Introduction
Every year, about 600,000 persons are reported missing in the United States. California tops the list with 2,133 missing persons reported, followed by Florida with 1,252 and Texas with 1,246. These states have the largest populations in the US, which may contribute to the higher number of missing person reports. Arizona, Washington, and New York also have a significant number of missing persons reported.
Some states with the lowest populations have the fewest missing persons reported. States such as Vermont, Wyoming, and North Dakota have some of the lowest numbers of missing persons reported. However, it is important to note that the number of missing persons reported does not necessarily reflect the number of actual missing persons in a state. It is possible that some states have better reporting mechanisms or protocols in place to identify and report missing persons, leading to higher numbers in those states.
Missing Person Statistics by State
| # | State | Number of Missing Persons | Missing Person Rate | Amber Alert Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 2,133 | 5.3 | 13 |
| 2 | Florida | 1,252 | 5.6 | 8 |
| 3 | Texas | 1,246 | 4.11 | 33 |
| 4 | Arizona | 915 | 12.4 | 4 |
| 5 | Washington | 643 | 8.04 | 9 |
| 6 | New York | 606 | 2.96 | 6 |
| 7 | Michigan | 556 | 5.49 | 1 |
| 8 | Oregon | 432 | 9.91 | 0 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 401 | 3.06 | 5 |
| 10 | Tennessee | 361 | 5.1 | 13 |
| 11 | Ohio | 358 | 3.01 | 14 |
| 12 | North Carolina | 327 | 3.05 | 19 |
| 13 | Illinois | 317 | 2.48 | 4 |
| 14 | Missouri | 316 | 5.09 | 7 |
| 15 | Alaska | 309 | 41.74 | 0 |
| 16 | New Jersey | 299 | 3.17 | 3 |
| 17 | Colorado | 292 | 4.87 | 7 |
| 18 | Louisiana | 266 | 5.67 | 2 |
| 19 | Oklahoma | 252 | 6.27 | 12 |
| 20 | Georgia | 250 | 2.27 | 13 |
| 21 | Kentucky | 248 | 5.44 | 0 |
| 22 | Virginia | 239 | 2.71 | 8 |
| 23 | Alabama | 204 | 4 | 4 |
| 24 | Arkansas | 200 | 6.58 | 2 |
| 25 | Connecticut | 197 | 5.45 | 1 |
| 26 | Nevada | 192 | 5.95 | 0 |
| 27 | South Carolina | 184 | 3.49 | 1 |
| 28 | Maryland | 183 | 2.91 | 0 |
| 29 | Minnesota | 179 | 3.07 | 4 |
| 30 | Indiana | 174 | 2.53 | 4 |
| 31 | Wisconsin | 149 | 2.5 | 11 |
| 32 | New Mexico | 143 | 6.7 | 12 |
| 33 | Massachusetts | 126 | 1.76 | 0 |
| 34 | West Virginia | 120 | 6.76 | 1 |
| 35 | Mississippi | 115 | 3.89 | 1 |
| 36 | Maine | 108 | 7.87 | 0 |
| 37 | Hawaii | 107 | 7.21 | 0 |
| 38 | Utah | 107 | 3.13 | 8 |
| 39 | Idaho | 101 | 5.26 | 5 |
| 40 | Iowa | 86 | 2.66 | 1 |
| 41 | Kansas | 81 | 2.73 | 5 |
| 42 | Montana | 71 | 6.38 | 4 |
| 43 | Nebraska | 61 | 3.05 | 1 |
| 44 | Delaware | 58 | 5.7 | 0 |
| 45 | Vermont | 54 | 8.33 | 0 |
| 46 | Wyoming | 45 | 7.75 | 1 |
| 47 | New Hampshire | 35 | 2.51 | 1 |
| 48 | North Dakota | 31 | 3.82 | 0 |
| 49 | South Dakota | 23 | 2.53 | 2 |
| 50 | Rhode Island | 20 | 1.8 | 1 |
States With Most Missing Persons
The ten states with the most missing persons are California, Florida, Texas, Arizona, Washington, New York, Michigan, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. California is the state with the most missing persons with 2,133 reported cases. Florida has the second highest number of missing persons with 1,252 cases reported. Texas follows closely with 1,246 cases, making it the third state with the most missing persons. Arizona has 915 missing person cases reported, making it the fourth state with the most missing persons. Washington state has 643 reported missing person cases, making it the fifth state with the most missing persons. New York has 606 reported cases of missing persons, ranking it as the sixth state on the list. Michigan has 556 reported cases of missing persons, putting it in seventh place. Oregon is the eighth state with the most missing persons with 432 reported cases. Pennsylvania has 401 reported missing person cases, putting it in ninth place. Finally, Tennessee rounds out the list with 361 reported cases of missing persons.
The ten states with the most missing persons are:
1. California – 2,133
2. Florida – 1,252
3. Texas – 1,246
4. Arizona – 915
5. Washington – 643
6. New York – 606
7. Michigan – 556
8. Oregon – 432
9. Pennsylvania – 401
10. Tennessee – 361
State With Most Missing Persons
California is the state with the most missing persons, with 2,133 cases reported. Many factors could contribute to California’s high number of missing persons, including its high population, large geographic area, and diverse communities. Additionally, California’s status as a border state with a large international airport could make it a transit point for human trafficking. The state’s law enforcement agencies and advocacy groups are working to address the issue of missing persons and have implemented various measures to increase public awareness and facilitate reporting of missing person cases.
Missing Persons by State
Alabama
Number of Missing Persons
204
Ranked in the US
#23
Missing Person Rate
4
Ranked in the US
#27
Amber Alert Cases
4
↓ 20%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#20
Alaska
Number of Missing Persons
309
Ranked in the US
#15
Missing Person Rate
41.74
Ranked in the US
#1
Amber Alert Cases
0
↓ 100%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#41
Arizona
Number of Missing Persons
915
Ranked in the US
#4
Missing Person Rate
12.4
Ranked in the US
#2
Amber Alert Cases
4
↑ 100%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#21
Arizona is the fourth state with the most missing persons, with 915 cases reported. The state's missing person rate is 12 per 100,000, which is significantly higher than the national average. Arizona has four reported cases of AMBER alerts.
Arkansas
Number of Missing Persons
200
Ranked in the US
#24
Missing Person Rate
6.58
Ranked in the US
#11
Amber Alert Cases
2
- 0%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#27
California
Number of Missing Persons
2,133
Ranked in the US
#1
Missing Person Rate
5.3
Ranked in the US
#21
Amber Alert Cases
13
↑ 85.71%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#4
California is the first state with the most missing persons, with 2,133 cases reported. The state's missing person rate is 5 per 100,000, which is the same as the national average of 4.4 per 100,000. California also has 13 reported cases of AMBER alerts.
Colorado
Number of Missing Persons
292
Ranked in the US
#17
Missing Person Rate
4.87
Ranked in the US
#25
Amber Alert Cases
7
↑ 40%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#14
Connecticut
Number of Missing Persons
197
Ranked in the US
#25
Missing Person Rate
5.45
Ranked in the US
#19
Amber Alert Cases
1
↑ INF%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#30
Delaware
Number of Missing Persons
58
Ranked in the US
#44
Missing Person Rate
5.7
Ranked in the US
#15
Amber Alert Cases
0
↓ 100%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#42
Florida
Number of Missing Persons
1,252
Ranked in the US
#2
Missing Person Rate
5.6
Ranked in the US
#17
Amber Alert Cases
8
↓ 55.56%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#11
Florida is the second state with the most missing persons, with 1,252 cases reported. The state's missing person rate is 6 per 100,000, which is higher than the national average. Florida has eight reported cases of AMBER alerts.
Georgia
Number of Missing Persons
250
Ranked in the US
#20
Missing Person Rate
2.27
Ranked in the US
#48
Amber Alert Cases
13
↑ 18.18%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#5
Hawaii
Number of Missing Persons
107
Ranked in the US
#37
Missing Person Rate
7.21
Ranked in the US
#8
Amber Alert Cases
0
- 0%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#43
Idaho
Number of Missing Persons
101
Ranked in the US
#39
Missing Person Rate
5.26
Ranked in the US
#22
Amber Alert Cases
5
↑ 25%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#17
Illinois
Number of Missing Persons
317
Ranked in the US
#13
Missing Person Rate
2.48
Ranked in the US
#47
Amber Alert Cases
4
- 0%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#22
Indiana
Number of Missing Persons
174
Ranked in the US
#30
Missing Person Rate
2.53
Ranked in the US
#43
Amber Alert Cases
4
↑ 100%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#23
Iowa
Number of Missing Persons
86
Ranked in the US
#40
Missing Person Rate
2.66
Ranked in the US
#42
Amber Alert Cases
1
- 0%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#32
Kansas
Number of Missing Persons
81
Ranked in the US
#41
Missing Person Rate
2.73
Ranked in the US
#40
Amber Alert Cases
5
↑ 66.67%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#18
Kentucky
Number of Missing Persons
248
Ranked in the US
#21
Missing Person Rate
5.44
Ranked in the US
#20
Amber Alert Cases
0
↓ 100%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#44
Louisiana
Number of Missing Persons
266
Ranked in the US
#18
Missing Person Rate
5.67
Ranked in the US
#16
Amber Alert Cases
2
↑ INF%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#28
Maine
Number of Missing Persons
108
Ranked in the US
#36
Missing Person Rate
7.87
Ranked in the US
#6
Amber Alert Cases
0
↓ 100%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#45
Maryland
Number of Missing Persons
183
Ranked in the US
#28
Missing Person Rate
2.91
Ranked in the US
#39
Amber Alert Cases
0
↓ 100%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#46
Massachusetts
Number of Missing Persons
126
Ranked in the US
#33
Missing Person Rate
1.76
Ranked in the US
#50
Amber Alert Cases
0
↓ 100%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#47
Michigan
Number of Missing Persons
556
Ranked in the US
#7
Missing Person Rate
5.49
Ranked in the US
#18
Amber Alert Cases
1
↓ 80%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#33
Michigan is the seventh state with the most missing persons, with 556 cases reported. The state's missing person rate is 5 per 100,000, which is the same as the national average. Michigan has one reported case of AMBER alerts.
Minnesota
Number of Missing Persons
179
Ranked in the US
#29
Missing Person Rate
3.07
Ranked in the US
#33
Amber Alert Cases
4
↑ INF%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#24
Mississippi
Number of Missing Persons
115
Ranked in the US
#35
Missing Person Rate
3.89
Ranked in the US
#28
Amber Alert Cases
1
↓ 50%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#34
Missouri
Number of Missing Persons
316
Ranked in the US
#14
Missing Person Rate
5.09
Ranked in the US
#24
Amber Alert Cases
7
↓ 22.22%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#15
Montana
Number of Missing Persons
71
Ranked in the US
#42
Missing Person Rate
6.38
Ranked in the US
#12
Amber Alert Cases
4
↓ 42.86%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#25
Nebraska
Number of Missing Persons
61
Ranked in the US
#43
Missing Person Rate
3.05
Ranked in the US
#35
Amber Alert Cases
1
- 0%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#35
Nevada
Number of Missing Persons
192
Ranked in the US
#26
Missing Person Rate
5.95
Ranked in the US
#14
Amber Alert Cases
0
↓ 100%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#48
New Hampshire
Number of Missing Persons
35
Ranked in the US
#47
Missing Person Rate
2.51
Ranked in the US
#45
Amber Alert Cases
1
↑ INF%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#36
New Jersey
Number of Missing Persons
299
Ranked in the US
#16
Missing Person Rate
3.17
Ranked in the US
#31
Amber Alert Cases
3
↑ 200%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#26
New Mexico
Number of Missing Persons
143
Ranked in the US
#32
Missing Person Rate
6.7
Ranked in the US
#10
Amber Alert Cases
12
↑ 200%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#7
New York
Number of Missing Persons
606
Ranked in the US
#6
Missing Person Rate
2.96
Ranked in the US
#38
Amber Alert Cases
6
↑ 20%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#16
New York is the sixth state with the most missing persons, with 606 cases reported. The state's missing person rate is 3 per 100,000, which is lower than the national average. New York has six reported cases of AMBER alerts.
North Carolina
Number of Missing Persons
327
Ranked in the US
#12
Missing Person Rate
3.05
Ranked in the US
#36
Amber Alert Cases
19
↑ 216.67%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#2
North Dakota
Number of Missing Persons
31
Ranked in the US
#48
Missing Person Rate
3.82
Ranked in the US
#29
Amber Alert Cases
0
- 0%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#49
Ohio
Number of Missing Persons
358
Ranked in the US
#11
Missing Person Rate
3.01
Ranked in the US
#37
Amber Alert Cases
14
↑ 75%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#3
Oklahoma
Number of Missing Persons
252
Ranked in the US
#19
Missing Person Rate
6.27
Ranked in the US
#13
Amber Alert Cases
12
↑ 200%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#8
Oregon
Number of Missing Persons
432
Ranked in the US
#8
Missing Person Rate
9.91
Ranked in the US
#3
Amber Alert Cases
0
- 0%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#50
Oregon is the eighth state with the most missing persons, with 432 cases reported. The state's missing person rate is 10 per 100,000, which is higher than the national average. Oregon has no reported cases of AMBER alerts.
Pennsylvania
Number of Missing Persons
401
Ranked in the US
#9
Missing Person Rate
3.06
Ranked in the US
#34
Amber Alert Cases
5
↑ 66.67%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#19
Pennsylvania is the ninth state with the most missing persons, with 401 cases reported. The state's missing person rate is 3 per 100,000, which is lower than the national average. Pennsylvania has five reported cases of AMBER alerts.
Rhode Island
Number of Missing Persons
20
Ranked in the US
#50
Missing Person Rate
1.8
Ranked in the US
#49
Amber Alert Cases
1
↑ INF%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#37
South Carolina
Number of Missing Persons
184
Ranked in the US
#27
Missing Person Rate
3.49
Ranked in the US
#30
Amber Alert Cases
1
- 0%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#38
South Dakota
Number of Missing Persons
23
Ranked in the US
#49
Missing Person Rate
2.53
Ranked in the US
#44
Amber Alert Cases
2
↑ INF%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#29
Tennessee
Number of Missing Persons
361
Ranked in the US
#10
Missing Person Rate
5.1
Ranked in the US
#23
Amber Alert Cases
13
↑ 44.44%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#6
Tennessee is the tenth state with the most missing persons, with 361 cases reported. The state's missing person rate is 5 per 100,000, which is the same as the national average. Tennessee has 13 reported cases of AMBER alerts.
Texas
Number of Missing Persons
1,246
Ranked in the US
#3
Missing Person Rate
4.11
Ranked in the US
#26
Amber Alert Cases
33
↓ 21.43%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#1
Texas is the third state with the most missing persons, with 1,246 cases reported. The state's missing person rate is 4 per 100,000, which is lower than the national average. Texas has the highest number of AMBER alerts of any state, with 33 reported cases.
Utah
Number of Missing Persons
107
Ranked in the US
#38
Missing Person Rate
3.13
Ranked in the US
#32
Amber Alert Cases
8
↑ 14.29%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#12
Vermont
Number of Missing Persons
54
Ranked in the US
#45
Missing Person Rate
8.33
Ranked in the US
#4
Amber Alert Cases
0
- 0%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#51
Virginia
Number of Missing Persons
239
Ranked in the US
#22
Missing Person Rate
2.71
Ranked in the US
#41
Amber Alert Cases
8
↑ 100%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#13
Washington
Number of Missing Persons
643
Ranked in the US
#5
Missing Person Rate
8.04
Ranked in the US
#5
Amber Alert Cases
9
↑ 200%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#10
Washington is the fifth state with the most missing persons, with 643 cases reported. The state's missing person rate is 8 per 100,000, which is higher than the national average. Washington has nine reported cases of AMBER alerts.
West Virginia
Number of Missing Persons
120
Ranked in the US
#34
Missing Person Rate
6.76
Ranked in the US
#9
Amber Alert Cases
1
↑ INF%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#39
Wisconsin
Number of Missing Persons
149
Ranked in the US
#31
Missing Person Rate
2.5
Ranked in the US
#46
Amber Alert Cases
11
↑ 175%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#9
Wyoming
Number of Missing Persons
45
Ranked in the US
#46
Missing Person Rate
7.75
Ranked in the US
#7
Amber Alert Cases
1
- 0%
Vs 2020
Ranked in the US
#40
FAQs
What state has the most missing people ?
The state that has the most missing people is California with 2,133 cases reported.
Need help with market research?
Talk to our Experts