Ten people disappear every day in Catalunya, but almost all are found

In Catalonia, 10 disappearances are reported every day, but 98% of cases are resolved within a few days. Only a small percentage remain unresolved. Most disappearances do not have a criminal origin. Discover the key figures for 2025.

The disappearance of people in Catalonia is a reality that affects families and neighbourhoods across the region. Every day, around ten people are reported missing, a figure that remains stable year after year and tests the response capacity of the emergency services and the regional police.

During 2025, the Mossos d’Esquadra handled 3,682 missing-person reports, equivalent to an average of 10 cases per day. However, most of these situations are resolved quickly: 98% of missing people were located, half within the first three days and two out of three before a week had passed. Only 2% of cases remain unresolved, and in just two instances was the disappearance linked to a homicide.

The profile of missing people is varied. Three per cent of reports concerned children under 13, while 23% affected teenagers aged 13 to 17. Adults aged 18 to 64 accounted for 66% of cases, and people over 65 for 8%. In addition, 59% of disappearances involved men and 41% women.

Most disappearances do not have a criminal background. In many cases, they involve people who decide to break contact with those around them for personal reasons, or situations in which, for medical reasons, someone becomes disoriented and gets lost. Since 2010, the Catalan police have investigated only 27 disappearances that turned out to be homicides involving the concealment of the body, 72% of which were femicides and five of which were linked to organised crime.

A key point highlighted by the Mossos d’Esquadra is the importance of reporting a disappearance without waiting 24 hours. Contrary to popular belief, a report can be filed at any time, and doing so as soon as possible is essential to increase the chances of locating the missing person. The first hours are decisive in most cases.

In Catalonia, the Mossos d’Esquadra play an essential role in handling disappearances. This police force has specialised units and response protocols that are activated immediately upon any report. Their experience and coordination with other emergency services have made it possible to resolve most cases in record time, reinforcing public confidence in situations of maximum uncertainty.