Children in care in Northern Ireland reach record high, official figures show

The number of children in care in Northern Ireland has reached its highest level since the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 came into force, according to the Department of Health's Children's Social Care Statistics for 2025/26, published on 15 October 2026. At 31 March 2026 there were 4,287 looked after children and young people.

Foster care remains by far the most common arrangement. The statistics show 83 per cent of looked after children were living in foster care, a share the department says is in line with previous years, with 7 per cent placed with their parents, 6 per cent in residential care and 4 per cent in other placements. During the year 1,038 children entered care and 900 left it.

The figures also give a picture of the fostering workforce. Health and Social Care Trusts had 2,821 approved foster carers at the year end, with a further 278 in the independent sector. Trusts carried out 641 initial home visits and completed 395 fostering assessments in 2025/26, while 329 trust-recruited carers de-registered during the year.

The Fostering Network said in May that Northern Ireland needs around 300 more foster carers, that the number of children entering care has risen by 46 per cent over ten years, and that carer numbers have fallen since 2021, citing finances, support and respect as reasons people leave. Allowances in Northern Ireland have not risen since 2024, according to the charity.

What this means for you: with fewer carers approved than de-registering, trusts continue to run regional appeals, including recent calls for short-break carers for disabled children. Anyone in Northern Ireland considering fostering can expect strong demand from their local trust. For existing carers, the record number of children in care underlines the pressure on placements and the case for better retention support.