The average for 2017 based on 65 countries was 1.8 kidnappings per 100,000 people. The highest value was in Belgium: 10.3 kidnappings per 100,000 people and the lowest value was in Bermuda: 0 kidnappings per 100,000 people. The indicator is available from 2003 to 2017. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

In 2023 alone, ****** persons have been reported as missing in Mexico, a figure that implies about ** people going missing every day. The volume of these incidents soared after Felipe Calderon's government declared the war on drugs in December 2006, an event that marked a surged in violence throughout the Latin American country.

In 2022, there were 313,017 cases filed by the NCIC where the race of the reported missing was White. In the same year, 18,928 people were missing whose race was unknown.

What is the NCIC?

The National Crime Information Center (NCIC) is a digital database that stores crime data for the United States, so criminal justice agencies can access it. As a part of the FBI, it helps criminal justice professionals find criminals, missing people, stolen property, and terrorists. The NCIC database is broken down into 21 files. Seven files belong to stolen property and items, and 14 belong to persons, including the National Sex Offender Register, Missing Person, and Identify Theft. It works alongside federal, tribal, state, and local agencies. The NCIC’s goal is to maintain a centralized information system between local branches and offices, so information is easily accessible nationwide.

Missing people in the United States

A person is considered missing when they have disappeared and their location is unknown. A person who is considered missing might have left voluntarily, but that is not always the case. The number of the NCIC unidentified person files in the United States has fluctuated since 1990, and in 2022, there were slightly more NCIC missing person files for males as compared to females. Fortunately, the number of NCIC missing person files has been mostly decreasing since 1998.

Since 1952, more than 300,000 persons have been reported as missing in Mexico. About 65 percent of them have been found, either alive or dead. In 2023 alone, there were almost 30,000 reports of people missing in the North American country.

Analysis of ‘MISSING MIGRANTS (2014-2021)’ provided by Analyst-2 (analyst-2.ai), based on source dataset retrieved from https://www.kaggle.com/methoomirza/missing-migrants-20142021 on 28 January 2022.

--- Dataset description provided by original source is as follows ---

Context

Missing Migrants Project tracks deaths of migrants, including refugees and asylum-seekers, who have died or gone missing in the process of migration towards an international destination. Please note that these data represent minimum estimates, as many deaths during migration go unrecorded

What is included in Missing Migrants Project data?

Missing Migrants Project counts migrants who have died at the external borders of states, or in the process of migration towards an international destination, regardless of their legal status. The Project records only those migrants who die during their journey to a country different from their country of residence. Missing Migrants Project data include the deaths of migrants who die in transportation accidents, shipwrecks, violent attacks, or due to medical complications during their journeys. It also includes the number of corpses found at border crossings that are categorized as the bodies of migrants, on the basis of belongings and/or the characteristics of the death. For instance, a death of an unidentified person might be included if the decedent is found without any identifying documentation in an area known to be on a migration route. Deaths during migration may also be identified based on the cause of death, especially if is related to trafficking, smuggling, or means of travel such as on top of a train, in the back of a cargo truck, as a stowaway on a plane, in unseaworthy boats, or crossing a border fence. While the location and cause of death can provide strong evidence that an unidentified decedent should be included in Missing Migrants Project data, this should always be evaluated in conjunction with migration history and trends.

What is excluded?

The count excludes deaths that occur in immigration detention facilities or after deportation to a migrant’s homeland, as well as deaths more loosely connected with migrants´ irregular status, such as those resulting from labour exploitation. Migrants who die or go missing after they are established in a new home are also not included in the data, so deaths in refugee camps or housing are excluded. The deaths of internally displaced persons who die within their country of origin are also excluded. There remains a significant gap in knowledge and data on such deaths. Data and knowledge of the risks and vulnerabilities faced by migrants in destination countries, including death, should not be neglected, but rather tracked as a distinct category.

What sources of information are used in the Missing Migrants Project database?

The Missing Migrants Project currently gathers information from diverse sources such as official records – including from coast guards and medical examiners – and other sources such as media reports, NGOs, and surveys and interviews of migrants. In the Mediterranean region, data are relayed from relevant national authorities to IOM field missions, who then share it with the Missing Migrants Project team. Data are also obtained by IOM and other organizations that receive survivors at landing points in Italy and Greece. IOM and UNHCR also regularly coordinate to validate data on missing migrants in the Mediterranean. Data on the United States/Mexico border are compiled based on data from U.S. county medical examiners, coroners, and sheriff’s offices, as well as media reports for deaths occurring on the Mexican side of the border. In Africa, data are obtained from media and NGOs, including the Regional Mixed Migration Secretariat and the International Red Cross/Red Crescent. The quality of the data source(s) for each incident is assessed through the ‘Source quality’ variable, which can be viewed in the data. Across the world, the Missing Migrants Project uses social and traditional media reports to find data, which are then verified by local IOM staff whenever possible. In all cases, new entries are checked against existing records to ensure that no deaths are double-counted. In all regions, Missing Migrants Project data represent a minimum estimate of the number of migrant deaths. To learn more about data sources, visit the thematic page on migrant deaths and disappearances in the Global Migration Data Portal.

Content

What are the variables used in the Missing Migrants Project database?

This section presents the list of variables that constitute the Missing Migrants Project database. While ideally, all incidents recorded would include entries for each of these variables, the challenges described above mean that this is not always possible. The minimum information necessary to register an incident is the date of the incident, the number of dead and/or the number of missing, and the location of death. If the information is unavailable, the cell is left blank or “unknown” is recorded, as indicated in below.

1. Web ID - An automatically generated number used to identify each unique entry in the dataset.

2. Region - Region in which an incident took place. For more about regional classifications used in the dataset, click here.

3. Incident Date - Estimated date of death. In cases where the exact date of death is not known, this variable indicates the date in which the body or bodies were found. In cases where data are drawn from surviving migrants, witnesses or other interviews, this variable is entered as the date of the death as reported by the interviewee. At a minimum, the month and the year of death is recorded. In some cases, official statistics are not disaggregated by the incident, meaning that data is reported as a total number of deaths occurring during a certain time period. In such cases the entry is marked as a “cumulative total,” and the latest date of the range is recorded, with the full dates recorded in the comments.

4. Year - The year in which the incident occurred.

5. Reported month - The month in which the incident occurred.

6. Number dead - The total number of people confirmed dead in one incident, i.e. the number of bodies recovered. If migrants are missing and presumed dead, such as in cases of shipwrecks, leave blank.

7. Number missing - The total number of those who are missing and are thus assumed to be dead. This variable is generally recorded in incidents involving shipwrecks. The number of missing is calculated by subtracting the number of bodies recovered from a shipwreck and the number of survivors from the total number of migrants reported to have been on the boat. This number may be reported by surviving migrants or witnesses. If no missing persons are reported, it is left blank.

8. Total dead & missing - The sum of the ‘number dead’ and ‘number missing’ variables.

9. Number of survivors - The number of migrants that survived the incident, if known. The age, gender, and country of origin of survivors are recorded in the ‘Comments’ variable if known. If unknown, it is left blank.

10. Number of females - Indicates the number of females found dead or missing. If unknown, it is left blank. This gender identification is based on a third-party interpretation of the victim's gender from information available in official documents, autopsy reports, witness testimonies, and/or media reports.

11. Number of males - Indicates the number of males found dead or missing. If unknown, it is left blank. This gender identification is based on a third-party interpretation of the victim's gender from information available in official documents, autopsy reports, witness testimonies, and/or media reports.

12. Number of children - Indicates the number of individuals under the age of 18 found dead or missing. If unknown, it is left blank.

13. Age - The age of the decedent(s). Occasionally, an estimated age range is recorded. If unknown, it is left blank.

14. Country of origin - Country of birth of the decedent. If unknown, the entry will be marked “unknown”.

15. Region of origin - Region of origin of the decedent(s). In some incidents, region of origin may be marked as “Presumed” or “(P)” if migrants travelling through that location are known to hail from a certain region. If unknown, the entry will be marked “unknown”.

16. Cause of death - The determination of conditions resulting in the migrant's death i.e. the circumstances of the event that produced the fatal injury. If unknown, the reason why is included where possible. For example, “Unknown – skeletal remains only”, is used in cases in which only the skeleton of the decedent was found.

17. Location description - Place where the death(s) occurred or where the body or bodies were found. Nearby towns or cities or borders are included where possible. When incidents are reported in an unspecified location, this will be noted.

18. Location coordinates - Place where the death(s) occurred or where the body or bodies were found. In many regions, most notably the Mediterranean, geographic coordinates are estimated as precise locations are not often known. The location description should always be checked against the location coordinates.

19. Migration route - Name of the migrant route on which incident occurred, if known. If unknown, it is left blank.

20. UNSD geographical grouping - Geographical region in which the incident took place, as designated by the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) geoscheme. For more about regional classifications used in the dataset, click here.

21. Information source - Name of source of information for each incident. Multiple sources may be listed.

22. Link - Links to original reports of migrant deaths /

Missing Migrants Project draws on a range of sources to track deaths of migrants along migratory routes across the globe. Data from this project are published in the report “Fatal Journeys: Tracking Lives Lost during Migration,” which provides the most comprehensive global tally of migrant fatalities since 2014.

What is included in Missing Migrants Project data?

Missing Migrants Project counts migrants who have died at the external borders of states, or in the process of migration towards an international destination, regardless of their legal status. The Project records only those migrants who die during their journey to a country different from their country of residence.

Missing Migrants Project data include the deaths of migrants who die in transportation accidents, shipwrecks, violent attacks, or due to medical complications during their journeys. It also includes the number of corpses found at border crossings that are categorized as the bodies of migrants, on the basis of belongings and/or the characteristics of the death. For instance, a death of an unidentified person might be included if the decedent is found without any identifying documentation in an area known to be on a migration route. Deaths during migration may also be identified based on the cause of death, especially if is related to trafficking, smuggling, or means of travel such as on top of a train, in the back of a cargo truck, as a stowaway on a plane, in unseaworthy boats, or crossing a border fence. While the location and cause of death can provide strong evidence that an unidentified decedent should be included in Missing Migrants Project data, this should always be evaluated in conjunction with migration history and trends.

What is excluded?

The count excludes deaths that occur in immigration detention facilities or after deportation to a migrant’s homeland, as well as deaths more loosely connected with migrants´ irregular status, such as those resulting from labour exploitation. Migrants who die or go missing after they are established in a new home are also not included in the data, so deaths in refugee camps or housing are excluded. The deaths of internally displaced persons who die within their country of origin are also excluded. There remains a significant gap in knowledge and data on such deaths. Data and knowledge of the risks and vulnerabilities faced by migrants in destination countries, including death, should not be neglected, but rather tracked as a distinct category.

According to cognitive market research, the global forensic equipment and supplies market size was valued at USD xx billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD xx billion at a CAGR of xx% during the forecast period.

Forensic equipment and supplies refer to the tools, instruments, and materials used by forensic investigators and scientists to collect, analyze, and preserve evidence at a crime scene.
North America now holds a dominant market share due to the existence of large manufacturers, technological improvements, and government programs aimed at improving forensic services.
Europe is the second-largest market for forensic equipment and supplies, with a significant demand from government forensic laboratories and research facilities.
The Asia Pacific region is expected to witness significant growth in the forensic equipment and supplies market because of the rising need for forensic services and the increased attention being paid to forensic infrastructure development.
With a spectacular CAGR rise over the projection period, the Middle East and Africa also play significant roles in the worldwide market.

Market Dynamics of the Forensic Equipment and Supplies Market

Key Drivers of the Forensic Equipment and Supplies Market

The rising crime rate across the globe is a major driver of the market. 

Criminal activity is evolving into increasingly complex and elusive forms of expression. The number of crimes has dramatically grown, including killings, financial fraud, data theft, cybersecurity breaches, piracy, and theft and burglaries. New-generation forensic tools and supplies must be used to speed up investigations due to the evolving nature of crime, the growing burden on law enforcement agencies, and the complexity of crime. As a result, to effectively handle the increasing burden, governments everywhere are extending their forensic units. This in turn fuels the need for various forensic tools and materials. Demands for government action to combat crime were more common in nations where crime rates had increased. Respondents in nations like South Africa and Turkey believe that there has been an increase in crime in the last year, but they do not think that government action on the matter should be prioritized. These are often nations that are experiencing persistent economic problems, such as South Africa's high unemployment rate, and Turkey's extreme inflation. • For instance, On November 21, 2022, the US Department of Justice (DoJ)’s Office of Justice Programs announced almost USD 160 million in funding to support crime investigation laboratories, fund forensics research, reduce DNA backlogs, and aid investigators in locating missing persons and recognizing the remains of humans.

Rising acceptance of DNA profiling in criminology will propel the market growth

DNA samples taken at the scene of the crime aid in the precise and speedy investigation of crimes. The market participants are being encouraged to commercialize DNA testing kits and improve their accessibility to international forensic entities through advancements in forensic science technology. The need for forensic tools and DNA collection is also anticipated to increase as more people become aware of the many benefits made possible by DNA profiling solutions. Furthermore, it is projected that the market's growth potential will be expanded by the increasing integration of cutting-edge technology and the surge in social investment in forensic sciences improvement. DNA may be used to identify possible criminals and link specific people to a crime by proving they were there at a particular site. The effectiveness of the criminal justice system is further enhanced by DNA profiling. An alpha-numeric value that is computed and shown as a result of the DNA analysis procedure is called a DNA profile. DNA analysis is an intelligence technique that may be used to identify, confirm, or remove a suspect in a criminal investigation. By comparing DNA profiles from different crime sites, it may also be used to identify victims of crime or disasters and to establish connections between crimes.

Restraints of the Forensic Equipment and Supplies Market

Lack of technical knowledge or technical professionals is restraining the market growth.

Even for those who have no experience with digital evidence or computer science, technology has to be easy t...

Human Trafficking Statistics: Human trafficking remains a pervasive global issue, with millions of individuals subjected to exploitation and abuse each year. According to recent statistics, an estimated 25 million people worldwide are victims of human trafficking, with the majority being women and children. This lucrative criminal industry generates profits of over $150 billion annually, making it one of the most profitable illegal trades globally. As market research analysts, it's imperative to understand the scale and impact of human trafficking to develop effective strategies for prevention and intervention. Efforts to combat human trafficking have intensified in recent years, driven by increased awareness and advocacy. However, despite these efforts, the problem persists, with trafficking networks adapting to evade law enforcement and exploit vulnerabilities in communities. Through comprehensive data analysis and research, we can uncover trends, identify high-risk areas, and develop targeted interventions to disrupt trafficking networks and support survivors. In this context, understanding human trafficking statistics is crucial for informing policy decisions, resource allocation, and collaborative efforts to combat this grave violation of human rights. Editor’s Choice Every year, approximately 4.5 billion people become victims of forced sex trafficking. Two out of three immigrants become victims of human trafficking, regardless of their international travel method. There are 5.4 victims of modern slavery for every 1000 people worldwide. An estimated 40.3 million individuals are trapped in modern-day slavery, with 24.9 million in forced labor and 15.4 million in forced marriage. Around 16.55 million reported human trafficking cases have occurred in the Asia Pacific region. Out of 40 million human trafficking victims worldwide, 25% are children. The highest proportion of forced labor trafficking cases occurs in domestic work, accounting for 30%. The illicit earnings from human trafficking amount to approximately USD 150 billion annually. The sex trafficking industry globally exceeds the size of the worldwide cocaine market. Only 0.4% of survivors of human trafficking cases are detected. Currently, there are 49.6 million people in modern slavery worldwide, with 35% being children. Sex trafficking is the most common type of trafficking in the U.S. In 2022, there were 88 million child sexual abuse material (CSAM) files reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) tip line. Child sex trafficking has been reported in all 50 U.S. states. Human trafficking is a USD 150 billion industry globally. It ranks as the second most profitable illegal industry in the United States. 25 million people worldwide are denied their fundamental right to freedom. 30% of global human trafficking victims are children. Women constitute 49% of all victims of global trafficking. In 2019, 62% of victims in the US were identified as sex trafficking victims. In the same year, US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grantees reported that 68% of clients served were victims of labor trafficking. Human traffickers in the US face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison. In France, 74% of exploited victims in 2018 were victims of sex trafficking. You May Also Like To Read Domestic Violence Statistics Sexual Assault Statistics Crime Statistics FBI Crime Statistics Referral Marketing Statistics Prison Statistics GDPR Statistics Piracy Statistics Notable Ransomware Statistics DDoS Statistics Divorce Statistics

The data is in CSV format and includes all historical data on the pandemic up to 03/01/2023, following a 1-line format per country and date.

In the pre-processing of these data, missing data were checked. It was observed, for example, that the missing data referring to new_cases was where the total number of cases had not been changed and that most of the missing data related to vaccination, which actually at the beginning of the pandemic there was no data. Therefore, to solve these cases of missing data it was decided to replace the data containing “NaN” by zero. Some of these features were combined to generate new features. This process that creates new features (data) from existing data, aiming to improve the data before applying machine learning algorithms, is called feature engineering. The new features created were: - Vaccination rate (vaccination_ratio'): total number of people who received at least one dose of vaccine divided by the population at risk. This dose number was chosen because it has a higher correlation with new deaths. - Prevalence: existing cases of the disease at a given time divided by the population at risk of having the disease. Formula: COVID-19 cases ÷ Population at risk * 100. Example: 168,331 ÷ 210,000,000 * 100 = 0.08. - Incidence: new cases of the disease in a defined population during a specific period (one day, for example) divided by the population at risk. Formula: New COVID-19 cases in one day ÷ Population - Total cases * 100. Example: 5,632 ÷ 209,837,301 * 100 = 0.0026.

Brazil led the list with a total of 4,390 kidnapping cases in the latest available data. Ecuador followed with 1,246 occurrences in 2022. On the flip side, there was only three reported kidnapping in the Antigua and Barbuda during that year. Homicides, another recurrent problem in Latin America Among the region's prevalent offenses, intentional homicide emerged as one of the main concerns in the region. Nonetheless, the rates vary among the different countries. Brazil leads the ranking of the most number of homicides in Latin America, as well as being the most populated country by far. On the other hand, Jamaica holds the top position according to the homicide rate, reporting nearly 61 instances per 100,000 inhabitants in 2023. Nevertheless, even with these varying homicide rates across countries, four out of five of the world's most perilous urban centers are situated in Mexico, with Colima leading the pack at a 2024 homicide rate of 140 per 100,000 inhabitants.

Cost of violence in Central America Following criminal acts, the responsibility for addressing the consequences falls squarely on the government, causing government expenditure to surge, called the cost of violence. Notably, Panama is more severely impacted in Central America, with the economic cost of violence per inhabitant accounting for over 3,771 U.S. dollars in 2022. In terms of a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), El Salvador takes the first place with a value of 15 percent of their GDP.

In 2022, more than ** thousand children in India were missing. In comparison to the previous year, the number of missing children in the country increased significantly. Many of these cases were likely to have close links to human trafficking and child labor.

In 2024, 13,779 immigrants who reached Italy came from Bangladesh. Moreover, around 12,500 migrants were from Syria, whereas 7,700 people originated from Tunisia. These three nationalities constituted more than half of the total individuals arrived. Mediterranean routes to Europe The Mediterranean Sea recorded the largest number of deaths and missing cases of migrants worldwide. The Mediterranean Route leading to Italy is known as the Central Mediterranean Route, which counts the highest number of fatalities among the different Mediterranean routes. This route includes the crossing from North Africa to Italy, as well as to Malta. The main departing country is Libya, while Tunisia, Egypt, and East Algeria are minor departing shores. After the Central Mediterranean Sea, the Eastern Mediterranean Sea registered the second-highest number of deaths and missing people. The Eastern Mediterranean route includes migration flows from Türkiye to Greece and Cyprus. Main countries of arrival Between January and October 2024, Italy was the European country registering the largest number of migrants' arrivals. All the 55,000 immigrants reached the country by sea. Spain was the second country of first arrival in Europe, followed by Greece. The overall number of migrants who set foot on Italian shores expanded in the last years. However, the death and missing cases did not drop proportionally to the number of people who reached the coast.

The most common country of origin of refugees in Nigeria is Cameroon. As of August 2021, about 67 thousand refugees in Nigeria came from this country. Cameroonians flee from violence ongoing between security forces and armed groups. In the last three years, the number of refugees from Cameroon arriving in Nigeria has increased considerably.

Cameroonian refugees in Nigeria

With almost two thousand kilometers in length, Cameroon's longest border is with Nigeria. The majority of Cameroonian refugees in Nigeria are in the states of Cross River, Benue, and Taraba, the states at the borders with Cameroon. The territories the two countries are also highly impacted by the terrorism of Boko Haram. The violence in this region continues to push people out of their homes and seek safety in neighboring countries.

Deadly migration routes

The migration routes taken by African migrants are among the deadliest in the world. In the attempt to reach other African or European countries, more than ten thousand migrants lost their lives on the African continent between 2014 and 2021. Some of the most dangerous routes include the West African Atlantic route, from West Africa to the Canary Islands, and the Mediterranean routes, from North Africa to South Europe. The latter registers the highest number in the word of deaths and missing people who try to migrate.

South Africa's continues to struggle with human trafficking; however, improvements have been observed as the country has been upgraded from its position on the tier two level watch list to level tier two in 2024 according to the U.S. Agency for International Development. The country has been reported as a hub for human trafficking as it is not only a host for human trafficking, but also facilitates sourcing victims and transferring them to other countries. The South African Police Services (SAPS) have discovered that some human trafficking cases are related to the ****** kidnappings particularly in the provinces of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. Additionally, SAPS have identified a possible link between human trafficking and missing persons in the country, however, further investigation is required.
Regional context and victim demographics Over the years, human trafficking has evolved into a broader regional concern. Girls and women are overly affected by human trafficking in Sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for ** percent and ** percent of detected victims respectively as of 2020. This trend extends to Southern Africa, where ** percent of sex-trafficking victims between 2003 and 2023 were women and ** percent of victims aged 30–38 years, which accentuates the gendered nature of human trafficking in the region. Traffickers primarily target those from disadvantaged backgrounds and often lure unsuspecting victims through fake job advertisements for domestic work, mining, hospitality, and modeling. Continental perspective and neighboring nations Within the African continent, the severity of human trafficking varies significantly. Modern-day slavery is particularly rife in Nigeria, with an estimated *** million people living as modern slaves. Human trafficking often leads to modern-day slavery as individuals are exploited and unable to leave due to threats, coercion or violence. In East Africa, Eritrea is one of three countries in the region classified as tier three, indicating the most severe level of human trafficking concerns. The prevalence of child sex trafficking in East Africa is particularly alarming, with ** percent of sex-trafficking victims being minors. This continental overview highlights the complex and widespread nature of human trafficking across Africa, emphasizing the need for coordinated governmental efforts to address this critical issue.

In 2023, Switzerland led the ranking of countries with the highest average wealth per adult, with approximately ******* U.S. dollars per person. Luxembourg was ranked second with an average wealth of around ******* U.S. dollars per adult, followed by Hong Kong SAR. However, the figures do not show the actual distribution of wealth. The Gini index shows wealth disparities in countries worldwide. Does wealth guarantee a longer life? As the old adage goes, “money can’t buy you happiness”, yet wealth and income are continuously correlated to the quality of life of individuals in different countries around the world. While greater levels of wealth may not guarantee a higher quality of life, it certainly increases an individual’s chances of having a longer one. Although they do not show the whole picture, life expectancy at birth is higher in the wealthier world regions. Does money bring happiness? A number of the world’s happiest nations also feature in the list of those countries for which average income was highest. Finland, however, which was the happiest country worldwide in 2022, is missing from the list of the top twenty countries with the highest wealth per adult. As such, the explanation for this may be the fact that the larger proportion of the population has access to a high income relative to global levels. Measures of quality of life Criticism of the use of income or wealth as a proxy for quality of life led to the creation of the United Nations’ Human Development Index. Although income is included within the index, it also has other factors taken into account, such as health and education. As such, the countries with the highest human development index can be correlated to those with the highest income levels. That said, none of the above measures seek to assess the physical and mental environmental impact of a high quality of life sourced through high incomes. The happy planet index demonstrates that the inclusion of experienced well-being and ecological footprint in place of income and other proxies for quality of life results in many of the world’s materially poorer nations being included in the happiest.

Kidnapping cases in South Africa have reached alarming levels, with a total of ****** incidents reported in 2023/2024. This represents an ** percent increase from the previous year, highlighting a growing concern for public safety across the nation. Gauteng province, home to major cities like Johannesburg and Pretoria, recorded the highest number of kidnappings at ***** cases, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with ***** cases.
Ransom and extortion drive kidnapping surge The rise in kidnappings appears to be driven by organized crime, with ransom-related abductions being the most common motive. In a select sample from the second quarter, *** kidnappings were linked to ransom demands, while ** cases were associated with extortion. This trend suggests a quarterly increase in kidnapping incidents, pointing to a persistent and evolving threat to public safety. The Moroka area in Gauteng province reported the highest number of kidnapping offenses, with nearly *** cases, followed by Orange Farms with over *** cases. The South African Police Services (SAPS) have reported that most cases were carried out during aggravated robberies such as hijackings and armed robberies at homes, businesses and public areas.
Regional context and broader implications South Africa's kidnapping rate of **** per 100,000 inhabitants in 2023 was the highest among countries in Africa, surpassing Benin, which held the second-highest rate. This underscores the severity of the issue within the broader African context. The kidnapping crisis in South Africa occurs against a backdrop of wider regional instability, with countries in the Sahel like Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso experiencing significant conflict exposure, affecting between ***** and ** percent of their populations. In this semi-arid region of west and north-central Africa, kidnappings are used as a strategic warfare tool and perpetrated for financial gain, which proved to be a lucrative method to help fund some of al-Qaeda affiliates located on the continent.