The lack of a common definition of “missing child,” and a common response to the issue, results in few reliable statistics on the scope of the problem around the world.
Even with this challenge, we know that:Nearly 37,000 children were reported missing in Australia in 2023.
Australian Federal Police, Media Release, at https://www.afp.gov.au/news-centre/media-release/international-missing-childrens-day-2024-commemorating-those-who-came
In Canada, there were 32,860 missing children reports in 2024.
Government of Canada, Background – 2024 Fast Fact Sheet, at https://canadasmissing.ca/pubs/2024/index-eng.htm#s6
In 2023, in France, 40,989 reports of missing children were made to the police and gendarmerie, according to the Ministry of Interior.
116000 enfants disparus, Missing children: over 40,000 reports in 2023, at https://www.116000enfantsdisparus.fr/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/116-000_Rapport-2023-sur-les-disparitions-de-mineurs-en-France-Web.pdf
In 2024, a total of approximately 18,100 children ages 13 and under and 80,800 young people ages 14-17 were reported missing in Germany.
Bundeskriminalamt (BKA), at https://www.bka.de/DE/UnsereAufgaben/Ermittlungsunterstuetzung/BearbeitungVermisstenfaelle/bearbeitungVermisstenfaelle.html
In India, “the data shows that 83,350 children…were reported missing” in 2022.
More than 47,000 children missing in India, 71% are girls, shows NCRB data, The Print, at https://theprint.in/india/more-than-47000-children-missing-in-india-71-are-girls-shows-ncrb-data/1880048/
In Italy in 2023, there were 21,951 cases of missing Italian minors under 18 years of age. In addition, there were 19,646 reports of missing foreign national minors in 2023.
Quanti bambini spariscono in Italia? Nel 2023 soon stati quasi 22 mila, Pianetamamma, at https://www.pianetamamma.it/la-famiglia/il-bimbo-nella-societa/quanti-bambini-spariscono-in-italia.html
In Kenya, 7,058 cases of missing children were reported from June 2023 to May 2024.
Capital News, 7,058 children reported missing since June 2023: Govt, at https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2024/05/7058-children-reported-missing-since-june-2023-govt/
In 2024, in Lithuania, 1,967 children were reported missing.
Lithuania Official Statistics Portal, at https://osp.stat.gov.lt/statistiniu-rodikliu-analize#/
From January 1 to December 31, 2024, 15,594 missing persons were detected in Romania, 9,888 of whom were minors, according to the General Inspectorate of Romanian Police.
IGPR – Almost 10,000 missing minors were found by police last year, News.ro, at https://www.news.ro/eveniment/igpr-aproape-10-000-de-minori-dati-disparuti-au-fost-gasiti-de-politisti-anul-trecut-1922404504002025011321887315
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 190,677 people went missing in Russia in 2023, of which 33,208 were children under 18.
Missing Persons Search System to Be Improved, Parliamentary Newspaper, at https://www.pnp.ru/politics/sistemu-poiska-propavshikh-lyudey-usovershenstvuyut.html
In South Korea, there were 25,692 reports of missing children in 2024.
National Police Agency, Status of receiving and handling reports of missing children, at https://www.index.go.kr/unity/potal/main/EachDtlPageDetail.do?idx_cd=1610
In Spain, 16,147 people were reported missing, of which 49.4% were minors ages 13-17.
CNDES, 2025 Informe Anual Personas Desaparecidas, at https://cndes-web.ses.mir.es/publico/Desaparecidos/Publicaciones.html
In the United Kingdom, over 69,927 children were reported missing in 200,704 incidents in 2022/2023.
Statistical Tables for UK Missing Persons Unit Data Report, 2022/23, National Crime Agency, at http://www.missingpersons.police.uk/en-gb/resources/downloads/missing-persons-statistical-bulletins
In 2024, there were 330,597 reports of missing children in the United States.
Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2024 NCIC Missing Person and Unidentified Person Statistics, at https://www.fbi.gov/file-repository/cjis/2024-ncic-missing-and-unidentified-person-statistics.pdf/view
This, however, is only a snapshot of the problem. In many countries, statistics on missing children are not even available; and, unfortunately, even available statistics may be inaccurate due to: under-reporting/under-recognition; inflation; incorrect database entry of case information; and deletion of records once a case is closed.
The lack of numbers, and the discrepancy in the numbers that do exist, is one of the key reasons why ICMEC developed and advocates for the Model Missing Child Framework, which assists countries with building strong, well-rounded national responses, and facilitates more efficient investigations, management, and resolution of missing children cases.
At ICMEC, we firmly believe that one missing child is one too many, and we are committed to improving the global understanding of and response to missing and abducted children.