The categories for missing persons are defined by the U.S. Department of Justice as:
Disability: A person of any age who is missing and under proven physical/mental disability or is senile, thereby subjecting him/ herself or others to personal and immediate danger.
Endangered: A person of any age who is missing under circumstances indicating that his/her physical safety may be in danger.
Involuntary: A person of any age who is missing under circumstances indicating that the disappearance may not have been voluntary, i.e., abduction or kidnapping.
Juvenile: A person under 18 who is missing and not declared emancipated as defined by the laws of his/her state of residence and does not meet any other entry criteria.
Catastrophe Victim: A person of any age who is missing after a catastrophe.
Other: A person not meeting the criteria for entry in any other category who is missing and 1) for whom there is a reasonable concern for his/her safety or 2) a person who is under age 18 and declared emancipated by the laws of his/her state of residence.Â
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Number of missing persons files U.S. 2024, by category and race
In 2024, there were ** cases filed by the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) under the category of juvenile, meaning the reported missing person was under 18 years old, had not been declared emancipated, and does not meet any other category criteria - the most commonly utilized category in missing person files in the United States. Of the total number of juvenile missing persons files, ** identified as white while ** were Black.Â
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FBI. (March 17, 2025). Number of NCIC missing persons files in the United States in 2024, by category and race of missing person [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 30, 2026, from /statistics/1623391/number-of-missing-persons-files-in-the-us-by-category-race/
FBI. "Number of NCIC missing persons files in the United States in 2024, by category and race of missing person." Chart. March 17, 2025. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 30, 2026. /statistics/1623391/number-of-missing-persons-files-in-the-us-by-category-race/
FBI. (2025). Number of NCIC missing persons files in the United States in 2024, by category and race of missing person. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 30, 2026. /statistics/1623391/number-of-missing-persons-files-in-the-us-by-category-race/
FBI. "Number of Ncic Missing Persons Files in The United States in 2024, by Category and Race of Missing Person." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 17 Mar 2025, /statistics/1623391/number-of-missing-persons-files-in-the-us-by-category-race/
FBI, Number of NCIC missing persons files in the United States in 2024, by category and race of missing person ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1623391/number-of-missing-persons-files-in-the-us-by-category-race/ (last visited July 30, 2026)
Number of NCIC missing persons files in the United States in 2024, by category and race of missing person [Graph], FBI, March 17, 2025. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1623391/number-of-missing-persons-files-in-the-us-by-category-race/
