Lost and Found Statistics, Trends & Facts 2023

Lost and Found Statistics
  •  According to lost and found statistics and a recently conducted survey, 60% of Americans have lost a personal item in the past year.
  • The most commonly lost items are cell phones, followed by keys, wallets, and sunglasses.-
  • The average person spends 2.5 days a year looking for lost items, according to the survey.
  • 33% of lost items are never recovered, according to a study conducted by Kensington, a computer accessories company.
  • The busiest time of year for lost and found departments is during the holiday season, with a 25% increase in lost items compared to the rest of the year.
  • According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), in 2019, travelers left behind $926,030.44 in loose change at airport security checkpoints in the United States.
  • The most common items left on public transportation are umbrellas, followed by phones, keys, and wallets.
  • In the United Kingdom, the most commonly lost item reported to the police is a set of keys, followed by a wallet/purse and a mobile phone, according to a study conducted by Churchill Home Insurance.
  • The National Park Service reports an average of 1,200 lost hikers per year, with 98% of those hikers being found within 24 hours.
  • In Japan, the most commonly lost item is an umbrella, with over 5 million umbrellas left behind each year.

 

General Lost and Found Statistics
  1. The average person will lose up to nine items every day.
  2. Over 60% of people have lost something in their lifetime.
  3. In the US alone, over 400 million items are lost and found every year.
  4. The most commonly lost items include wallets, keys, phones, and umbrellas.
  5. Over 40% of lost items occur in public places such as restaurants, airports, and public transportation.
  6. The estimated value of lost items in the US is over $5 billion per year.
  7. It takes an average of five days for a lost item to be turned in to a lost and found service.
  8. Over 90% of people who find lost items will make an effort to return them to their owners.
  9. Around 75% of lost and found items are eventually reunited with their owners.

 

Airport Statistics
  1. Over 2 million items are lost in airports every year.
  2. The most commonly lost items in airports include phones, passports, and laptops.
  3. Approximately 70% of items lost in airports are returned to their owners.
  4. JFK airport in New York City has the largest lost and found department in the world, with over 30,000 items reported lost every month.
  5. Airports have strict procedures for handling lost and found items, which include tracking, documenting, and storing the items in a secure location.

 

Hotel Statistics
  1. 1 Hotels receive an average of 100 lost and found items every month.
  2. The most commonly lost items in hotels include clothing, chargers, and toiletries.
  3. Hotels have a responsibility to keep lost and found items for a specific period, usually 90 days.
  4. Hotels also have strict procedures for handling lost and found items, which include documenting, storing, and attempting to contact the owners of the lost items.

 

Public Transportation Statistics
  1. Over 400,000 items are lost in public transportation every year.
  2. The most commonly lost items in public transportation include phones, wallets, and keys.
  3. Public transportation services have procedures in place for handling lost and found items, which include tracking, documenting, and storing the items in a secure location.
  4. In some cases, lost and found services may charge a fee for the return of lost items.

 

Technology
  1. Technology is revolutionizing the lost and found industry, with various mobile applications and online platforms available to help individuals find their lost items.
  2. RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) technology is used in some lost and found services to track and locate lost items.
  3. The use of QR codes on personal belongings is becoming increasingly popular, allowing individuals to track their lost items through their smartphones.
  4. Social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook are also being used to help individuals find their lost items by sharing information with a wider audience.

 

Latest Lost and Found Statistics
  1. Every year, more than 10 million Americans lose their cell phones.
  2. 43% of lost items are never found.
  3. Over 70% of lost smartphones are returned to their owners.
  4. 30% of people who find lost phones try to unlock them.
  5. 32% of lost and found items are returned to their owners within 24 hours.
  6. 70% of lost items are found by someone other than the owner.
  7. 60% of people do not try to return found items.
  8. In the United States, 4 million pets are lost each year.
  9. 25% of lost pets are never found.
  10. 85% of lost pets are reunited with their owners.

 

Facts
  1. The lost and found industry generates over $2 billion in revenue each year.
  2. The average lost and found office receives 70 lost items per month.
  3. The most commonly lost items are keys, wallets, and cell phones.
  4. The most commonly found items are credit cards, ID cards, and keys.
  5. The most common place to lose an item is in a public place like a restaurant or store.
  6. The most common place to find a lost item is at home.
  7. Over 50% of lost items are returned to their owners.
  8. The majority of lost and found items are found within a mile of where they were lost.
  9. Lost items cost Americans over $2.7 billion each year.
  10. The average person spends 2.5 days per year looking for lost items.

 

Benefits
  1. Lost and found services help people recover valuable items.
  2. Lost and found services promote community safety.
  3. Lost and found services reduce the financial burden of lost items.
  4. Lost and found services help people feel more secure.
  5. Lost and found services encourage people to be more responsible with their possessions.

 

Trends
  1. The use of technology like GPS tracking is on the rise in the lost and found industry.
  2. Social media is becoming a popular way to report lost and found items.
  3. More companies are offering lost and found services as a way to improve customer satisfaction.
  4. The use of artificial intelligence is being explored as a way to improve the efficiency of lost and found services.
  5. The popularity of lost and found apps is increasing.

 

Adoption
  1. Lost and found services are used by individuals, businesses, and government agencies.
  2. Most major airports and train stations have a lost and found office.
  3. Many universities and colleges have a lost and found office.
  4. Many cities and towns have a centralized lost and found service.
  5. Many companies offer lost and found services to their employees.

 

Market Analysis
  1. The lost and found market is expected to grow by 7% annually.
  2. The global lost and found market is worth over $7 billion.
  3. North America is the largest market for lost and found services.
  4. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to have the highest growth rate for lost and found services.
  5. The transportation sector is the largest consumer of lost and found services.

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