Our Missing Children
In Canada, an average of 60,000 children are reported missing per year, which is about the entire population of the Central Kootenay region. These statistics reflect only those under 18 who have been reported missing to the police.
Most missing children are reported as runaways, unknown or parental abduction. A very small amount are because the child is abducted by a stranger, the child just wandered off, or another reason.
When reading these statistics, please remember that not all of these children are still missing. The amounts reflect how many reports were filed. Most children are often found within 72 hours. Sadly, some aren't found alive.
Learn more about the Amber Alert system and National Missing Children's Day.
Most missing children are reported as runaways, unknown or parental abduction. A very small amount are because the child is abducted by a stranger, the child just wandered off, or another reason.
When reading these statistics, please remember that not all of these children are still missing. The amounts reflect how many reports were filed. Most children are often found within 72 hours. Sadly, some aren't found alive.
Learn more about the Amber Alert system and National Missing Children's Day.
Statistics Canada's Missing Children Summary
Abduction of a child under 18 by an individual other than subject's legal parent or guardian
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Unknown
11,216 10761 12079 11373 10922 10664 10364 10031 9884 10254 9404 9181 |
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Total
60,582 60461 66548 67266 67809 66532 66994 63712 60360 62087 58098 56122 |
Kidnap - Abducted by a stranger, or someone other than the mother or father
Wandered - When a child is presumed to have wandered away in a confused state and has not returned when expected
Run - When a child has believed to have run away
Unknown - Reason for being missing is unknown
PA - Parental Abduction, abduction by the mother or the father only
Accident - When the child's disappearance is considered an accident, but no body has been recovered
Other - When a child has not returned to a detention home or institution housing for young offender
In Depth Study
In 1996, the RCMP Missing Children's Registry did a study to see the cause of a child being reported missing, a gender profile, and an age profile of the missing children. The evidence is shown in tables below.
