{
 "id": "children-looked-after-england",
 "title": "Children looked after by councils, England",
 "category": "education",
 "summary": "Children looked after by councils in England on 31 March each year since 1994, those who started or ceased to be looked after and were adopted in the year, and the unaccompanied asylum-seeking children among them, from the Department for Education.",
 "unit": "count",
 "chart": "line",
 "volatile": false,
 "status": "Accredited official statistics",
 "notes": [
  "Children looked after by councils in England on 31 March at the end of each year shown, and those who started or ceased to be looked after, or were adopted, in the year to that 31 March, as councils return them to the DfE. The DfE rounds each count to the nearest 10.",
  "The rate per 10,000 children under 18 is the DfE's own, from its file of numbers and rates by council, which gives it from 2021."
 ],
 "provenance": {
  "publisher": "Department for Education",
  "publisher_url": "https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/",
  "source_page": "https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoptions",
  "licence": "OGL-3.0",
  "licence_name": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.",
  "retrieved_at": "2026-11-08T13:07:03Z",
  "raw_files": [
   {
    "name": "data.csv.gz",
    "url": "https://api.education.gov.uk/statistics/v1/data-sets/019a9c62-aca8-772e-b92b-8678622ec297/csv",
    "sha256": "81568df1337161ba5d026423563680f3c0cdeba2c53ef7bb9cd7c52a27e34e5d",
    "bytes": 1410,
    "content_type": "text/csv"
   },
   {
    "name": "catalogue-1.json",
    "url": "https://content.explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/api/data-set-files?publicationId=3260801d-601a-48c6-93b7-cf51680323d1&latestOnly=true&pageSize=40&page=1",
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    "content_type": "application/json; charset=utf-8"
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    "bytes": 6165,
    "content_type": "application/json; charset=utf-8"
   },
   {
    "name": "rates.zip",
    "url": "https://content.explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/api/releases/8c28aca0-6ab9-400b-b7de-c5fc7a148c2e/files?fileIds=253c109a-2034-4f65-4edd-08de00b812e3",
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    "bytes": 40541,
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   }
  ]
 },
 "meta": {
  "latest_period": "2024/25",
  "rate_per_10000": {
   "2020/21": 69.0,
   "2021/22": 70.0,
   "2022/23": 70.0,
   "2023/24": 69.0,
   "2024/25": 67.0
  },
  "missing": {
   "Of whom unaccompanied asylum-seeking children": {
    "1993/94": "not available (x): the DfE's ‘not available’",
    "1994/95": "not available (x): the DfE's ‘not available’",
    "1995/96": "not available (x): the DfE's ‘not available’",
    "1996/97": "not available (x): the DfE's ‘not available’",
    "1997/98": "not available (x): the DfE's ‘not available’",
    "1998/99": "not available (x): the DfE's ‘not available’",
    "1999/00": "not available (x): the DfE's ‘not available’",
    "2000/01": "not available (x): the DfE's ‘not available’",
    "2001/02": "not available (x): the DfE's ‘not available’",
    "2002/03": "not available (x): the DfE's ‘not available’"
   }
  }
 },
 "headline": {
  "label": "Children looked after on 31 March",
  "value": 81770.0,
  "period": "2024/25",
  "note": "67 per 10,000 children under 18"
 },
 "series": [
  {
   "name": "Looked after on 31 March",
   "points": [
    {
     "x": "1993/94",
     "v": 47590.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1994/95",
     "v": 48680.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1995/96",
     "v": 50000.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1996/97",
     "v": 50880.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1997/98",
     "v": 53330.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1998/99",
     "v": 55460.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1999/00",
     "v": 58100.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2000/01",
     "v": 58890.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2001/02",
     "v": 59710.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2002/03",
     "v": 60810.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2003/04",
     "v": 61180.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2004/05",
     "v": 60950.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2005/06",
     "v": 60300.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2006/07",
     "v": 59960.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2007/08",
     "v": 59360.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2008/09",
     "v": 60920.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2009/10",
     "v": 64460.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2010/11",
     "v": 65500.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2011/12",
     "v": 67070.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2012/13",
     "v": 68050.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2013/14",
     "v": 68790.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2014/15",
     "v": 69460.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2015/16",
     "v": 70400.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2016/17",
     "v": 72600.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2017/18",
     "v": 75360.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2018/19",
     "v": 78140.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2019/20",
     "v": 80000.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2020/21",
     "v": 80780.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2021/22",
     "v": 82090.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2022/23",
     "v": 83750.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2023/24",
     "v": 83530.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2024/25",
     "v": 81770.0
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Of whom unaccompanied asylum-seeking children",
   "points": [
    {
     "x": "1993/94",
     "v": null
    },
    {
     "x": "1994/95",
     "v": null
    },
    {
     "x": "1995/96",
     "v": null
    },
    {
     "x": "1996/97",
     "v": null
    },
    {
     "x": "1997/98",
     "v": null
    },
    {
     "x": "1998/99",
     "v": null
    },
    {
     "x": "1999/00",
     "v": null
    },
    {
     "x": "2000/01",
     "v": null
    },
    {
     "x": "2001/02",
     "v": null
    },
    {
     "x": "2002/03",
     "v": null
    },
    {
     "x": "2003/04",
     "v": 3000.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2004/05",
     "v": 3160.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2005/06",
     "v": 3370.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2006/07",
     "v": 3390.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2007/08",
     "v": 3540.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2008/09",
     "v": 3890.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2009/10",
     "v": 3490.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2010/11",
     "v": 2740.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2011/12",
     "v": 2230.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2012/13",
     "v": 1940.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2013/14",
     "v": 2050.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2014/15",
     "v": 2760.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2015/16",
     "v": 4340.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2016/17",
     "v": 4710.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2017/18",
     "v": 4560.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2018/19",
     "v": 5150.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2019/20",
     "v": 5080.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2020/21",
     "v": 4150.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2021/22",
     "v": 5680.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2022/23",
     "v": 7410.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2023/24",
     "v": 7440.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2024/25",
     "v": 6540.0
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Started to be looked after in the year",
   "points": [
    {
     "x": "1993/94",
     "v": 30220.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1994/95",
     "v": 31720.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1995/96",
     "v": 31710.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1996/97",
     "v": 29560.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1997/98",
     "v": 29610.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1998/99",
     "v": 28090.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1999/00",
     "v": 28400.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2000/01",
     "v": 24630.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2001/02",
     "v": 24810.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2002/03",
     "v": 24390.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2003/04",
     "v": 25020.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2004/05",
     "v": 24910.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2005/06",
     "v": 24590.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2006/07",
     "v": 23960.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2007/08",
     "v": 23250.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2008/09",
     "v": 25680.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2009/10",
     "v": 28090.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2010/11",
     "v": 27510.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2011/12",
     "v": 28390.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2012/13",
     "v": 28970.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2013/14",
     "v": 30730.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2014/15",
     "v": 31350.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2015/16",
     "v": 32160.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2016/17",
     "v": 32940.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2017/18",
     "v": 32190.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2018/19",
     "v": 31780.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2019/20",
     "v": 31010.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2020/21",
     "v": 28470.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2021/22",
     "v": 31100.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2022/23",
     "v": 33090.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2023/24",
     "v": 33130.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2024/25",
     "v": 32270.0
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Ceased to be looked after in the year",
   "points": [
    {
     "x": "1993/94",
     "v": 32130.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1994/95",
     "v": 32410.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1995/96",
     "v": 31900.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1996/97",
     "v": 29760.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1997/98",
     "v": 29090.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1998/99",
     "v": 26820.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1999/00",
     "v": 26730.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2000/01",
     "v": 25290.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2001/02",
     "v": 25680.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2002/03",
     "v": 24580.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2003/04",
     "v": 25740.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2004/05",
     "v": 25940.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2005/06",
     "v": 25900.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2006/07",
     "v": 24980.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2007/08",
     "v": 24500.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2008/09",
     "v": 25010.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2009/10",
     "v": 25310.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2010/11",
     "v": 27120.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2011/12",
     "v": 27520.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2012/13",
     "v": 28650.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2013/14",
     "v": 30600.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2014/15",
     "v": 31350.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2015/16",
     "v": 31850.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2016/17",
     "v": 31410.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2017/18",
     "v": 30050.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2018/19",
     "v": 29570.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2019/20",
     "v": 29710.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2020/21",
     "v": 28120.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2021/22",
     "v": 30230.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2022/23",
     "v": 31850.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2023/24",
     "v": 33780.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2024/25",
     "v": 34450.0
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "name": "Adopted in the year",
   "points": [
    {
     "x": "1993/94",
     "v": 2190.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1994/95",
     "v": 1980.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1995/96",
     "v": 1870.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1996/97",
     "v": 1830.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1997/98",
     "v": 2190.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1998/99",
     "v": 2060.0
    },
    {
     "x": "1999/00",
     "v": 2710.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2000/01",
     "v": 3070.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2001/02",
     "v": 3430.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2002/03",
     "v": 3540.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2003/04",
     "v": 3760.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2004/05",
     "v": 3770.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2005/06",
     "v": 3700.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2006/07",
     "v": 3330.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2007/08",
     "v": 3180.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2008/09",
     "v": 3330.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2009/10",
     "v": 3200.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2010/11",
     "v": 3090.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2011/12",
     "v": 3470.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2012/13",
     "v": 4010.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2013/14",
     "v": 5050.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2014/15",
     "v": 5360.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2015/16",
     "v": 4710.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2016/17",
     "v": 4370.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2017/18",
     "v": 3850.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2018/19",
     "v": 3600.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2019/20",
     "v": 3480.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2020/21",
     "v": 2890.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2021/22",
     "v": 3010.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2022/23",
     "v": 3000.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2023/24",
     "v": 3020.0
    },
    {
     "x": "2024/25",
     "v": 3040.0
    }
   ]
  }
 ]
}