First Degree Murder Statistics in Canada
Criminal Code — Sections 231 / 235
First Degree Murder in Canada: the numbers
Police-reported incidents, Statistics Canada table 35-10-0177, 2015 to 2025.
228
Incidents reported by police, 2025
0.6
Rate per 100,000 people
-28%
Change in rate since 2015
50%
Incidents cleared by a charge
Rate per 100,000 people, by year
Rate by province and territory, 2025
- 1.Yukon2.1
- 2.Saskatchewan1.8
- 3.Newfoundland and Labrador1.6
- 4.Prince Edward Island1.1
- 5.New Brunswick0.8
- 6.British Columbia0.8
- 7.Nova Scotia0.7
- 8.Ontario0.5
- 9.Alberta0.4
- 10.Quebec0.4
- 11.Manitoba0.1
- 12.Northwest Territories0.0
- 13.Nunavut0.0
Highest rates among metro areas, 2025
- 1.Saint John3.5
- 2.Abbotsford-Mission2.7
- 3.Greater Sudbury2.5
- 4.Kamloops2.4
- 5.Regina2.4
- 6.St. John's2.1
- 7.Nanaimo1.6
- 8.Saskatoon1.0
- 9.Barrie1.0
- 10.Halifax0.9
What the law says
First degree murder is the most serious criminal offence in Canada. It is a murder that is planned and deliberate, or a murder that falls into specific categories defined by law — including the murder of a police officer or other justice system official, a murder committed during a hijacking, sexual assault, kidnapping, or hostage taking, or a murder committed while using explosives for a criminal organization, or while committing a terrorist activity.
Penalties
Classification
Indictable offence — the most serious in the Criminal Code.
Maximum Penalty
Mandatory life imprisonment with no parole eligibility for 25 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many first degree murder incidents are reported in Canada?
Police in Canada reported 228 incidents in 2025, a rate of 0.6 per 100,000 people (Statistics Canada).
Is first degree murder going up in Canada?
No. The police-reported rate fell 28% from 2015 to 2025.
Which province has the highest first degree murder rate?
Yukon had the highest rate in 2025: 2.1 per 100,000 people.
How often does first degree murder lead to charges?
In 2025, 50% of reported incidents were cleared by a charge, and 165 people were charged (145 adults, 20 youth).
Related Offences
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