Missing persons affects people of all ages and backgrounds, with children, teens, and youth making up a substantial share of cases, and differences by gender and race showing up in major US reporting systems. Patterns also vary by context and location, from conflict-driven disappearances and trafficking-related cases to runaways, suspicious disappearances, and incidents connected to vehicles or public transport. This page draws on national and international databases and alerts to map who is affected, where cases are reported, and which risk factors and circumstances commonly appear, setting up the data and trends that follow.
Key Takeaways
- US NamUs database has over 23,000 active missing persons cases as of 2023.
- Pakistan has 10,000 unresolved missing persons cases per HRCP.
- In 2020, NamUs had 17,000 long-term missing cases.
- Globally, human trafficking contributes to 20-30% of missing persons cases per UNODC estimates.
- Runaways account for 80% of missing youth cases in the US, per NCMEC.
- Globally, 1 in 7 missing children cases involve online enticement, per ICMEC.
- In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) received over 32,800 reports of child sexual exploitation through CyberTipline related to missing children cases.
- In the EU, Eurostat reported 250,000 missing children alerts via the Child Alert system from 2019-2022.
- In 2021, FBI NCIC had 93,718 active missing juvenile records.
- 25% of missing cases involve vehicles per NamUs.
- 35% of missing cases involve public transport sightings.
- In the US, females account for 53% of all missing person reports in the FBI NCIC database as of 2022.
- Children under 18 make up 35% of missing persons cases in the US NCIC database in 2021.
- In 2020, Black individuals comprised 29% of missing persons entries in NCIC despite being 13% of the population.
- Globally, an estimated 8 million children go missing every year according to UNICEF estimates.
With millions affected globally, missing person cases span every region and are increasingly linked to online and trafficking risks.
Related reading
01 · Category
Causes26 stats
01
Globally, human trafficking contributes to 20-30% of missing persons cases per UNODC estimates.
02
Runaways account for 80% of missing youth cases in the US, per NCMEC.
03
Globally, 1 in 7 missing children cases involve online enticement, per ICMEC.
04
2% of missing persons cases in US NCIC are involuntary or suspicious disappearances.
05
Family abductions make up 25% of missing children cases in US.
06
In the US, 1 in 10 missing persons cases involve mental health issues.
07
Globally, armed conflicts displace 25 million leading to missing reports yearly.
08
Drug use is a factor in 12% of runaway missing youth cases per NCMEC.
09
In Colombia, over 120,000 missing since 2000, 80% conflict-related.
10
Online grooming leads to 1,000+ missing child cases yearly in US.
11
Mental illness cited in 23% of long-term missing cases in NamUs.
12
Domestic violence precedes 10% of missing women cases globally.
13
Chile reports 4,000 missing since 2018 social unrest.
14
Homelessness links to 18% of chronic missing adults in US.
15
Suicide attempts factor in 5% of missing teen cases per NCMEC.
16
Egypt reported 10,000 missing migrants in Mediterranean crossings 2022.
17
50% of missing elderly wander off due to cognitive impairment.
18
Substance abuse in 30% of adult missing cases UK.
19
Custodial interference in 27% of parental abductions.
20
In Ukraine, 50,000 missing since 2022 invasion.
21
In Greece, 1,200 migrant missing at sea 2022.
22
40% of missing women in India linked to trafficking.
23
55% of runaways leave due to family conflict per NCMEC.
24
Cyberbullying drives 10% of teen runaways.
25
90% of stranger abductions resolved fatally rare, 99% family.
26
Human smuggling causes 40% missing migrants EU.
02 · Category
National Statistics23 stats
01
In 2022, the UK Missing People charity reported 180,000 missing persons incidents in England, Wales, and Scotland.
02
In Australia, 38,000 people were reported missing in 2022-2023, per the Australian Federal Police.
03
Mexico reported 111,000 missing persons since 1964, with 72% since 2018 per official registry.
04
Brazil registered 72,000 missing persons from 2011-2022 per National Observatory.
05
In Japan, 83,000 missing persons reported in 2022, mostly elderly.
06
South Africa Police Service recorded 45,000 missing persons in 2022/23.
07
In France, 46,000 missing persons alerts in 2022 per Ministry of Interior.
08
Russia reported 55,000 missing persons in 2022 per МВД.
09
Germany's Bundeskriminalamt recorded 105,000 missing persons contacts in 2022.
10
Sweden reports 15,000 missing persons yearly, 90% children/teens.
11
In Italy, 19,000 missing persons in 2022 per Interior Ministry.
12
In Peru, 22,000 missing persons registered since 2000.
13
In Spain, 25,000 missing persons yearly per Guardia Civil.
14
In Belgium, 16,000 missing reports in 2022, 85% children.
15
In Netherlands, 40,000 missing reports yearly.
16
Venezuela reports 30,000 missing amid crisis 2015-2023.
17
Poland recorded 15,000 missing persons in 2022.
18
Denmark 8,000 missing reports 2022, 98% resolved.
19
In Portugal, 6,000 missing persons yearly.
20
Finland 12,000 missing contacts 2022.
21
Switzerland 20,000 missing reports yearly.
22
Austria 15,500 missing 2022.
23
Czech Republic 4,000 missing persons 2022.
03 · Category
Demographics20 stats
01
In the US, females account for 53% of all missing person reports in the FBI NCIC database as of 2022.
02
Children under 18 make up 35% of missing persons cases in the US NCIC database in 2021.
03
In 2020, Black individuals comprised 29% of missing persons entries in NCIC despite being 13% of the population.
04
In India, NCRB reported 68,284 missing persons cases in 2022, with women at 69%.
05
Indigenous women and girls represent 4% of Canada's population but 16% of missing women cases.
06
Males aged 18-20 have the highest missing rate per capita in US, at 25 per 100,000.
07
60% of long-term missing persons in NamUs are male.
08
Women and girls are 71% of human trafficking victims linked to missing cases globally.
09
Native Americans are 2.5% of US population but 5.5% of missing adults in NamUs.
10
15% of missing persons in US are over 65 years old.
11
US Hispanics are 19% of population but 22% of missing persons reports.
12
88% of missing adults in UK are male.
13
Females under 21 are 60% of endangered runaways in NCIC.
14
In 2021, Black children were 32% of NCIC missing juveniles.
15
82% of missing persons cases in Canada involve youth under 18.
16
Indigenous missing rates 7x higher in Australia.
17
Asians 5% of US missing reports but 7% unidentified remains.
18
Elderly missing 3x more likely at night per studies.
19
78% of missing persons in Ireland are under 18.
20
In South Korea, 20,000 missing elderly yearly.
More related reading
04 · Category
Recovery Rates14 stats
01
In Canada, the RCMP reported 74,357 missing persons files in 2022, with 98% resolved.
02
91% of missing children in the US are recovered safely within 48 hours, according to NCMEC.
03
In the UK, 75% of missing persons are found within 24 hours, per Missing People report.
04
In 2023, NCMEC helped recover 191 missing children via their hotline.
05
85% of missing persons in Australia are located within 48 hours.
06
99% of missing pets reports are resolved, but human cases lag at 90% per charity data.
07
In 2021, NCIC cleared 600,000 missing person records.
08
70% of missing children found through public tips to NCMEC.
09
In 2022, NCMEC posters reached 1.2 billion impressions aiding recoveries.
10
95% of missing persons in Norway found within days.
11
In 2022, Interpol recovered 1,500 missing via DNA.
12
92% recovery rate for US missing children under FBI data.
13
65% of missing persons found by family/friends before police report.
14
US NCIC cleared 99% of entered missing records annually.
05 · Category
Children And Vulnerable Groups10 stats
01
In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) received over 32,800 reports of child sexual exploitation through CyberTipline related to missing children cases.
02
In the EU, Eurostat reported 250,000 missing children alerts via the Child Alert system from 2019-2022.
03
In 2021, FBI NCIC had 93,718 active missing juvenile records.
04
Nigeria reported over 3,000 missing children in 2022 due to conflicts.
05
NCMEC's 2022 report: 29,800 CyberTipline reports led to 5,200 missing child recoveries.
06
In the Philippines, 2,500 children reported missing annually per NBI.
07
Turkey reported 45,000 missing children over last decade.
08
NCMEC 2023: 7,000 missing children recovered via alerts.
09
NCMEC's AMBER Alert activated 250 times in 2022, 95% success.
10
In Kenya, 5,000 children missing yearly due to abductions.
06 · Category
Industry Overview29 stats
01
Approximately 2,300 Americans are reported missing daily, per the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs).
02
FBI NCIC entered 365,000 missing person records in 2019.
03
Argentina's registry has 130,000 missing since 1976.
04
FBI NCIC 2020: 337,195 missing person entries, 92% cleared.
05
Thailand's missing persons hotline received 12,000 calls in 2022.
06
Interpol's 2022 database has 50,000 missing persons profiles.
07
In 2023, NamUs identified 1,200 previously unidentified remains linked to missing cases.
08
75% of unidentified remains in NamUs match missing persons.
09
Australia's Missing Persons Week raises 500 leads yearly.
10
NamUs genetic genealogy solved 100 cases in 2023.
11
NamUs mobile app downloaded 100,000 times aiding tips.
12
US NamUs database has over 23,000 active missing persons cases as of 2023.
13
Pakistan has 10,000 unresolved missing persons cases per HRCP.
14
In 2020, NamUs had 17,000 long-term missing cases.
15
US NCIC 2023: Active missing records dropped 4% due to clearances.
16
FBI NCIC juvenile missing peaked at 460,000 entries in 2018.
17
Pandemics increased missing reports 15% in 2020 US.
18
40% of missing elderly persons in the US have Alzheimer's or dementia, per NIJ study.
19
LGBTQ+ youth 120% higher risk of missing per NCMEC.
20
Foster care youth 2x missing risk.
21
25% of missing cases involve vehicles per NamUs.
22
35% of missing cases involve public transport sightings.
23
Globally, an estimated 8 million children go missing every year according to UNICEF estimates.
24
Europe sees 250,000 missing children annually per EU Commission estimates.
25
Interpol's Yellow Notice system issued 1,682 notices for missing persons in 2022.
26
Global Missing Children's Europe hotline handled 25,000 cases 2022.
27
In 2022, California reported 25,000 missing persons cases, highest in US.
28
In 2022, Texas had 70,000 missing persons reports.
29
In 2023, NCMEC trained 500,000 professionals on prevention.
report visual · Comparison
Missing Persons Statistics statistics snapshot
Selected headline statistics from verified sources for a stable visual baseline.
Runaways account for 80% of missing youth cases in the US, per NCMEC.80%
In Colombia, over 120,000 missing since 2000, 80% conflict-related.80%
Globally, human trafficking contributes to 20-30% of missing persons cases per UNODC estimates.-30%
Family abductions make up 25% of missing children cases in US.25%
Drug use is a factor in 12% of runaway missing youth cases per NCMEC.12%
2% of missing persons cases in US NCIC are involuntary or suspicious disappearances.2%
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Priyanka Sharma. (2026, February 13). Missing Persons Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/missing-persons-statistics
MLA
Priyanka Sharma. "Missing Persons Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/missing-persons-statistics.
Chicago
Priyanka Sharma. 2026. "Missing Persons Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/missing-persons-statistics.
Sources & references
66 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level