Canada · Analysis
Crime trends in Canada, 1998 to 2025
The crime rate is −31.0% below its 1998 level, but it has climbed +10.3% since its low in 2014. Violent crime is +34.9% over ten years.
Updated Data year 2025Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0177-01Français
Crime rate, change since 1998
−31.0%
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0177-01
Crime rate, change since 2014 low
+10.3%
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0177-01
Violent crime rate, change since 2015
+34.9%
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0177-01
Crime Severity Index, change since 2015
+6.6%
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0026-01
How to read thisThe overall crime rate
Criminal Code incidents (excluding traffic) per 100,000 people, with the violent and property parts.
Police-reported crime rate, Canada, 1998 to 2025
Incidents per 100,000 people.
- Crime rate
- Property
- Violent
Show the dataHide the data
| Year | Crime rate | Property | Violent | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 8,091.7 | 5,696.0 | 1,344.9 | 1,050.9 |
| 1999 | 7,694.3 | 5,344.6 | 1,440.1 | 909.6 |
| 2000 | 7,606.8 | 5,188.9 | 1,494.2 | 923.7 |
| 2001 | 7,586.7 | 5,124.0 | 1,473.4 | 989.3 |
| 2002 | 7,512.1 | 5,080.1 | 1,440.8 | 991.3 |
| 2003 | 7,770.3 | 5,298.5 | 1,434.8 | 1,036.9 |
| 2004 | 7,599.6 | 5,123.1 | 1,404.2 | 1,072.3 |
| 2005 | 7,325.0 | 4,883.9 | 1,388.9 | 1,052.3 |
| 2006 | 7,245.2 | 4,809 | 1,386.7 | 1,049.5 |
| 2007 | 6,907.6 | 4,524.8 | 1,353.9 | 1,029.0 |
| 2008 | 6,630.9 | 4,257.9 | 1,334.3 | 1,038.6 |
| 2009 | 6,461.2 | 4,122.0 | 1,321.9 | 1,017.3 |
| 2010 | 6,158.9 | 3,838.1 | 1,291.6 | 1,029.2 |
| 2011 | 5,779.9 | 3,536.2 | 1,235.7 | 1,008 |
| 2012 | 5,638.1 | 3,438.4 | 1,198.8 | 1,001.0 |
| 2013 | 5,206.0 | 3,154.0 | 1,095.7 | 956.4 |
| 2014 | 5,061.4 | 3,099.5 | 1,044.2 | 917.6 |
| 2015 | 5,231.6 | 3,231.4 | 1,070.3 | 930.0 |
| 2016 | 5,296.9 | 3,238.5 | 1,076.0 | 982.4 |
| 2017 | 5,374.5 | 3,265.3 | 1,112.7 | 996.5 |
| 2018 | 5,511.7 | 3,347.7 | 1,151.4 | 1,012.6 |
| 2019 | 5,874.2 | 3,509.4 | 1,278.5 | 1,086.4 |
| 2020 | 5,338.8 | 3,084.8 | 1,265.0 | 989 |
| 2021 | 5,395.8 | 3,052.5 | 1,331.1 | 1,012.2 |
| 2022 | 5,699.1 | 3,325.0 | 1,376.9 | 997.2 |
| 2023 | 5,884 | 3,409.6 | 1,441.8 | 1,032.6 |
| 2024 | 5,722.7 | 3,264.6 | 1,447.8 | 1,010.3 |
| 2025 | 5,584.6 | 3,140.6 | 1,443.3 | 1,000.8 |
Offence by offence
Each line is indexed to 1998 = 100, so offences of very different sizes can be compared. Above 100 means a higher rate than in 1998.
Violent offences, 1998 = 100
- Homicide
- Assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm
- Sexual assault
- Robbery
- Extortion
Show the dataHide the data
| Year | Homicide | Assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm | Sexual assault | Robbery | Extortion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 1999 | 95.7 | 99.7 | 92.7 | 98.4 | 88.6 |
| 2000 | 96.2 | 107.2 | 92.8 | 91.5 | 80.7 |
| 2001 | 96.2 | 112.3 | 92.4 | 91.0 | 67.2 |
| 2002 | 100.5 | 112.9 | 93.0 | 87.9 | 74.4 |
| 2003 | 94.1 | 115.6 | 88.3 | 93.1 | 75.9 |
| 2004 | 105.4 | 118.1 | 85.4 | 89.1 | 67.0 |
| 2005 | 111.4 | 126.3 | 86.6 | 92.3 | 59.8 |
| 2006 | 100.5 | 132.4 | 80.9 | 97.6 | 53.3 |
| 2007 | 97.8 | 134.7 | 77.3 | 95.4 | 53.3 |
| 2008 | 99.5 | 133.3 | 76.7 | 89.4 | 53.0 |
| 2009 | 97.8 | 128.3 | 73.9 | 88.6 | 64.2 |
| 2010 | 88.1 | 123.5 | 77.9 | 82.3 | 58.3 |
| 2011 | 94.1 | 118.7 | 75.5 | 79.6 | 55.9 |
| 2012 | 84.3 | 116.0 | 74.9 | 73.4 | 62.6 |
| 2013 | 78.9 | 106.0 | 71.7 | 60.8 | 82.7 |
| 2014 | 79.5 | 102.9 | 69.2 | 54.2 | 96.7 |
| 2015 | 92.4 | 107.3 | 69.7 | 56.9 | 107.5 |
| 2016 | 91.4 | 111.8 | 70.9 | 55.8 | 107.0 |
| 2017 | 98.4 | 115.3 | 80.4 | 57.3 | 109.5 |
| 2018 | 95.7 | 118.2 | 91.5 | 55.8 | 160.1 |
| 2019 | 98.9 | 128.3 | 98.0 | 57.0 | 141.5 |
| 2020 | 108.1 | 139.3 | 90.0 | 46.7 | 186.9 |
| 2021 | 112.4 | 150.7 | 107.0 | 44.7 | 224.9 |
| 2022 | 122.7 | 160.3 | 110.8 | 51.8 | 324.2 |
| 2023 | 107.6 | 172.4 | 109.5 | 54.5 | 442.2 |
| 2024 | 104.3 | 173.3 | 107.2 | 53.9 | 404.8 |
| 2025 | 87.0 | 173.2 | 105.9 | 50.6 | 366.0 |
Property offences, 1998 = 100
- Breaking and entering
- Motor vehicle theft
- Shoplifting
- Fraud
- Mischief
Show the dataHide the data
| Year | Breaking and entering | Motor vehicle theft | Shoplifting | Fraud | Mischief |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 1999 | 89.9 | 96.5 | 91.2 | 94.5 | 94.7 |
| 2000 | 82.2 | 94.9 | 86.5 | 88.9 | 98.1 |
| 2001 | 77.5 | 98.8 | 85.1 | 88.7 | 99.1 |
| 2002 | 75.6 | 93.9 | 85.0 | 93.1 | 98.1 |
| 2003 | 77.4 | 100.1 | 89.4 | 93.4 | 104.3 |
| 2004 | 74.3 | 96.7 | 79.1 | 97.0 | 102.1 |
| 2005 | 69.7 | 90.2 | 78.4 | 94.1 | 101.5 |
| 2006 | 66.3 | 88.5 | 81.0 | 91.0 | 107.4 |
| 2007 | 60.5 | 80.5 | 77.2 | 85.9 | 106.1 |
| 2008 | 54.6 | 68.6 | 78.7 | 87.4 | 103.5 |
| 2009 | 52.7 | 58.4 | 91.2 | 85.3 | 99.4 |
| 2010 | 49.8 | 49.4 | 88.5 | 76.5 | 92.3 |
| 2011 | 45.4 | 43.6 | 86.0 | 72.0 | 84.8 |
| 2012 | 43.7 | 40.9 | 87.2 | 72.1 | 81.3 |
| 2013 | 38.3 | 37.6 | 82.5 | 72.3 | 71.9 |
| 2014 | 36.9 | 38.0 | 87.6 | 72.9 | 69.0 |
| 2015 | 38.4 | 40.1 | 92.4 | 84.1 | 71.0 |
| 2016 | 38.1 | 39.8 | 94.1 | 96.6 | 66.8 |
| 2017 | 37.6 | 42.3 | 97.9 | 98.5 | 66.3 |
| 2018 | 37.2 | 42.3 | 111.2 | 111.5 | 64.6 |
| 2019 | 36.9 | 42.1 | 123.2 | 120.1 | 69.7 |
| 2020 | 31.2 | 37.4 | 79.3 | 115.5 | 72.6 |
| 2021 | 28.3 | 39.6 | 82.2 | 115.0 | 73.8 |
| 2022 | 29.4 | 49.4 | 108.5 | 123.6 | 74.6 |
| 2023 | 28.2 | 52.2 | 128.3 | 139.5 | 75.6 |
| 2024 | 25.3 | 43.7 | 148.7 | 140.8 | 71.6 |
| 2025 | 22.7 | 36.5 | 165.6 | 135.5 | 68.3 |
What changed in the last ten years (2015 to 2025)
Change in the rate per 100,000, 2015 to 2025
Percent change, Canada.
- Extortion+240%
- Shoplifting+79%
- Assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm+61%
- Fraud+61%
- Sexual assault+52%
- Weapons violations+37%
- Uttering threats+33%
- Common assault+20%
- Mischief−4%
- Theft of $5,000 or under−4%
- Homicide−6%
- Motor vehicle theft−9%
- Robbery−11%
- Impaired driving−20%
- Breaking and entering−41%
- Drug offences−49%
Show the dataHide the data
| Offence | % |
|---|---|
| Extortion | 240.3 |
| Shoplifting | 79.3 |
| Assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm | 61.4 |
| Fraud | 61.1 |
| Sexual assault | 52 |
| Weapons violations | 36.8 |
| Uttering threats | 32.8 |
| Common assault | 20.1 |
| Mischief | -3.8 |
| Theft of $5,000 or under | -4.2 |
| Homicide | -5.8 |
| Motor vehicle theft | -9 |
| Robbery | -11.2 |
| Impaired driving | -19.6 |
| Breaking and entering | -41.1 |
| Drug offences | -48.6 |
Rising
- Extortion: +240.3%
- Shoplifting: +79.3%
- Assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm: +61.4%
- Fraud: +61.1%
- Sexual assault: +52.0%
- Weapons violations: +36.8%
Falling
- Drug offences: −48.6%
- Breaking and entering: −41.1%
- Impaired driving: −19.6%
- Robbery: −11.2%
- Motor vehicle theft: −9.0%
- Homicide: −5.8%
All offences followed
| Extortion | 29.1 | -9.6% | 240.3% | 266.0% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shoplifting | 501.6 | 11.4% | 79.3% | 65.6% |
| Assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm | 214.2 | -0.1% | 61.4% | 73.2% |
| Fraud | 426.1 | -3.8% | 61.1% | 35.5% |
| Sexual assault | 87.1 | -1.2% | 52.0% | 5.9% |
| Weapons violations | 55.7 | -2.2% | 36.8% | 4.3% |
| Uttering threats | 233.7 | -0.9% | 32.8% | 49.0% |
| Common assault | 528.1 | 0.4% | 20.1% | -13.5% |
| Mischief | 740.1 | -4.6% | -3.8% | -31.7% |
| Theft of $5,000 or under | 1,306.6 | 0.5% | -4.2% | -44.8% |
| Homicide | 1.6 | -16.6% | -5.8% | -13.0% |
| Motor vehicle theft | 200.8 | -16.4% | -9.0% | -63.5% |
| Robbery | 55.1 | -6.1% | -11.2% | -49.4% |
| Impaired driving | 161.8 | -2.5% | -19.6% | -44.3% |
| Breaking and entering | 263.5 | -10.6% | -41.1% | -77.3% |
| Drug offences | 143.6 | 10.6% | -48.6% | -38.9% |
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0177-01, 1998–2025
Download CSVHow serious is crime? The Crime Severity Index
The index weights each offence by how serious it is (Canada in 2006 = 100), so it can move differently from the crime rate.
Crime Severity Index, Canada, 1998 to 2025
2006 = 100.
- Overall
- Violent
- Non-violent
Show the dataHide the data
| Year | Overall | Violent | Non-violent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 118.8 | 97.8 | 126.9 |
| 1999 | 111.2 | 99.4 | 115.8 |
| 2000 | 106.7 | 97.8 | 110.2 |
| 2001 | 105.3 | 97.2 | 108.4 |
| 2002 | 104.1 | 96.2 | 107.2 |
| 2003 | 106.8 | 97.6 | 110.4 |
| 2004 | 104.1 | 96.0 | 107.2 |
| 2005 | 101.3 | 98.5 | 102.4 |
| 2006 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| 2007 | 95.3 | 97.8 | 94.3 |
| 2008 | 90.6 | 95.1 | 88.9 |
| 2009 | 87.8 | 94.3 | 85.3 |
| 2010 | 82.9 | 89.2 | 80.5 |
| 2011 | 77.6 | 85.7 | 74.5 |
| 2012 | 75.5 | 82.0 | 73.0 |
| 2013 | 68.9 | 74.0 | 66.9 |
| 2014 | 66.9 | 70.7 | 65.4 |
| 2015 | 70.4 | 75.3 | 68.4 |
| 2016 | 72.0 | 76.9 | 70.1 |
| 2017 | 73.6 | 81.3 | 70.7 |
| 2018 | 75.6 | 83.5 | 72.6 |
| 2019 | 79.7 | 90.2 | 75.8 |
| 2020 | 73.9 | 88.0 | 68.7 |
| 2021 | 74.9 | 93.4 | 68.1 |
| 2022 | 78.8 | 99.1 | 71.3 |
| 2023 | 81.2 | 100.9 | 74 |
| 2024 | 78.8 | 101.4 | 70.5 |
| 2025 | 75.0 | 97.2 | 66.8 |
How to read these trends
All rates are police-reported incidents per 100,000 people from the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey. Rates adjust for population growth, so they compare fairly across years.
A trend can reflect more than crime itself: people may report some offences more readily than before, the law changes (cannabis was legalized in 2018, impaired driving rules changed the same year), and police services change what they focus on. We show the numbers without guessing at causes. Our methodology
Frequently asked questions
- Is crime going up in Canada?
- Over the long run, no: the police-reported crime rate in 2025 (5,585 per 100,000) is −31.0% compared with 1998. It reached its lowest point in 2014 and has risen +10.3% since. Violent crime has risen faster than property crime over the last ten years (+34.9%).
- Which crimes have increased the most?
- Among the offences followed here, the largest rise between 2015 and 2025 was in extortion (+240.3%), followed by shoplifting (+79.3%) and assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm (+61.4%).
- Which crimes have decreased the most?
- The steepest fall between 2015 and 2025 was in drug offences (−48.6%). Over the longer run, breaking and entering is down −77.3% since 1998.
- What happened to crime during the pandemic?
- The crime rate changed −9.1% between 2019 and 2020, when lockdowns kept people at home and closed many businesses. It has since moved back up: +4.6% from 2020 to 2025.
- Do these trends show real changes in crime?
- Partly. They count incidents reported to and recorded by police. More reporting (for example of sexual assault or fraud), new laws, and changes in police priorities or in how incidents are recorded can move a trend as much as changes in behaviour.
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