Poland saw a 1.3% increase in children in foster care in 2025, reaching 78,300, with family-based care continuing to be the dominant model.
Foster Care in Poland: Statistics for 2025
Data from the Central Statistical Office (GUS) indicates that 78,300 children were in foster care at the end of 2025, a 1.3% increase compared to 2024. Of these, 60,700 were in family care and 17,500 in institutional care.
Family Foster Care: A Focus on Relatives
According to GUS, 78% of children in care were placed within family settings. Within the 60,700 children in family care, 7,300 resided in family homes.
Legal Status and Outcomes for Children in Care
25,100 children had a regulated legal status. The largest group of children were between 7 and 13 years old (21,500), while the smallest group were infants under one year old (1,000). In 2025, 2,600 children returned to their biological families, and 1,200 were adopted.
Institutional Care: Facilities and Demographics
At the end of 2025, Poland operated 1,328 institutional foster care facilities, primarily care and education centers (1,313). A total of 17,500 individuals were in institutional care.
Institutional Care: Age Groups and Legal Status
The largest group of children in institutional care were aged 14–17 (8,200). The second largest group were children aged 10–13 (4,600), and the smallest group were children under one year old (0.1 thousand). 7,700 children had a regulated legal status, with 4,600 referred to adoption centers.
Returns to Families and Independent Living
In 2025, 3,900 children under 18 left institutional care facilities. The largest group (43%) returned to their biological families, 21.1% went to family foster care, and 4.7% were adopted.
Transitioning Out of Care: Young Adults
Of the 2,200 individuals over 18 who left care facilities, data regarding their outcomes was not provided in the source material.