The issue of missing persons is a significant social problem in many countries, and China is no exception. This paper examines the unique gender-specific patterns of missing persons in China, including both missing children and missing adults. Using a dataset of online family-reported missing person records, we build the annual missing person measurement for local prefectures in China between 1970 and 2021. Our analysis reveals that son-preferencing gender perceptions in families and local regions contribute to both missing children and missing adults, although the origins of these problems stem from different decision-making processes. The implementation of the one-child policy and biased gender perception can help explain changes in the pattern of missing children. In contrast, missing adults are associated with gender perception and the expansion of China's transportation network system. Overall, our findings suggest that addressing gender perception is crucial for reducing the prevalence of missing persons in China.
