Public information center
Missing Children in America: The Facts
Every figure here comes from an official or peer-reviewed source. Each shows its reporting period and a link to the original. Tap the i icon to see its definition and limitations.
01
National overview
349,557
NCIC missing-person entries, under 18 (2024)
25,493
NCIC missing-person active records, under 18 (2024)
34,256
Active NCIC missing-person records, under 21 (Dec 31, 2024)
533,936
All NCIC missing-person entries, all ages (2024)
Reports (entries) count each time police enter a missing child into NCIC. One child can be reported more than once.
Individual children are fewer than entries. Official sources don't publish an exact count of unique children.
Active records are reports still open on a given date. This is the number of children still missing at that moment.
Cases reported to NCMEC
29,568
Missing-child reports NCMEC assisted with (2024)
27,033
NCMEC cases resolved by year end (2024)
2,535
NCMEC cases still active at year end (2024)
NCMEC and FBI figures measure different things and use different definitions, so they are never added together here.
NCIC entries, under 18, by year
| 2020 | 365,348 |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 337,195 |
| 2022 | 359,094 |
| 2023 | 375,304 |
| 2024 | 349,557 |
Active NCIC records, under 18, on Dec 31
| 2020 | 30,396 |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 30,400 |
| 2022 | 30,522 |
| 2023 | 29,451 |
| 2024 | 25,493 |
02
Geographic information
The FBI's annual NCIC Missing Person report publishes national totals only. We checked the full 2024 report page by page, and it has no state-by-state table. No single official source publishes comparable missing-child figures for every state, so SEEN does not estimate or piece them together.
Some states publish their own clearinghouse reports. Their definitions and methods differ, so they can't be compared directly.
FBI 2024 NCIC statistics (national, PDF)More reports in a state does not mean children there face more risk. Population size, reporting practices and how agencies enter records all affect the numbers. Comparisons should be adjusted for child population (U.S. Census Bureau data).
SEEN verified public cases · by state
Shows only cases SEEN has verified and published on this site. It is not official statistics and not a complete picture of missing children in any state.
03
Children who may need more visibility
What research has documented
- • In a peer-reviewed study of 2013 online news coverage, Black and male missing persons were less likely to be covered at all, and received less coverage when they were.
- • Children missing from foster or state care make up most cases reported to NCMEC (federal law requires those reports).
What is still uncertain
- • How these coverage patterns apply specifically to children, and to local TV, radio and social media, today.
- • Why the disparities happen. The research documents patterns, not causes.
- • Whether income or neighborhood on their own change how much attention a case gets. SEEN treats this as a question to study, not an assumption.
23,160
NCMEC cases of children missing from foster or state care (2024)
04
How you can help, responsibly
Look at verified case pages
Only rely on notices published by SEEN, law enforcement or NCMEC.
Share without changing details
Share the official link or flyer. Don't crop, edit or add speculation.
Send what you know
Use the tip form on a case page. Anonymous tips are welcome.
Call for emergencies
If a child may be in danger right now, call 911 or the investigating agency first.
