Nanaimo

Crime statistics and police areas for Nanaimo, British Columbia.

22/100

Nanaimo Safety Score

Below Average

Ranked #44 out of 56 communities

Police Reported Crime Data

Total Crimes (2024)

815

↑ 3.6%

Historical Trend (2010 - 2024)

Clearance Rate

27.6%

Cases solved by police

225 Solved590 Unsolved

Most Common

Property Crime

52%

Property

Violent

Other

Top 5 Reported Violations

Most frequent specific criminal code violations in 2024.

Historical Trend by Violation

No trend data available.

Safety Scores & Indices

Crime & Safety Overview

Data: 2024

Safety Score2024

Rank #44 of 56 areas

CSI: 106.7 (lower = safer)

Year-over-Year

2024

Overall↓ 15.6%

Violent↓ 13.5%

Non-Violent↓ 16.5%

CSI Trend

Nanaimo

🇨🇦 Canada Avg

Crime Breakdown2024

Violent

51.1%CSI 110.7

Non-Violent

48.9%CSI 106.0

Crime Breakdown

2024

Property Crime

52.2%386

Violent Crime

29.6%219

Other Offences

18.2%135

Comparison

37% ABOVE NATL AVG

Nanaimo

106.7

British Columbia Avg

93.0

Canada Avg

77.9

Crime Severity Index — lower is safer

Police & Justice

Clearance Rate2024

25.3%

Percentage of reported crimes cleared by charge or otherwise. Higher rates indicate better police case resolution.

Hate crime data shown for British Columbia (provincial level)

Hate Crimes

2024

692↑2.7%vs 2023

Police-reported hate crime incidents in British Columbia

Hate Crime Trend (2014–2024)

Click on chart to view sub-categories for that year

By Motivation

Sub-categories based on national distribution

In 2024, British Columbia recorded 692 police-reported hate crimes, an increase of 2.7% from 2023. The most common motivation was Race or ethnicity (388 incidents, 56% of total), with Black being the most targeted group (143 incidents). Religion-motivated crimes totalled 125 (18%), led by Jewish (86).

Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0066-01 — Police-reported hate crime

Homicides

2024

2↓33.3%vs 2023

Homicide victims in Nanaimo

(1.57 per 100k)

Homicide Trend (2021–2024)

Click on chart to view methods breakdown for that year

By Method

2 victims(-33.3%)Methods based on national distribution

🔫Shooting

28636.3%

🔪Stabbing

25031.7%

👊Beating

13116.6%

📋Other methods used

445.6%

⛓️Strangulation

313.9%

❓Methods used unknown

293.7%

🔥Fire (burns or suffocation)

172.2%

Homicide rate:1.57 per 100,000

In 2024, Nanaimo recorded 2 homicide victims, a decrease of 33.3% from 2023. The most common method was Shooting (286 victims, 36.3% of total), followed by Stabbing (250 victims, 31.7%). The homicide rate was 1.57 per 100,000 population.

Source: Statistics Canada, Homicide Survey — Tables 35-10-0068-01, 35-10-0069-01, 35-10-0071-01

Impaired Driving

2024

41↑64.0%vs 2023

Impaired driving incidents in Nanaimo

(243.9 per 100k)

Impaired Driving Trend (2010–2024)

Click on chart to view breakdown for that year

By Type

41 incidents(+64.0%)

🍺Impaired by alcohol

35100%

💀Causing death

00%

🏥Causing bodily harm

00%

💨Failure to provide breath sample

00%

🩸Failure to provide blood sample

00%

Total Charged

Adults Charged

Youth Charged

Impaired driving rate:243.9 per 100,000

In 2024, Nanaimo recorded 41 impaired driving incidents, an increase of 64.0% from 2023. The most common offence type was Impaired by alcohol (35 incidents, 100% of sub-types), followed by Causing death (0 incidents, 0%). The impaired driving rate was 243.9 per 100,000 population. A total of 2 persons were charged, including 2 adults and 0 youth.

Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0177-01 — Incident-based crime statistics

🏘️

Socioeconomic Profile

Census 2021

115,459

Population

$70,000

Median Income

8.3%

Unemployment

68.9%

Homeownership

👥 Population

45.6

Median Age

10.0%

Growth (2016–2021)

💰 Income

$77,500

Median Household Income

$93,500

Average Household Income

10.7%

Low Income Prevalence (LIM-AT)

💼 Labour

60.0%

Participation Rate

55.0%

Employment Rate

8.3%

Unemployment Rate

🎓 Education (25–64)

No Certificate

13,200

High School

29,585

Postsecondary

53,260

Bachelor's+

21,670

🏠 Housing

$656,000

Avg. Dwelling Value

$1,326

Avg. Monthly Rent

$1,384

Avg. Mortgage Cost

🌍 Diversity

13,880

Visible Minorities

17,195

Immigrants

9,815

Indigenous Identity

According to the 2021 Census, Nanaimo had a population of 115,459 (+10.0% change from 2016) with a median age of 45.6. The median after-tax household income was $70,000, and the unemployment rate was 8.3%. Homeownership rate was 68.9% with an average dwelling value of $656,000.

Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021

⚖️

Adult vs Youth Charged

2024

Adults Charged

-21.8% YoY

Youth Charged

+33.3% YoY

4.8%

Youth Share

Total Charged

Adult rate: 567.7 per 100,000

Youth rate: 350.6 per 100,000

2024

Adults: 79

Youth: 4

Adults (left axis) Youth (right axis)

Dual-axis: each line has its own scale · Click to view year details

Adult Δ (2010–2024)

-28.2%

Youth Δ (2010–2024)

-76.5%

In 2024, Nanaimo recorded 79 adults charged and 4 youth charged across all Criminal Code violations. Youth accounted for 4.8% of all persons charged. Since 2010, youth charges have changed by -76.5%, while adult charges changed by -28.2%.

Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0177-01 — Incident-based crime statistics

🖥️Cybercrime🟠 HIGH RISK

2024

344.3per 100,000 population

+88%

Since 2021

2023

Peak Year

382.2

Peak Rate

Years of Data

vs National Average▲ 38% above

This Location344.3

National Avg249.2

Rate per 100KNational AvgPeak Year

Cybercrime in Nanaimo reached 344.3 per 100,000 in 2024, down from a peak of 382.2 in 2023, 38% above the national average.

Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0002. Click chart to select year.

🚗Motor Vehicle Theft🟢 BELOW AVG

2024

299incidents

136.8 per 100,000 population

-8%

Since 2010

7.4%

Solved Rate

2019

Peak Year

2.7%

CSI Impact

Persons Charged9

👤 Adults: 7 (78%)🧑 Youth: 2 (22%)

+ 1 youth diverted (not charged)

Very low — most thefts go unsolved

How Cases Are Cleared

Cleared by Charge11 (50%)

Cleared Otherwise11 (50%)

"Cleared otherwise" includes cases where charges cannot be laid (e.g., suspect deceased, diplomatic immunity, victim declines).

Unfounded Reports

24.0%

of all reported MVT

vs National Average▼ 41% below

This Location136.8

National Avg232.5

Rate per 100KNational AvgPeak Year (2019)

Nanaimo recorded 299 motor vehicle thefts in 2024 (136.8 per 100K), down from a peak rate of 284.7 in 2019. Only 7.4% of cases are solved, making it one of the hardest crimes for police to clear.

Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0177. Click chart to select year.

🔫

Firearms & Weapons

2024

Incidents

342

▲ 66.0% vs 2023

Rate per 100K

132.5

Breakdown

Possession of weapons

31482.8%

Pointing a firearm

266.9%

Unsafe storage

225.8%

Firearms Act

112.9%

Discharge firearm

41.1%

Weapons trafficking

20.5%

💊

Drug Offences

2024

Incidents

988

▲ 316.9% vs 2023

Rate per 100K

387.4

Breakdown

Other drug trafficking

17688%

Cocaine trafficking

2412%

Cannabis possession

00%

Cannabis trafficking

00%

🏠

Property Crime

2024

Incidents

13,180

▲ 83.4% vs 2023

Rate per 100K

5429.6

Breakdown

Mischief

4,98744.1%

Theft under $5K

4,49739.7%

Break & Enter

9628.5%

Motor vehicle theft

5755.1%

Theft over $5K

1851.6%

Arson

1060.9%

Shoplifting $5K+

20%

🔪

Violent Crime

2024

Incidents

5,713

▲ 89.4% vs 2023

Rate per 100K

1302.9

Breakdown

Assault Level 1

1,93061.8%

Assault Level 2

55017.6%

Sexual Assault L1

2608.3%

Criminal Harassment

1444.6%

Uttering Threats

1163.7%

Robbery

1103.5%

Assault Level 3

110.4%

💰

Fraud & Identity Crime

2024

Incidents

1,384

▲ 89.1% vs 2023

Rate per 100K

368.9

Breakdown

Identity Fraud

13591.2%

Identity Theft

138.8%

🔞

Sexual Violence

2024

Content warning: This section contains data about sexual offences

Total Incidents

412

▲ 86.4% vs 2023

SA L1 Rate / 100K

106.6

Breakdown

Sexual Assault L1

26063.1%

Violations Against Children

11828.6%

Non-consensual Images

225.3%

Voyeurism

81.9%

Sexual Assault L2

20.5%

Sexual Assault L3

20.5%

🏚️

Breaking & Entering

2024

Incidents

962

▲ 87.2% vs 2023

Rate per 100K

202.3

Breakdown

Standard B&E

96099.8%

B&E to Steal Firearm

20.2%

🍺

Substance-Related Crime

2024

Total Incidents

1,733

▲ 157.1% vs 2023

Drug Rate / 100K

387.4

Breakdown

Drug Violations

98857%

Impaired Driving

74543%

Cannabis Possession

00%

Cannabis Trafficking

00%

Nanaimo

British Columbia, Canada

Population

99,863

Established

1874

Wikipedia

About Nanaimo

Nanaimo is a city on the east coast of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. "The Harbour City" was previously known as the "Hub City", which was attributed to its original layout design with streets radiating from the shoreline like the spokes of a wagon wheel, and to its relatively central location on Vancouver Island. Nanaimo is the headquarters of the Regional District of Nanaimo.

Livability Score

85/100 Score

Cost of Living Index

129Very High

National Baseline = 100

Climate & Weather

Annual historical averages

July High

25.4°C

Jan Low

3.6°C

Annual Rain

1224 mm

Annual Snow

34 cm

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Campbell River RCMP Update: Previously Missing 25-Year-Old Man Found Safe Community Safety Alert Resolved – Missing Man Located in Campbell …

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Nearby Areas

15 locations

References & Sources

Wikipedia

General information about Nanaimo

View source

Statistics Canada

Crime statistics, population & census data

View source

Crime data sourced from the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Survey via Statistics Canada. Last updated for the most recent available reference year.

🏘️

Socioeconomic Profile

Census 2021

115,459

Population

$70,000

Median Income

8.3%

Unemployment

68.9%

Homeownership

👥 Population

45.6

Median Age

10.0%

Growth (2016–2021)

💰 Income

$77,500

Median Household Income

$93,500

Average Household Income

10.7%

Low Income Prevalence (LIM-AT)

💼 Labour

60.0%

Participation Rate

55.0%

Employment Rate

8.3%

Unemployment Rate

🎓 Education (25–64)

No Certificate

13,200

High School

29,585

Postsecondary

53,260

Bachelor's+

21,670

🏠 Housing

$656,000

Avg. Dwelling Value

$1,326

Avg. Monthly Rent

$1,384

Avg. Mortgage Cost

🌍 Diversity

13,880

Visible Minorities

17,195

Immigrants

9,815

Indigenous Identity

Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021

Nanaimo Safety Score

Police Reported Crime Data

815

27.6%

Property Crime

Top 5 Reported Violations

Historical Trend by Violation

Safety Scores & Indices

Crime & Safety Overview

Safety Score2024

Year-over-Year

CSI Trend

Crime Breakdown2024

Crime Breakdown

Comparison

Police & Justice

Clearance Rate2024

Hate Crimes

Homicides

Impaired Driving

Socioeconomic Profile

👥 Population

💰 Income

💼 Labour

🎓 Education (25–64)

🏠 Housing

🌍 Diversity

Adult vs Youth Charged

Firearms & Weapons

Drug Offences

Property Crime

Violent Crime

Fraud & Identity Crime

Sexual Violence

Breaking & Entering

Substance-Related Crime

Nanaimo

About Nanaimo

Climate & Weather

📰 Latest Crime News

Community Highlight: RCMP Robotics Demo Inspires Young Innovators in Lake Country, BC

Community Alert: IHIT Probes Death of 45-Year-Old Man in Surrey Residential Area

Nanaimo RCMP Alert: Public Asked to Help Locate Missing Woman, 53

Missing Person Alert: RCMP Seek Help to Locate Dustin Balcke in Comox Valley, BC

Campbell River RCMP Seek Witnesses After Targeted Stabbing Near Cedar Street and 16th Avenue

Campbell River RCMP Update: Previously Missing 25-Year-Old Man Found Safe

Nearby Areas

Nanaimo C

Cowichan Valley I

Lantzville

Nanoose

Ladysmith

Nanaimo E

Parksville

Cowichan Lake

Lake Cowichan

References & Sources

📰 Latest Crime News

Community Highlight: RCMP Robotics Demo Inspires Young Innovators in Lake Country, BC

Community Alert: IHIT Probes Death of 45-Year-Old Man in Surrey Residential Area

Nanaimo RCMP Alert: Public Asked to Help Locate Missing Woman, 53

Missing Person Alert: RCMP Seek Help to Locate Dustin Balcke in Comox Valley, BC

Campbell River RCMP Seek Witnesses After Targeted Stabbing Near Cedar Street and 16th Avenue

Campbell River RCMP Update: Previously Missing 25-Year-Old Man Found Safe

Crime & Safety Overview

Safety Score2024

Year-over-Year

CSI Trend

Crime Breakdown2024

Crime Breakdown

Comparison

Police & Justice

Clearance Rate2024

Hate Crimes

Homicides

Impaired Driving

Socioeconomic Profile

👥 Population

💰 Income

💼 Labour