Delhi missing women and girls 2026 figures reveal a disturbing trend, with more than 500 women and girls reported missing in the capital during the first 15 days of the year, according to Delhi Police data.
Over 500 Women and Girls Missing in Early 2026
More than 500 women and girls were reported missing in Delhi during the first 15 days of 2026, accounting for nearly two-thirds of all missing persons cases, according to Delhi Police data. Between January 1 and 15, authorities registered 807 missing complaints across the capital.
Of these, 509 cases involved women and girls, while 298 involved men. The figures point to a worrying trend, particularly the disproportionate number of women reported missing within a short span of time.
572 People Still Untraced
Police have managed to trace 235 individuals so far, but 572 people remain unaccounted for, official records show. This means an average of about 54 people were reported missing every day during the first half of January.
Despite ongoing search efforts, a large majority of the cases remain unresolved. Police records indicate that women and minors make up a significant portion of those still missing.
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Minors Form a Significant Share of Cases
Children accounted for 191 of the total missing cases, raising serious concerns over child safety, news agency PTI reported. Girls made up the bulk of these cases, with 146 reported missing compared to 45 boys.
The high number of missing minors has prompted renewed attention on gaps in monitoring, prevention, and recovery mechanisms, particularly for vulnerable children in the city.
Teenagers Most Affected Among Minors
Teenagers formed the largest group among missing children during the period. Police recorded 169 missing adolescents, including 138 girls and 31 boys.
Data shows that nearly 71 per cent of these teenage cases remain unresolved, underlining the challenges authorities face in tracking adolescents who go missing from urban settings.
Younger Children Also Reported Missing
Police reported 13 missing children in the 8–12 age group, including eight boys and five girls. Authorities also recorded nine missing children below the age of eight.
So far, officers have traced only six children from these younger age groups, highlighting the urgency of improving response times and inter-agency coordination in such cases.
Adults Continue to Dominate Missing Cases
Adults remained the largest category of missing persons during the same period. Police recorded 616 missing adults, including 363 women and 253 men.
Authorities have traced 181 adults so far, but 435 adult cases remain pending, according to police records, adding to the overall burden on investigative units.
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Long-Term Trend Raises Concern
The latest figures mirror a broader, long-term pattern in the capital. In 2025 alone, Delhi recorded more than 24,500 missing persons cases, with women accounting for over 60 per cent of the total.
A decade-long analysis shows that nearly 2.3 lakh people have gone missing in Delhi over the past 10 years, with around 52,000 cases still unresolved, underscoring the scale of the challenge facing law enforcement agencies.