Increasing Number of Missing Persons in Spain Reports 6% Rise in 2024
The latest statistics reveal a total of 16,147 missing persons cases investigated in Spain, with significant proportions resolved promptly.
In 2024, Spanish security forces investigated reports of 16,147 missing persons, marking a 6% increase compared to 2023. The resolution rate stands at 95.5% for reported cases, with 72% of missing persons found within one week of their disappearance.
These insights were shared on Monday during the fourth meeting of the Monitoring Commission for the First Strategic Plan on Missing Persons (2022-2024), chaired by Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska.
The meeting included representatives from families, associations, and foundations involved in the sector.
As of March 1, 2025, a total of 6,638 individuals remain missing in Spain.
The National Center for Missing Persons (CNDES) reported 26,345 total missing person cases in 2024. Among these, 11,552 pertained to individuals with a single episode of disappearance, while the remainder involved recurring cases, resulting in an average of 3.2 reports per individual, with higher recurrence identified among adolescents.
The data further indicates that 50.6% of missing persons are adults, whereas 49.4% are minors.
Notably, two-thirds of the affected individuals are Spanish males, and 91% of the cases are categorized as voluntary absences.
Of the cases reported, 325 concluded with fatalities (1.4%), with 147 attributed to accidental causes and 75 to suicide.
Geographically, the regions with the highest number of reported missing persons in 2024 include the Canary Islands (4,502), Madrid (4,434), Catalonia (3,622), and Andalusia (3,443).
Among provinces, Madrid reported the highest cases (4,434), followed by Las Palmas (3,333), Barcelona (2,547), and Valencia (1,505).
Minister Grande-Marlaska emphasized the commitment to resolve every missing persons case regardless of the time that has elapsed, affirming that all families have the right to know what happened to their loved ones.
He highlighted the data on resolved cases as evidence of significant efforts made in the investigations.
Additionally, the minister expressed solidarity with the victims of the recent storm event in Valencia and acknowledged the three individuals still reported missing.
In a proactive initiative, the minister introduced new official missing persons posters that present more information and larger photographs, along with enhanced protection measures for affected individuals' images.
This initiative aims to assist in the location of missing persons while simultaneously respecting their dignity.
The new posters include QR codes providing additional information about the cases, designed to combat misinformation in this sensitive area.
The posters are authorized by investigators and have been developed in consultation with the families of the missing.
Changes to the digital footprint of affected individuals’ images will also be made, including the removal of surnames and ensuring the posters are taken down within 12 hours following the resolution of cases, as opposed to the previous 48-hour policy.
This aims to prevent the uncontrolled dissemination of images of resolved cases on social media and other platforms.
In addition, the Interior Ministry is finalizing a second plan that establishes a unique coordination protocol between state and regional police forces, enhancing officer training and incorporating a focus on international disappearances.
New measures for investigating long-term disappearances are set to be implemented in 2025 with an expanded four-year duration.
The CNDES will track official bulletins and historical archives to compare published death declarations with the Missing Persons and Human Remains Database (PDyRH).
In cases of disappearances lasting over ten years (or five years for citizens aged 75 and older), families can request a judicial declaration of death, culminating in the publication of the case in the Official State Bulletin (BOE).
Over the first three years of the current plan, specialists within the PDyRH system resolved 35 long-term disappearances.
The initial tracking of bulletins and archives has resulted in the identification of nine missing persons between the years 1977 and 2004.
These insights were shared on Monday during the fourth meeting of the Monitoring Commission for the First Strategic Plan on Missing Persons (2022-2024), chaired by Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska.
The meeting included representatives from families, associations, and foundations involved in the sector.
As of March 1, 2025, a total of 6,638 individuals remain missing in Spain.
The National Center for Missing Persons (CNDES) reported 26,345 total missing person cases in 2024. Among these, 11,552 pertained to individuals with a single episode of disappearance, while the remainder involved recurring cases, resulting in an average of 3.2 reports per individual, with higher recurrence identified among adolescents.
The data further indicates that 50.6% of missing persons are adults, whereas 49.4% are minors.
Notably, two-thirds of the affected individuals are Spanish males, and 91% of the cases are categorized as voluntary absences.
Of the cases reported, 325 concluded with fatalities (1.4%), with 147 attributed to accidental causes and 75 to suicide.
Geographically, the regions with the highest number of reported missing persons in 2024 include the Canary Islands (4,502), Madrid (4,434), Catalonia (3,622), and Andalusia (3,443).
Among provinces, Madrid reported the highest cases (4,434), followed by Las Palmas (3,333), Barcelona (2,547), and Valencia (1,505).
Minister Grande-Marlaska emphasized the commitment to resolve every missing persons case regardless of the time that has elapsed, affirming that all families have the right to know what happened to their loved ones.
He highlighted the data on resolved cases as evidence of significant efforts made in the investigations.
Additionally, the minister expressed solidarity with the victims of the recent storm event in Valencia and acknowledged the three individuals still reported missing.
In a proactive initiative, the minister introduced new official missing persons posters that present more information and larger photographs, along with enhanced protection measures for affected individuals' images.
This initiative aims to assist in the location of missing persons while simultaneously respecting their dignity.
The new posters include QR codes providing additional information about the cases, designed to combat misinformation in this sensitive area.
The posters are authorized by investigators and have been developed in consultation with the families of the missing.
Changes to the digital footprint of affected individuals’ images will also be made, including the removal of surnames and ensuring the posters are taken down within 12 hours following the resolution of cases, as opposed to the previous 48-hour policy.
This aims to prevent the uncontrolled dissemination of images of resolved cases on social media and other platforms.
In addition, the Interior Ministry is finalizing a second plan that establishes a unique coordination protocol between state and regional police forces, enhancing officer training and incorporating a focus on international disappearances.
New measures for investigating long-term disappearances are set to be implemented in 2025 with an expanded four-year duration.
The CNDES will track official bulletins and historical archives to compare published death declarations with the Missing Persons and Human Remains Database (PDyRH).
In cases of disappearances lasting over ten years (or five years for citizens aged 75 and older), families can request a judicial declaration of death, culminating in the publication of the case in the Official State Bulletin (BOE).
Over the first three years of the current plan, specialists within the PDyRH system resolved 35 long-term disappearances.
The initial tracking of bulletins and archives has resulted in the identification of nine missing persons between the years 1977 and 2004.
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