The number of people who are missing in Japan is shown in increasing order. The number of such people reached 84,910 in 2022 for the second year in a row. According to Japan’s national watchdog agency, this number has increased by 5,692 compared to the previous year.
The age group of those who go missing is around 20 years old. This group accounts for approximately 40 percent of the total disappearances. During this period, 18,709 people with dementia (forgetfulness) or similar disorders have gone missing in the country, according to the report.
Since comparative statistics were published in 2012, the number of disappearances has been gradually increasing. This number has almost doubled in a decade.
Many of these people were reported to have gone missing after wandering aimlessly due to dementia.
Local governments are urging family members of people with dementia or suspected of having dementia to carry GPS devices or wear them with contact information (QR codes) on their clothing.