Kidnapping Statistics

By Cedric Loiselle

The incidence of kidnapping for ransom around the world compels a lot of people to look after their security. Oftentimes, this would mean a need for kidnap & ransom insurance, and there are a lot of companies that offer this kind of policy. This is helpful when traveling to and staying in certain countries. In 2007, the country that carried the highest risk for kidnapping was Iraq. During that year, an estimate of 1,500 foreigners were kidnapped in Iraq. A few years earlier, Mexico was the kidnapping capital of the world. There are more countries with high risk of kidnapping, including United States.

Cases Around the World

In some countries, the rate of kidnapping has decreased over time. Take for instance Colombia, which used to have the highest kidnapping cases. More than ten years ago, over three thousand reported cases of kidnapping happened in Colombia. But the figures went down since then. In 2006, for example, there were only 687 cases of kidnapping in that country. This figure is still high compared to cases in other countries. On the other hand, numbers in Mexico are hard to figure out because of certain factors—like police involvement. Kidnapping may be politically motivated and may be an organized crime, although random cases of kidnapping are reported.

Cases in the United States

The United States is not spared from incidence of kidnapping. There are certain states where cases are comparatively high. Los Angeles Times reported Phoenix, Arizona as the kidnapping capital in the United States in 2009. In 2010, 370 cases were reported in that city alone. Phoenix is actually the second city with highest incidence of kidnapping—after Mexico City. Hundreds of cases of kidnapping occur in Phoenix, majority of which were perpetrated by human and drug syndicates from Mexico. In 1999, more than two hundred thousand cases of child kidnapping and abduction were reported. These cases were referred to as family abductions. Nearly sixty thousand cases were classified as non-family abductions. Then again, a surprisingly low figure (115 cases) arose and classified as stereotypical kidnapping (with ransom), in which the perpetrator is stranger.
The U.S. was ranked sixth in the list of kidnapping for ransom countries in 2010. Countries with higher cases of kidnapping for ransom were Colombia, Italy, Lebanon, Peru, and Philippines.

Reason for Kidnapping

A common reason for kidnapping is to obtain money through ransom. In some cases, kidnapping is done to obtain slaves. This case is seen in countries like Sudan. Incidence in the high seas is reported to be associated with piracy. If it were an industry, kidnapping would be worth 500 million dollars. Kidnapping is one way for terrorists to gain funding for their illicit activities.

Other reasons, like family disputes, may lead to kidnapping. Such minor cases of kidnapping are usually solved with the victim freed and uninjured. In 2003, the Domestic Violence Report in Colorado surveyed 189 cases of domestic kidnapping. Most victims, who were female, were abducted by their former or present partners. They were taken by force but were freed eventually.
Many kidnapping and extortion insurance companies provide benefits to people who obtain policies. The insurance policies in this case shall provide reimbursement for cost incurred due to kidnapping.

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