Parental Orders for UK Intended Parents: What the Data Shows and Why Mexico Is Rising
Parental order data tells an important story about how surrogacy is changing for UK intended parents. Over the last decade, the number of parental orders granted in England and Wales has risen significantly, reflecting growing use of surrogacy and broader access for more family types.According to Ministry of Justice data, parental orders granted in England and Wales increased from 117 in 2011 to 514 in 2023, with 477 recorded in 2024. Even in the first half of 2025 alone, 271 parental orders had already been granted. In Scotland, numbers remain much smaller, but the long-term trend is also upward, reaching 27 in 2023 and 20 in 2024.
A clear long-term rise in surrogacy
This growth is not accidental. It reflects increasing awareness of surrogacy, wider social acceptance, and improved access for intended parents, including same-sex couples. Earlier research predicted that parental orders would continue to rise as clinics expanded services and more people saw surrogacy as a viable path to parenthood. That is exactly what the data now shows.
Cafcass application data also helps us understand where surrogacy journeys are taking place. The UK and USA remain the two most common destinations for UK intended parents. However, the international picture is shifting. Older destination markets such as India and Thailand have declined, Ukraine has reduced since 2022, and newer destinations including Colombia, Georgia, Nigeria, and notably Mexico are becoming more visible.
Mexico is rising fast
One of the most important developments in the latest data is the emergence of Mexico as a growing destination for British intended parents. In the 2024-2025 Cafcass data, Mexico appears with 11 applications across all applicant groups and 7 among same-sex applicants.
That matters because Mexico had previously appeared at negligible levels in the published data. The rise is significant not only because it is new, but because it has happened quickly. Based on the report, Mexico has risen faster than any other destination in the latest period.
At My Surrogacy Journey, we believe this increase is mainly due to the creation of our Mexico pathway. Twelve months after launch, the data is already beginning to show the effect. British intended parents are increasingly looking for an option that combines strong legal preparation, ethical matching, high-quality screening, faster timelines, and meaningful support for both surrogates and parents.
Why the next set of data will matter even more
The currently published data only captures part of the story. Since this reporting period closed, there has already been substantial further growth through the MSJ Mexico pathway.
We are currently supporting close to 80 surrogate pregnancies, and 25 babies have already been bornsince this data was recorded. That means the 2025-2026 parental order data is likely to show a much more significant rise in Mexico-related parental orders for UK intended parents.
In our view, this is only the beginning. If current trends continue, Mexico is likely to become one of the top destinations for British intended parents within the next few years.
What this means for UK intended parents
For intended parents exploring surrogacy, parental order data is useful because it shows how family-building routes are evolving in practice. It highlights where journeys are actually happening, how legal parenthood is being secured, and which destinations are gaining trust.
The data now suggests three things clearly:
– Surrogacy use among UK intended parents continues to grow
-The destination landscape is changing
-Mexico is becoming an increasingly important part of that picture
For many intended parents, that shift reflects a search for a pathway that is ethical, well-supported, legally robust, and realistic in terms of timeline.
Looking ahead
The parental order figures over the last decade show a surrogacy landscape that is expanding and evolving. The UK and USA remain central, but Mexico is now firmly on the map.
What makes this especially meaningful to us is that this rise is not theoretical. It reflects real families being created, real surrogates being supported, and real outcomes already taking shape. As more births take place through our Mexico pathway, we expect the next round of data to confirm what we are already seeing on the ground: Mexico is not just emerging, it is becoming one of the most important destinations for UK intended parents pursuing surrogacy.
If you’d like to learn more about MSJ’s pathway in Mexico City click here to learn more.
