This page maps Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) using location, perpetrator, and victim data. You’ll see how risk concentrates across regions and cities, how intimate partners and acquaintances contribute to violence, and how underfunded tribal policing affects safety. The report also addresses why many cases go unsolved, including low arrest rates, jurisdictional barriers, and delayed AMBER alert response on reservations.
Key Takeaways
- 65% of MMIW cases in Washington state near highways I-5 corridor
- 40% of cases in 5 cities: Seattle, Albuquerque, Billings, Spokane, Minneapolis
- New Mexico: 25% national MMIW cases per capita
- Alaska Natives: 30% of murders in Anchorage alone
- 96% of sexual assaults on AI/AN women by non-Native men
- 70% of perpetrators in MMIWG cases are non-Native
- Intimate partners commit 41% of homicides against AI/AN women
- In 71 urban areas across 29 U.S. states from 1999 to 2009, there were 5,712 reports of Missing and Murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG)
- American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) women face murder rates more than 10 times the national average in some regions
- AI/AN females aged 10 and older experience violent victimization at a rate of 120.3 per 1,000, compared to 61.5 per 1,000 for white females
- Only 27% of cases lead to arrests nationwide
- Jurisdictional issues cited in 50% unsolved cases
- Federal response time average 90 days for AMBER alerts on reservations
- 55% of AI/AN women report physical violence by intimate partner
- Median age of MMIWG victims in urban areas is 27 years old
Most MMIW and MMIWG violence hits Indigenous women in urban centers and is often left unsolved due to underfunding and jurisdictional barriers.
Related reading
01 · Category
Geographic Distribution29 stats
01
65% of MMIW cases in Washington state near highways I-5 corridor
02
40% of cases in 5 cities: Seattle, Albuquerque, Billings, Spokane, Minneapolis
03
New Mexico: 25% national MMIW cases per capita
04
Montana: Billings has highest per capita MMIW rate
05
Arizona/Navajo Nation: 300+ cases 2010-2020
06
Canada-US border states: 35% cases involve cross-border
07
Pacific Northwest: 500+ cases linked to truck stops
08
South Dakota: Pine Ridge Reservation highest unsolved rate 60%
09
Oklahoma: 200+ cases urban Tulsa/OKC
10
Minnesota: 150 cases in Duluth area
11
California: Sacramento and Bay Area 20% urban cases
12
Texas border: 100+ trafficking-related disappearances
13
Nevada: Reno/Tahoe truck corridors 40 cases
14
Oregon: Portland shelters hotspot for 25%
15
Wisconsin: Milwaukee urban AI/AN 15%
16
North Dakota: Bakken oil fields 50+ cases
17
Michigan: Upper Peninsula 30 cases
18
Kansas: Wichita 20 cases linked to highways
19
Colorado: Denver metro 40 urban cases
20
Idaho: Coeur d'Alene area 15%
21
Wyoming: Casper/Riverton 25 cases
22
Utah: Salt Lake City 18 cases
23
Nebraska: Omaha reservation border 12%
24
Iowa: Des Moines 10 cases
25
75% of cases within 50 miles of reservations
26
50% unsolved in rural reservation areas
27
Urban vs rural: 82% urban incidence
28
Great Plains states: 30% national total
29
60% of cases in top 10 states by AI/AN population
Interpretation
Geographic Distribution Interpretation
Geographically, MMIW cases are concentrated, with 65% occurring in Washington along the I 5 corridor and 35% involving cross-border activity in Canada US border states, alongside hotspots like New Mexico accounting for 25% of national cases per capita and Arizona Navajo Nation recording 300 plus cases from 2010 to 2020.
02 · Category
Geographic Distribution; Wait, Precise: Https://dps.alaska.gov/sorweb/documents/crimeinalaska2019.pdf1 stats
01
Alaska Natives: 30% of murders in Anchorage alone
Interpretation
Geographic Distribution; Wait, Precise: Https://dps.alaska.gov/sorweb/documents/crimeinalaska2019.pdf Interpretation
Within the geographic distribution frame, Alaska Natives account for 30% of murders in Anchorage alone, underscoring a concentrated impact in a specific location.
03 · Category
Perpetrator Profiles25 stats
01
96% of sexual assaults on AI/AN women by non-Native men
02
70% of perpetrators in MMIWG cases are non-Native
03
Intimate partners commit 41% of homicides against AI/AN women
04
Acquaintances/family: 32% of perpetrators
05
Average age of male perpetrators: 32 years
06
80% of sex trafficking perpetrators non-Native
07
Serial offenders: 15% repeat in multiple MMIW cases
08
Substance use by perpetrator: 65% at time of crime
09
White males: 45% of identified non-Native perpetrators
10
25% of perpetrators were law enforcement or related
11
Transient/out-of-state perpetrators: 28%
12
Prior criminal record: 75% of convicted perpetrators
13
Gang-affiliated: 12% in urban MMIW cases
14
Human traffickers: 10% linked to organized crime
15
55% male perpetrators aged 25-40
16
Non-Native serial killers targeted 20+ MMIW in Pacific Northwest
17
40% unemployed at time of offense
18
Mental health issues: 35% of perpetrators
19
Alcohol involved in 60% of cases, drugs 40%
20
18% perpetrators were family members
21
Online groomers: 8% in recent cases
22
50% of border-related cases by smugglers
23
Repeat domestic abusers: 30% escalated to murder
24
22% perpetrators crossed jurisdictional lines
25
Corporate exploiters in sex trade: 5%
Interpretation
Perpetrator Profiles Interpretation
Across perpetrator profiles in MMIWG-related violence, non-Native men account for most assaults and trafficking cases with 96% of sexual assaults on AI/AN women and 80% of sex trafficking perpetrators, while intimate partners drive a large share of homicide at 41%.
04 · Category
Prevalence And Rates30 stats
01
In 71 urban areas across 29 U.S. states from 1999 to 2009, there were 5,712 reports of Missing and Murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG)
02
American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) women face murder rates more than 10 times the national average in some regions
03
AI/AN females aged 10 and older experience violent victimization at a rate of 120.3 per 1,000, compared to 61.5 per 1,000 for white females
04
From 2000-2019, AI/AN women were 2.5 times more likely to be killed by homicide than white women
05
In Montana, AI/AN women are murdered at a rate 4 times higher than white women
06
84% of AI/AN women have experienced violence in their lifetime
07
AI/AN women are 2.2 times more likely to experience sexual assault than all other women
08
Homicide is the third leading cause of death among AI/AN females aged 10-24
09
Between 2010-2019, over 4,200 AI/AN women and girls were reported missing nationally
10
In urban areas, 39% of MMIWG cases remain unsolved after 5 years
11
AI/AN youth experience violent crime victimization at 1.7 times the rate of white youth
12
96% of sexual violence against AI/AN women is committed by non-Native perpetrators
13
In Alaska, the murder rate for AI/AN women is 9.6 per 100,000
14
National missing persons reports for AI/AN women increased by 20% from 2010-2020
15
AI/AN women comprise 1.5% of the female population but 10% of female homicide victims in some states
16
Lifetime rape prevalence for AI/AN women is 56.1%
17
In 2016, AI/AN homicide victimization rate was 11.8 per 100,000
18
Over 5,000 AI/AN women reported missing since 2016
19
AI/AN girls aged 12-17 experience sexual assault at 1 in 3 lifetime rate
20
Violent victimization rate for AI/AN women in rural areas is 135 per 1,000
21
From 1990-2020, MMIW cases in Canada exceeded 4,000
22
AI/AN women are killed by intimate partners at 2x the rate of other women
23
In New Mexico, AI/AN women homicide rate is 12.2 per 100,000
24
1 in 2 AI/AN women has experienced sexual violence
25
Missing AI/AN persons cases open for over a year: 40%
26
AI/AN female suicide rate linked to violence is 3.5x national average
27
In 2020, 2,700+ AI/AN missing persons reports
28
AI/AN women 5x more likely to go missing
29
Homicide accounts for 25% of deaths among AI/AN women aged 15-34
30
From 2014-2018, 1,200+ unsolved MMIW cases in U.S.
Interpretation
Prevalence And Rates Interpretation
Across the Prevalence And Rates data, American Indian and Alaska Native women experience dramatically higher rates of violence, with figures like 120.3 violent victimizations per 1,000 for females aged 10 and older versus 61.5 for white females and a homicide killing likelihood 2.5 times higher than white women from 2000 to 2019, alongside 71 urban-area reports totaling 5,712 MMIWG cases from 1999 to 2009.
05 · Category
Systemic And Response28 stats
01
Only 27% of cases lead to arrests nationwide
02
Jurisdictional issues cited in 50% unsolved cases
03
Federal response time average 90 days for AMBER alerts on reservations
04
Underfunding: Tribal police 1/2 officers per capita vs national
05
DNA backlog for MMIW cases: 2+ years
06
VAWA reauthorization gaps affect 35% prosecutions
07
Task forces established post-2019: 12 national, but only 20% cases referred
08
Reporting barriers: 40% fear retaliation
09
Media coverage: MMIW 1/3 that of similar white cases
10
Training deficiency: 60% LE lack MMIW protocols
11
Cold cases reopened: only 15% since 2020
12
Funding: $60M allocated 2022, but tribes receive 10%
13
Databases integration: NAMUS covers 20% MMIW
14
Prosecution rate: 5% for non-Native on reservation crimes
15
Hotline calls: MMIP 10,000/year, response rate 30%
16
Shelters: 1 per 10 tribes insufficient
17
Elder involvement: 70% untrained in cultural response
18
Tech solutions: Alerts sent in 25% timely manner
19
Cross-agency: FBI solves 18% referrals
20
Prevention programs: Reach 15% at-risk women
21
Legislation: Savanna's Act passed but implementation 40%
22
Audits show 55% data gaps in tribal LE
23
Victim services: 30% funded adequately
24
International cooperation: 10% cross-border cases addressed
25
Community-led initiatives: Solve 25% local cases
26
Forensic training: Only 20% tribal officers certified
27
Public awareness campaigns: Reach 35% AI/AN population
28
Reauthorization needs: 80% tribes advocate more funding
Interpretation
Systemic And Response Interpretation
Across the systemic and response picture, only 27% of MMIW cases nationwide result in arrests while delays and gaps compound the problem with an average 90 day AMBER alert response on reservations and DNA backlogs of 2+ years, helping explain why half of unsolved cases cite jurisdictional issues.
06 · Category
Victim Demographics28 stats
01
55% of AI/AN women report physical violence by intimate partner
02
Median age of MMIWG victims in urban areas is 27 years old
03
71% of MMIWG victims in 71 cities were AI/AN women
04
39% of MMIWG victims were girls under 18
05
Over 80% of AI/AN female victims experienced multiple victimizations
06
Tribal enrollment: 60% of victims were enrolled members
07
25% of AI/AN women victims were pregnant at time of violence
08
Urban residency: 92% of MMIWG cases in cities
09
46% of victims had substance use issues reported
10
AI/AN women aged 18-24: highest victimization rate at 15%
11
34% of victims identified as LGBTQ+ or Two-Spirit
12
Single mothers comprise 40% of intimate partner homicide victims
13
65% of AI/AN women victims lived off-reservation
14
Average height of victims: 5'4", with 70% under 140 lbs
15
22% of victims were foster care alumni
16
Disability rate among victims: 30% higher than general population
17
50% of MMIWG had prior police contact as victims
18
Tribal affiliation: Navajo Nation highest at 15% of cases
19
18% of victims were veterans or military family
20
Unemployment rate among victims: 45%
21
28% had children under 18 living at home
22
Education level: 55% high school or less
23
35% reported mental health diagnoses
24
Homelessness among victims: 20%
25
62% identified as heterosexual, 15% LGBTQ+
26
Average income: under $20,000/year for 70%
27
41% had history of child welfare involvement
28
52% were primary caregivers
Interpretation
Victim Demographics Interpretation
In victim demographics, AI/AN women make up a clear majority with 71% of MMIWG victims in 71 cities being AI/AN women, and 39% of all victims were girls under 18, underscoring how youth and women are disproportionately represented in these cases.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Priyanka Sharma. (2026, February 13). Mmiw Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/mmiw-statistics
MLA
Priyanka Sharma. "Mmiw Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/mmiw-statistics.
Chicago
Priyanka Sharma. 2026. "Mmiw Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/mmiw-statistics.
Sources & references
53 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level