How many kids are kidnapped in Mexico each year?

Answer 1

14,695 minors are kidnapped in Mexico each year (2013). From that number, approximately 40% (5,878) are recovered. Unfortunately, another 47% (6,906) are recruited by the drug cartels, mainly due to the fact that minors just face a 3-year conviction if caught. Another 13% (1,911) -- mostly girls -- are sold as sexual slaves.

Before you think of Mexico as a no-man's-land unsafe for children, you should be aware however, that Mexico's kidnapping statistics pale against those of the United States, where 800,000 children are reported missing each year; even if you consider a recovery rate of 97% (776,000), there are still 3% or 24,000 children that are never found.