In 1997, just one American adoption agency was licensed to operate in Ethiopia. Today, there are twenty-two. Though Angelina Jolie's adoption of an Ethiopian child has certainly helped bring the country to the fore-front of international adoptions, its popularity had already been on the rise.

"Ethiopia, with a population of 76 million, has an estimated 5 million orphans, according to aid organizations. Many African nations have outlawed or impeded the adoption of their children by foreigners. Ethiopia has welcomed American and European families who are willing to provide homes for children who have lost both parents to AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis or starvation, or who come from families too destitute to feed and clothe them."

The two things that set Ethiopia's adoption system apart from others are transitional homes in which the orphans are very well cared-for, and the opportunity for adoptive parents to meet birth families and even visit their villages.

Read more at TwinCities.com.

Labels: ethiopia, inter-country_adoption, international