National Center for Missing & Exploited Children logo

May 25th
National Missing Children's Day 

.

One Child is Too Many

In 2023, there were more than 28,000 cases of missing children in 2023. This translates to an average of 2,400 cases per month. NCMEC does not close a missing case file, until we have an answer. Your support helps to keep looking, to raise awareness, and to bring closure to searching families. NCMEC has assisted law enforcement, families, and child welfare with more than 400,000 cases of recovering missing children.
$
USD
Donate

Etan Patz

Why May 25 Matters

Ehtan Ptaz On May 25, 1979, 6-year-old Etan Patz vanished from a New York City street on his way to his school bus. In 2017, a former bodega stock clerk confessed to Etan’s kidnapping and murder. President Ronald Reagan proclaimed May 25, 1983, the first National Missing Children's Day in memory of Etan Patz. Etan's killer was convicted in February 2017, but the case remains active because his body was never found.


Read More About Remembering Missing Kids

Did You Know? 

WERE FEMALE
WERE FEMALE
62% attempted abductions are female
WERE AGES 10-14 YRS OLD
WERE FEMALE
INVOLVED VECHILES

Every Number Represents a Child

2025 Abduction Trends

Analysis of Attempted Abduction Trends At the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, we track and analyze attempted abductions to uncover patterns that help protect children. Our latest report reveals alarming trends that underscore the urgency of our work with law enforcement and communities nationwide. The latest report on child abductions reveals eye-opening statistics and trends, including:

- The most common types of abductions
- Age and gender demographics
- Key risk factors and patterns


View Full Report

We Never Give Up Hope

Missing Children are Never Forgotten

Missing Kids Take a moment to look at the faces of the children below—each one still missing. Every year that passes is a heartbreaking reminder of why our mission matters. At the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, we mark the anniversary of a child’s disappearance as a call to action—to raise awareness, reignite hope, and keep their stories alive. These children went missing. Someone, somewhere, knows something. Could it be you?

View Missing Anniversaries This Week

.

Spread the Word

Be a Voice for Missing Children in Your Workplace, School, and Community

Every voice matters. You have the power to help bring missing children home.

At the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), we work every day alongside families, law enforcement, and child welfare advocates to find missing children, issue AMBER Alerts, and identify unknown remains. We never stop searching—and we never give up hope. In 2024 alone:

• We assisted with 29,568 cases of missing children, helping achieve a 91% recovery rate

• Our call center fielded over 131,400 calls from families, the public, and law enforcement

How You Can Take Action

Join us and help raise awareness in your community:

• Download the Awareness Toolkit:
Get shareable graphics and ready-to-post content for social media

• Host an Event:
Plan a Missing Children’s Day event in your school, workplace, or neighborhood around May 25

• Start a Fundraiser:
Inspire others to give and support NCMEC’s mission to protect children Together, we can turn awareness into action—and hope into results.

Support Missing Children's Day

Choose an amount to donate Monthly
Choose an amount
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization, and your donation is tax deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. Please keep your receipt as your official record. We'll email it to you upon successful completion of your donation.

 

 

 

Frequently asked questions

Every dollar helps us continue our mission to find missing children, support survivors, and prevent child exploitation.

Help bring them home
1-800-THE-LOST

National Missing Children's Day