Globally, an estimated 8 million children under 18 go missing every year. This figure is based on data from organizations like Missing Children Europe, the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC), and national law enforcement agencies.
The rate varies significantly by region due to differences in reporting systems, definitions of “missing,” and other factors. For example:
- In the United States, approximately 460,000 children are reported missing annually.
- In Europe, around 250,000 children are reported missing each year.
- In countries with weaker reporting mechanisms, the actual numbers may be underreported or unavailable.