Sexual Assault Level 1 Statistics in Canada
Criminal Code — Section 271
Sexual Assault Level 1 in Canada: the numbers
Police-reported incidents, Statistics Canada table 35-10-0177, 2015 to 2025.
36,284
Incidents reported by police, 2025
87.1
Rate per 100,000 people
+52%
Change in rate since 2015
37%
Incidents cleared by a charge
Rate per 100,000 people, by year
Rate by province and territory, 2025
- 1.Nunavut590.5
- 2.Northwest Territories489.7
- 3.Yukon213.4
- 4.Manitoba116.4
- 5.Saskatchewan109.6
- 6.Quebec101.4
- 7.New Brunswick101.0
- 8.Newfoundland and Labrador94.7
- 9.Prince Edward Island88.1
- 10.Nova Scotia81.8
- 11.Alberta79.0
- 12.British Columbia77.6
- 13.Ontario76.6
Highest rates among metro areas, 2025
- 1.Lethbridge142.7
- 2.Thunder Bay140.2
- 3.Trois-Rivières134.8
- 4.Kamloops127.4
- 5.Drummondville123.6
- 6.Belleville-Quinte West121.3
- 7.Saguenay111.9
- 8.Red Deer104.8
- 9.Moncton104.1
- 10.St. John's102.3
What the law says
Sexual Assault Level 1 is any form of sexual assault that does not involve a weapon, bodily harm, or threats to a third party. It includes unwanted sexual touching, kissing, or other sexual contact without consent. It is the most commonly charged level of sexual assault.
Penalties
Classification
Hybrid offence. On summary conviction: maximum 2 years less a day (if the complainant is under 16, the Code sets a 6-month minimum, the constitutionality of which has been challenged).
Maximum Penalty
Maximum 10 years imprisonment; maximum 14 years (with a 1-year mandatory minimum whose constitutionality has been successfully challenged in some courts) if the complainant is under 16.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many sexual assault level 1 incidents are reported in Canada?
Police in Canada reported 36,284 incidents in 2025, a rate of 87.1 per 100,000 people (Statistics Canada).
Is sexual assault level 1 going up in Canada?
Yes. The police-reported rate rose 52% from 2015 to 2025.
Which province has the highest sexual assault level 1 rate?
Nunavut had the highest rate in 2025: 590.5 per 100,000 people.
How often does sexual assault level 1 lead to charges?
In 2025, 37% of reported incidents were cleared by a charge, and 12,217 people were charged (10,603 adults, 1,614 youth).
Related Offences
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