Vision statement one: Where children are in their families and feel loved, they must stay – and families must be given support together to nurture that love and overcome the difficulties which get in the way.
The rate of children entering care decreases. For those that do need to enter care, a higher proportion are able to stay living at home with parents, or in a family setting.
Number and rate (per 1,000) of children in the ‘care system’ in Scotland during the year
| Year | Number | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11, 844 | 11.7% |
| 2023 | 12, 084 | 11.9% |
| 2022 | 12, 447 | 12.4% |
| 2021 | 13, 200 | 13.1% |
| 2020 | 14, 458 | 14.3% |
| 2019 | 14, 262 | 14.0% |
Notes
Reporting period: 31 July 2024
Last updated: April 2025
Next Update due: April 2026
Expanded Content
The overall number of children experiencing care has fallen by 17% between 31 July 2019 and 31 July 2024.The rate of children living in the ‘care system’ at 31 July 2024 was the lowest since 2005.