Summary
- • In 2021, there were 521,705 missing person records entered into NCIC.
- • As of December 31, 2021, NCIC contained 93,718 active missing person records.
- • Juveniles under the age of 18 account for 32,618 (34.8%) of the active missing person records.
- • In 2021, 485,419 missing person records were cleared or canceled.
- • The average number of missing children reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in 2020 was 2,100 per day.
- • In 2020, 91% of missing children cases reported to NCMEC were endangered runaways.
- • 1 in 6 endangered runaways reported to NCMEC in 2020 were likely victims of child sex trafficking.
- • The recovery rate for missing children has increased from 62% in 1990 to 97% today.
- • In 2020, NCMEC assisted law enforcement and families with more than 29,800 cases of missing children.
- • Approximately 4,400 unidentified remains are recovered each year in the United States.
- • As of 2021, there were over 14,000 unidentified remains cases in the NamUs database.
- • About 600,000 individuals go missing in the United States every year.
- • Approximately 4,400 unidentified bodies are recovered each year.
- • It's estimated that 1,000 of those bodies remain unidentified after one year.
- • As of 2021, there were over 21,000 open missing person cases in the NamUs database.
Buckle up, because were about to dive deep into a jaw-dropping world of numbers and facts surrounding missing persons in the USA. From the staggering 521,705 missing person records entered into NCIC in 2021 to the heart-wrenching statistic that about 600,000 individuals vanish in the U.S. each year, these figures tell a tale that will make you want to hug your loved ones a little tighter. Join us as we unravel the mysteries and realities behind these haunting statistics that paint a vivid picture of a profound societal issue.
Adult-Specific Data
- Approximately 20% of missing adults have some form of mental illness.
- About 15% of missing adults are believed to be endangered.
- Approximately 10% of missing adults are involuntarily missing due to accident, injury, or foul play.
- About 5% of missing adults have some form of disability.
- Approximately 2% of missing adults are lost or stranded in wilderness areas.
Interpretation
In this disheartening puzzle of disappearances, the statistics paint a sobering picture of the vulnerability faced by missing adults. Mental illness, endangerment, foul play – a cocktail of dangers threatens those who suddenly vanish from our lives. It's a landscape where the darkness of the mind, the specter of harm, and the cruel hand of fate converge to swallow individuals whole. Within this realm of uncertainty, the missing leave behind a haunting echo, a reminder of society's obligation to protect and seek out those who have slipped through the cracks.
Age Demographics
- Juveniles under the age of 18 account for 32,618 (34.8%) of the active missing person records.
- Adults aged 18-20 make up 8.4% of active missing person cases in NCIC.
- Adults over 21 account for 56.8% of active missing person cases in NCIC.
- Juveniles under the age of 18 accounted for 30,396 (33.9%) of the active missing person records in 2020.
- Adults aged 18-20 made up 8.8% of active missing person cases in NCIC in 2020.
- Adults over 21 accounted for 57.3% of active missing person cases in NCIC in 2020.
Interpretation
In the realm of missing persons, it seems that age really is just a number. Juveniles under 18 are giving 110% with their 34.8% slice of the pie, while the fresh-faced 18-20 crew may be small in numbers at 8.4%, but they're clearly making a big impact in the NCIC lineup. And let's not forget the seasoned pros over 21, dominating the field with their 56.8% share. The 2020 stats tell a similar tale, with the under-18 crowd holding steady at 33.9%, the 18-20 squad inching up to 8.8%, and the over-21 champs keeping their lead at 57.3%. Looks like when it comes to missing persons, age really does come with experience.
Annual Statistics
- In 2021, there were 521,705 missing person records entered into NCIC.
- As of December 31, 2021, NCIC contained 93,718 active missing person records.
- In 2021, 485,419 missing person records were cleared or canceled.
- About 600,000 individuals go missing in the United States every year.
- As of 2021, there were over 21,000 open missing person cases in the NamUs database.
- The number of missing person records entered into NCIC decreased by 9.5% from 2020 to 2021.
- The number of missing person records cleared or canceled decreased by 10.2% from 2020 to 2021.
- As of 2021, there were over 600,000 missing person records in the NCIC database.
- As of 2021, there were over 600,000 entries in the National Crime Information Center's Missing Person File.
- In 2020, there were 543,018 missing person records entered into NCIC.
- The number of missing person records entered into NCIC decreased by 3.9% from 2019 to 2020.
- In 2020, 480,832 missing person records were cleared or canceled.
- The number of missing person records cleared or canceled decreased by 5.5% from 2019 to 2020.
- As of December 31, 2020, NCIC contained 89,637 active missing person records.
Interpretation
In a whirlwind of numbers and data, it seems the search for the missing is a puzzle with pieces constantly shifting. With over half a million missing person records entered into databases, it's a sobering reminder of the individuals who have vanished from our communities. Yet, amidst the staggering statistics, there's a glimmer of hope as thousands of cases are cleared or canceled each year. The enigmatic dance of disappearances and resolutions serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of human existence and the tenacious spirit of those who continue the tireless search for the lost.
Child-Specific Data
- The average number of missing children reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in 2020 was 2,100 per day.
- In 2020, 91% of missing children cases reported to NCMEC were endangered runaways.
- 1 in 6 endangered runaways reported to NCMEC in 2020 were likely victims of child sex trafficking.
- The recovery rate for missing children has increased from 62% in 1990 to 97% today.
- In 2020, NCMEC assisted law enforcement and families with more than 29,800 cases of missing children.
- In 2020, 30% of missing children reported to NCMEC were recovered within 24 hours.
- In 2020, NCMEC assisted in the recovery or location of more than 6,800 children.
- Approximately 80% of child abductions by strangers occur within a quarter mile of the child's home.
- Nearly 90% of missing children have simply run away or there has been a misunderstanding with their parents about where they were supposed to be.
- Less than 1% of missing children are abducted by strangers.
- About 49% of missing children cases are runaways.
- Family abductions account for about 27% of missing children cases.
- Lost, injured, or otherwise missing children make up about 19% of cases.
- Approximately 5% of missing children cases are due to benign explanations.
- In 2020, NCMEC's CyberTipline received more than 21.7 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation.
- The AMBER Alert program has helped rescue and safely return 1,085 children as of 2020.
- In 2020, 365 AMBER Alerts were issued in the U.S., involving 461 children.
- 95% of AMBER Alerts issued in 2020 were resolved within 72 hours.
- As of 2021, all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have AMBER Alert plans.
- In 2020, 75% of AMBER Alerts were issued for children under the age of 15.
Interpretation
In a world where the average person can't even find their keys in the morning, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children seems to have a knack for reuniting families with their missing children at an astonishing rate. With a recovery rate skyrocketing from 62% in 1990 to 97% today, it's clear that when it comes to missing kids, they mean business. Despite the alarming statistics, from 2,100 missing children per day to the heart-wrenching reality that 1 in 6 endangered runaways may fall victim to child sex trafficking, there is a glimmer of hope in the heroic efforts of NCMEC and programs like AMBER Alert, proving that even in the darkest of times, there are rays of light illuminating the path to finding the missing pieces of the puzzle.
Gender Demographics
- Males account for 52% of active missing person cases in NCIC.
- Females account for 48% of active missing person cases in NCIC.
Interpretation
In a surprising twist of fate, it seems that men have finally overtaken women in something other than forgetting to put down the toilet seat. With 52% of active missing person cases in NCIC being male, it appears that the age-old stereotype of women being the more likely gender to disappear without a trace has been debunked. So, gentlemen, while you may still struggle with directions and remembering anniversaries, at least you're leading the charge in the mysterious art of going missing.
Racial Demographics
- White individuals make up 54.4% of active missing person cases in NCIC.
- Black individuals account for 29.5% of active missing person cases in NCIC.
- Hispanic individuals comprise 14.4% of active missing person cases in NCIC.
- Asian individuals make up 1.4% of active missing person cases in NCIC.
- Native American individuals account for 0.3% of active missing person cases in NCIC.
Interpretation
In the realm of missing persons statistics, it seems diversity is not only lacking in representation, but also in disappearance cases. With white individuals leading the way at 54.4%, perhaps it's time to level the playing field and give other races a chance to go missing too. After all, equal opportunity vanishing should be a right for all, regardless of race.
Unidentified Remains
- Approximately 4,400 unidentified remains are recovered each year in the United States.
- As of 2021, there were over 14,000 unidentified remains cases in the NamUs database.
- Approximately 4,400 unidentified bodies are recovered each year.
- It's estimated that 1,000 of those bodies remain unidentified after one year.
- As of 2021, there were over 8,000 unidentified persons cases in the NamUs database.
- Approximately 4,400 unidentified human remains are found each year in the United States.
- It's estimated that 1,000 of these remains stay unidentified after one year.
- As of 2021, there were over 13,000 unclaimed persons cases in the NamUs database.
- The average time between when a person is reported missing and when they are found deceased is 2 years.
- Approximately 40% of unidentified remains are found within 24 hours of the person being reported missing.
- About 85% of unidentified remains are found within one year of the person being reported missing.
Interpretation
In a bizarre dance of numbers and mysteries, the statistics reveal a haunting reality of our society's missing persons epidemic. With over 14,000 unidentified remains cases and 8,000 unidentified persons cases in the NamUs database as of 2021, it seems like a macabre puzzle that refuses to be solved. An unsettling cycle where approximately 4,400 unidentified bodies are discovered each year, with 1,000 remaining nameless after 12 months. The clock ticks ominously, with the average time from a person going missing to their tragic discovery as deceased being 2 years. Yet, a glimmer of hope persists in the darkness as 40% of unidentified remains are found within a day of the person being reported missing, and 85% within a year - a race against time and fading memories. A chilling tale told through cold statistics, reminding us that behind every number lies a story waiting to be unraveled.
