A Snapshot of Foster Care Statistics by State as of 2025

Understanding foster care statistics by state helps communities see where support is needed most, and how advocates, volunteers, and policymakers can help. Here’s a helpful state-by-state overview using available federal and national data sources. 

National Overview (most recent 2023 Kids Count reporting)

• Total children in care: ~391,000 
• Age Breakdown: ~8 years old average
  • Under 1 year: 6%
  • Ages 1–5: 29%
  • Ages 6–10: 20%
  • Ages 11–15: 24%
  • Ages 16+: 20%
• Race/Ethnicity (can be over 100% due to multiracial identities):
• • • White (non-Hispanic): 43%
    • Black (non-Hispanic): 22%
    • Hispanic: 22%
    • Two or more races: 9%
    • American Indian/Alaska Native: 2%
    • Asian: 1%
• Gender*
  • Male: 52%
  • Female: 48%
• Placements: Most were placed in non-relative foster homes
• Aging out: ~18,500 youth aged out in 2022 
• Average stay: ~22 months

*Note: Non-binary, transgender, and intersex youth are not separately categorized in national foster care data sets like AFCARS. This means agencies report only “male” or “female”, which limits visibility into the experiences of LGBTQIA+ youth in the system.

Want to See Foster Care Data for Your State?

You can explore the latest foster care numbers by age, race, gender, and state by visiting the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Kids Count Data Center. Their interactive tools allow you to filter by location and compare trends across years.

Explore Foster Care Data by State

Highlights of Foster Care Statistics by State 

Foster care doesn’t look the same in every state , and some face steeper challenges than others. Large states have the highest numbers simply because of population size, but outcomes vary based on funding, caseworker ratios, and state policies.

Let’s take a look at a few key areas highlighting the states with the largest foster care populations:

California

• ~43,095 total children in foster care
• Average age: Over half under age five (50%)
• Main reason for placement: Neglect (76%)
• Estimated aging out: ~4,000 annually, 65% face instability like homelessness
• Reunited on average every year: 19,000 
• Adoptions within a year: 8,000 

California accounts for about 7% of the total number of children in foster care nationwide. 

Texas

• ~21,691 total children in foster care in 2023 
• Average age: 1-5 years old (38%)
• Average stay: ~18 months; many in kinship care or non-relative homes 
• Main reason for placement: Neglect
• Estimated aging out: ~1,200 youth annually 

Florida

• ~20,177 total children in foster care
• Average age: ~8 years old
• Main reasons for placement: Predominantly neglect, followed by parental drug issues & abuse 
• Estimated aging out: ~1,000 each year
• Placed in kinship care: 9,813 (42%) placed with relatives; 10.339 (44%) in non-relative homes in 2021
• Multiple placements: ~33% experience at least two moves

Illinois

• ~16,772 total children were in foster care in 2023 (the highest in the state’s recent history)
• Average age: 7 years old; most exiting at 8
• Main reasons for placement: Neglect or caregiver absence
• Estimated aging out: ~1170 (7%) each year based on the national average
• Placed in kinship care: Only 1 in 4 (~44%) youth were placed with relatives

Arizona

• ~10,540 total children were in foster care in 2023.
• Average age: 1-5 years old (38.5%)
• Main reason for placement: Neglect
• Placed in kinship care: 58% are placed with relatives
• Estimated aging out: ~700 annually. Arizona supports extended care up to age 21; youth aging out estimates follow national trend (~7%).

Ohio

• ~15,032 total children in foster care in 2023
• Average age: ~7 years old
• Main reason for placement: neglect or parental substance abuse
• Placed in kinship care: ~40% reunited, 25% placed with other relatives, 
• Adoptions in 2023: ~2,405 (16%) 
• Emancipated in 2023: ~2,104 (14%)

New York

• ~14,489 total children in foster care in 2023
• Average age: (as of 2021 data) ~8 years old
• Main reason for placement: Neglect, parental incapacity, or parental absence
• Estimated aging out: ~1,000 annually (~7%)
• Placed in kinship care: 30-35% in 2022 

What Happens When Foster Youth Age Out?

Youth in foster care typically “age out” at 18, though some states allow extended support until age 21 (or even 23 in rare cases) if the young person is in school, working, or part of a transitional program.

How Long Do Kids Stay in Foster Care?

The national average stay in foster care is just under 20 months, but it varies by state and situation.

How Many Youth Age Out Each Year?

About 20,000 youth age out of foster care each year in the U.S. without permanent family connections.

These young adults often face serious challenges, including:

• High rates of homelessness
• Lower educational attainment

• Unemployment or underemployment

Where to Go Next

None of these state sources provided detailed average age or aging-out counts by state. However, national averages show:

• • • • • Kids spend about 21 months average length of stay in care
        • Roughly 7% of children age out each year, with significant challenges ahead

To explore full data for entries, exits, ages, race/ethnicity, and placement types:

• • • • • • • • Visit the AFCARS Dashboard for state-level statistics
                Use the Kids Count Data Center for demographic breakdowns by state
              • Check state child welfare agency dashboards such as Illinois DCFS reports or Georgia DFCS data pages