. This is because the data focuses on the composition of the adoptive family rather than covering the sexual orientation and gender identity of the adopters.

As a result our calculations have to exclude:

• single adopters who are LGBTQ+
• bi adopters in a different-gender relationship
• trans adopters in a different gender relationship