Children go missing very frequently, with tens of thousands reported annually in countries like the US, UK, and Australia, though most cases involve short-term runaways or family matters and most children are quickly found, but vulnerable groups like young teens and First Nations youth are disproportionately affected, highlighting a significant ongoing issue.
In Australia, an estimated 20,000 children are reported missing every year. Australian Federal Police, National Coordination Centre. In Canada, an estimated 45,288 children are reported missing each year.
“….. A child goes missing every 40 seconds in the U.S., over 2,100 per day. In excess of 800,000 children are reported missing each year; another 500,000 go missing without ever being reported.” - Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).
According to another source, only about 100 cases per year can be classified as abductions by strangers. According to the State Department, between 2008 and 2017 an average of about 1,100 children were abducted from the U.S. to a foreign country.
Possibly the location in Australia with the most missing persons is The Gap, in Watsons Bay, Sydney. It is a place chosen as somewhere for people to take their own lives, due to the tall cliffs above the ocean. Sometimes those people are found, and sometimes they are not. Today, we honour those lost at The Gap.
Our youth are most susceptible to go missing with a rate six times that of any other age group. Those aged between 13 and 17 account for half of all missing persons reported to police, approximately 19,000 reports each year. There are many reasons why youth go missing.
The 'Somerton Man' is the case of an unidentified man found dead on Somerton Beach near Adelaide on 1 December 1948. The mystery also became known the 'Tamam Shud case' and, to this day, the man's identity and the truth about how he met his fate are still unknown.
Run and scream if someone tries to force you to go somewhere with them or tries to push you into a car. Memorize a secret code word. Tell your child not to go with anyone under any circumstances unless that person also knows this code word. You don't need to help an adult.
According to data from the 2019 United States Census, people who are Black or African American make up 13.4% of the United States population (QuickFacts). However, nearly 40% of missing persons are people of color (“Statistics,” Black and Missing). Black children make up about 33% of all missing child cases.
The longest-missing child case is widely considered to be Marjorie West, who vanished in Pennsylvania in 1938 at age 4 and remains missing, now for over 87 years, with no definitive resolution. Other long-term missing children cases include Dennis Martin (missing since 1969) and Mary Boyle (missing since 1977), highlighting enduring mysteries where children disappeared under perplexing circumstances, with families seeking answers for decades.
Every year, as many as 100,000 children and young people go missing or run away from home. There are lots of reasons why this might happen, like challenges at home or at school, or criminals targeting teenagers online. Once they have gone missing, teenagers are in real danger.
According to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), approximately two-thirds of stranger abductions involve female children. The Counter Trafficking Data Collaborative also notes that abducted victims are predominantly female, at 73%.
In the United States, approximately 460,000 children are reported missing each year. In Spain, nearly 20,000 children are reported missing every year. In Canada, approximately 45,288 children are reported missing each year. In Russia, nearly 45,000 children were reported missing in 2015.
One Missing Child Is One Too Many
What to do if your child is missing. Immediately call your local law enforcement agency. After you have reported your child missing to law enforcement, call the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST® (1-800-843-5678).
“The Mucutuy siblings today spend their days enjoying life and learning. They have been accompanied by a team that specializes in ethnic affairs and works so that they don't lose their customs while they are far from their territory,” the statement read, per the Associated Press.
The targets of hate crime
Of the 11,679 hate crimes reported: 5,866 were on the basis of race. 3,004 against Black people. 797 against Latinx people (the second highest ever recorded).
Kidnapping for ransom is a common occurrence in various parts of the world today. In 2018, the United Nations found Pakistan and England had the highest number of kidnappings while New Zealand had the highest rate among the 70 countries for which data is available.
There were 574 victims of kidnapping/abduction recorded in Australia in 2024, an increase of 75 victims from the previous year. The victimisation rate for kidnapping/abduction remained stable at 2 victims per 100,000 persons.
Children who are victims of attempted abduction should repeatedly yell "Help! I don't know this person! I'm being kidnapped!" Children have been saved by doing this! Be sure your child knows that resistance-yelling, kicking, scratching, biting-is acceptable under these circumstances.
Most abductions occur at home or within a quarter mile of the home. Women are more likely to commit family child abductions.
Always be alert to your personal security and surroundings. Avoid distractions. Be prepared to stop or take evasive action if you sense danger. Get professional security advice for travel in locations with a heightened kidnap risk.
Australia's rarest natural phenomena
The most significantly underreported crime in Australia is sexual assault and sexual violence, with vast discrepancies between survey data (revealing millions of incidents) and police-recorded statistics (showing far fewer reports) due to high fear, shame, and perceived lack of support, making it a hidden epidemic despite increasing awareness. Domestic and family violence is also highly underreported, often linked to power dynamics and fear, while child sexual abuse remains a critical hidden issue.
15 of History's Greatest Mysteries