1,300 missing persons reported annually in past 5 years, says Shanmugam
Around 1,300 missing persons were reported annually from 2021 to 2025, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs on 5 May 2026, outlining response measures and ruling out use of the SG Alert system.
- About 1,300 missing persons were reported annually between 2021 and 2025.
- Most vulnerable individuals are located within a day of being reported missing.
- The SG Alert system will not be used due to risks of public desensitisation.
Singapore recorded around 1,300 missing person reports annually between 2021 and 2025, according to K. Shanmugam, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs.
In a written parliamentary reply dated 5 May 2026, Shanmugam said the number of reported cases has remained consistent over the five-year period.
However, he noted that the police do not track the time taken to locate each missing individual, adding that “this can vary significantly from case to case”.
Priority given to vulnerable groups
Shanmugam said investigations are initiated once a missing person report is lodged, with priority given to vulnerable individuals such as young children, elderly persons and those with intellectual disabilities.
“The large majority of vulnerable missing persons are found within the day,” he said, highlighting the effectiveness of existing response protocols.
The reply was issued in response to a parliamentary question filed by Fadli Fawzi, a Workers’ Party Member of Parliament for Aljunied GRC.
Fadli had asked how many missing persons had been reported since 2021, how many were located within a month, and whether the Government had assessed using the SG Alert system to notify nearby mobile phone users of such cases.
SG Alert not suitable for missing persons
Addressing the proposal, Shanmugam said the SG Alert system is designed for “time-sensitive and life-threatening emergencies”.
He cautioned that extending its use to missing person notifications could undermine its effectiveness.
“Frequent and overuse of the SG Alert… would desensitise the public to its alerts and the sense of urgency associated with it,” he said.
He added that the system is intended to trigger immediate protective action rather than serve as a general notification tool.
Established procedures remain in place
Shanmugam said the police rely on established procedures to locate missing individuals, including appealing for information from the public where appropriate.
Such appeals are disseminated through various channels, including social media.
Recent figures show a rise in reported cases, with about 1,450 missing person reports recorded in 2025, the highest since 2021.
The increase has drawn attention to vulnerable groups, particularly youths and seniors, who continue to make up a significant proportion of such cases.
