Number of Children who Entered Out of Home Care, by Age at Removal in the United States, 2025
Source: AFCARS Data, 2025, as of 05/05/26
N = 173,497
Children from birth to age 5 made up 45.3% (N=78,530) of the children placed in out-of-home care during Fiscal Year 2025.
Children age 6 - 12 made up 28.8% (N=49,932) and children age 13 - 18+ made up 26.0% (N=45,035) of the children removed from their homes and placed in out-of-home care during the same time period.
Note: Estimates based on children who entered out of home care during the Fiscal Year
Source: Center for Children and Family Futures. (2026). Analyses of the 2025 Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System from the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect (file number 312) [Data set]. NDACAN.
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