More Than 1,900 Children Listed As Missing In Germany, Police Say

BERLIN, May 25 (Bernama-dpa) -- More than 1,900 children are currently listed as missing in Germany, a slight increase from a year ago, according to figures from the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), reported German Press Agency (dpa).

As of May 1, the office recorded 1,933 open missing children cases nationwide, compared with 1,810 unresolved cases a year earlier, the agency told dpa ahead of International Missing Children’s Day on May 25.

The figures include both recent disappearances and cases that have remained unsolved for years.

The vast majority of cases are resolved, according to the BKA.

In 2025, authorities recorded a total of 19,253 missing children cases, of which 18,509 were resolved, corresponding to a clearance rate of 96.5 per cent.

By comparison, around 15,500 children were reported missing in 2018.

“Even though the number of cases has risen significantly, the clearance rate has remained consistently high,” a police spokesman said.

The figures refer to children aged up to and including 13 years old.

“Generally speaking, 96 per cent of cases are resolved within three months,” the spokesman said.

Most missing children cases involve parental abductions, repeat runaways or unaccompanied minor refugees, according to the BKA.

“Disputes with parents can also be cited as a possible cause,” the spokesman added.

Only a very small proportion of cases involve accidents or crimes where there are fears the missing children may be helpless or no longer alive, the police said.

The oldest unresolved missing child case in Germany dates back to 1957.

-- BERNAMA-dpa