Canada: crime and justice

What is the Crime Severity Index in Canada?

Canada's police-reported Crime Severity Index (CSI) was 75.0 in 2025, down 4.9% from 2024, according to Statistics Canada, released on 22 July 2026. It was the second consecutive annual decrease, after the index reached 81.27 in 2023. The Violent CSI was 97.2 (-4.2%) and the Non-violent CSI 66.8 (-5.3%).

The CSI weights each offence by its seriousness, so a rise in serious crimes moves it more than a rise in minor ones. It is set to 100 in 2006; the 2025 value is 25% below that base year and 37% below the 1998 peak. Breaking and entering, which fell 11%, was the largest contributor to the decline.

Official sources: Statistics Canada: Police-reported crime statistics in Canada, 2025

What is the homicide rate in Canada?

Police reported 672 homicides in Canada in 2025, 125 fewer than in 2024, a rate of 1.61 per 100,000 population, according to Statistics Canada. The rate fell 16% from 1.93, the largest annual decline since 1986, and was the lowest since 2014.

Men and boys were 74% of victims. Women were more often killed by a spouse or intimate partner (41% of female victims, against 5% of male victims). Gang-related homicides fell from 155 to 119, and homicides with a handgun fell 31%. The homicide rate among Indigenous people (9.59 per 100,000) was about eight times that of the non-Indigenous population.

Official sources: Statistics Canada: Police-reported crime statistics in Canada, 2025

Which province has the highest crime rate in Canada?

Among the provinces, Saskatchewan had the highest Crime Severity Index in 2025 (146.6), followed by Manitoba (130.0), according to Statistics Canada. The lowest were Ontario (57.2) and Quebec (61.6). The territories were higher still: Northwest Territories 485.9, Nunavut 461.2 and Yukon 195.4. The national index was 75.0.

The index weights offences by seriousness and is adjusted for population, so it can be compared across provinces. Territories have small populations, which makes their values swing more from year to year. Differences in police practices and in how often people report crimes can also affect comparisons. City-level figures are in Statistics Canada's Police-reported Information Hub.

Official sources: Statistics Canada: Police-reported crime statistics in Canada, 2025

How many hate crimes are there in Canada?

Police reported 4,708 hate crimes in Canada in 2025, down 3% from 4,841 in 2024, according to Statistics Canada. The rate was 11 incidents per 100,000 population, more than twice the 2018 rate of 5. Hate crimes targeting race or ethnicity were essentially unchanged at 2,391, while those targeting religion fell 18% to 1,115 and those targeting sexual orientation fell 19% to 534.

These are crimes reported to and confirmed by police as motivated by hate. Many incidents are never reported, so the counts reflect reporting and police practices as well as actual events. Preliminary quarterly data for 2026 are also published.

Official sources: Statistics Canada: Police-reported crime statistics in Canada, 2025

How many cars are stolen in Canada?

Police reported 83,652 motor vehicle thefts in Canada in 2025, a rate of 201 per 100,000 population, down 16% from 2024, according to Statistics Canada. It was the second annual decline in a row, after three consecutive increases; the 2025 rate was 9% below 2015 and 64% below the 2003 peak.

Over the same year, shoplifting of $5,000 or under rose 11% to 208,941 incidents, the fifth annual increase, while breaking and entering fell 11%. These are police-reported incidents; Statistics Canada notes that about half of motor vehicle thefts, break-ins and robberies are reported to police, based on its 2019 victimization survey.

Official sources: Statistics Canada: Police-reported crime statistics in Canada, 2025

What is the murder rate in Canada?

2.0 per 100,000: that is the intentional homicide rate in Canada for 2023, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. The peak was 2.3 per 100,000 in 2022 and the low 1.4 per 100,000 in 2013. Worldwide: 40th of 79.

How many women are murdered in Canada?

In 2023, the homicide rate for women in Canada was 1.0 per 100,000, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. The peak was 1.1 per 100,000 in 2005 and the low 0.8 per 100,000 in 2019. Of 78 countries with 2023 data, 37th highest.

What is the male homicide rate in Canada?

The latest figure from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, for 2023, is 2.9 per 100,000. Since 2005 it has ranged from 2.0 per 100,000 (2013) to 3.5 per 100,000 (2022). Of 78 countries with 2023 data, 39th highest.