Attempted Murder Statistics in Canada
Criminal Code — Section 239
Attempted Murder in Canada: the numbers
Police-reported incidents, Statistics Canada table 35-10-0177, 2015 to 2025.
688
Incidents reported by police, 2025
1.7
Rate per 100,000 people
-24%
Change in rate since 2015
83%
Incidents cleared by a charge
Rate per 100,000 people, by year
Rate by province and territory, 2025
- 1.Nunavut16.7
- 2.Northwest Territories4.4
- 3.New Brunswick3.9
- 4.Saskatchewan3.6
- 5.Nova Scotia3.0
- 6.Quebec2.2
- 7.Newfoundland and Labrador1.8
- 8.Ontario1.6
- 9.Manitoba1.1
- 10.British Columbia0.8
- 11.Alberta0.8
- 12.Yukon0.0
- 13.Prince Edward Island0.0
Highest rates among metro areas, 2025
- 1.Fredericton11.8
- 2.Greater Sudbury9.1
- 3.Regina9.0
- 4.Lethbridge5.0
- 5.Halifax4.4
- 6.Brantford3.9
- 7.Saguenay3.4
- 8.Guelph3.1
- 9.Chilliwack3.1
- 10.Thunder Bay3.0
What the law says
Attempted murder is committed when a person does anything for the purpose of carrying out an intention to cause the death of another person, whether or not bodily harm results. The Crown must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused specifically intended to kill — not merely to injure — and took some step beyond mere preparation toward carrying out that intention. This is one of the most serious charges in Canadian criminal law and carries penalties second only to murder itself.
Penalties
Classification
Indictable offence only.
Maximum Penalty
Maximum life imprisonment. Maximum life imprisonment. Mandatory minimum of 5 years if a restricted or prohibited firearm is used, or any firearm is used for a criminal organization (7 years for a subsequent offence); 4 years if any other firearm is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many attempted murder incidents are reported in Canada?
Police in Canada reported 688 incidents in 2025, a rate of 1.7 per 100,000 people (Statistics Canada).
Is attempted murder going up in Canada?
No. The police-reported rate fell 24% from 2015 to 2025.
Which province has the highest attempted murder rate?
Nunavut had the highest rate in 2025: 16.7 per 100,000 people.
How often does attempted murder lead to charges?
In 2025, 83% of reported incidents were cleared by a charge, and 590 people were charged (521 adults, 69 youth).
Related Offences
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