A new RCMP report released this month shows that 88 per cent of all missing persons cases in Canada involve either runaways, or involved someone who went missing once or more over the seven-year period (2015-2021) covered by the report.

The report’s findings show that while 73 per cent of those who ran away did so once in the sample time frame, they only made up 40 per cent of all occurrences. The 27 per cent who were repeat, habitual or chronic runaways made up 60 per cent of all occurrences.

Teens make up 69 per cent of habitual or chronic missing persons cases, even though they only account for 32 per cent of the overall sample. Females were more likely to fall into the habitual or chronic missing persons cases.

Black and Asian populations were significantly underrepresented in the runaway sample. However, Indigenous people were overrepresented, with Indigenous women and girls accounting for 30 percent of runaway occurrences involving females, even though they only make up 4 percent of the total female population.

Habitual or chronic runaway occurrences make up more than half of all missing persons cases in Newfoundland and Labrador.