Sexual Assault with a Weapon / Causing Bodily Harm / Threats to Third Party Statistics in Canada
Criminal Code — Section 272
Sexual Assault with a Weapon / Causing Bodily Harm / Threats to Third Party in Canada: the numbers
Police-reported incidents, Statistics Canada table 35-10-0177, 2015 to 2025.
865
Incidents reported by police, 2025
2.1
Rate per 100,000 people
+96%
Change in rate since 2015
72%
Incidents cleared by a charge
Rate per 100,000 people, by year
Rate by province and territory, 2025
- 1.Nunavut33.5
- 2.Northwest Territories23.9
- 3.New Brunswick3.0
- 4.Manitoba3.0
- 5.Alberta2.8
- 6.Saskatchewan2.5
- 7.Yukon2.1
- 8.Ontario2.1
- 9.Newfoundland and Labrador2.0
- 10.Quebec1.7
- 11.Nova Scotia1.7
- 12.British Columbia1.4
- 13.Prince Edward Island0.6
Highest rates among metro areas, 2025
- 1.Fredericton5.1
- 2.Greater Sudbury5.1
- 3.Saint John4.9
- 4.Brantford4.5
- 5.Peterborough4.1
- 6.Belleville-Quinte West4.0
- 7.Thunder Bay3.8
- 8.London3.8
- 9.Guelph3.7
- 10.Calgary3.4
What the law says
Sexual Assault Level 2 occurs when a person commits a sexual assault while carrying, using, or threatening to use a weapon or imitation weapon, while threatening to cause bodily harm to a third party, while causing bodily harm to the victim, while choking, suffocating or strangling the victim, or when more than one person is involved in the assault. This is a more serious form of sexual assault reflecting the elevated danger and harm to the victim.
Penalties
Classification
Indictable offence. Mandatory minimum applies in certain circumstances.
Maximum Penalty
Maximum 14 years imprisonment. Minimum 5 years (7 for a subsequent offence) if a restricted or prohibited firearm is used or a firearm is used for a criminal organization; minimum 4 years for any other firearm. If the victim is under 16: maximum life, minimum 5 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many sexual assault with a weapon / causing bodily harm / threats to third party incidents are reported in Canada?
Police in Canada reported 865 incidents in 2025, a rate of 2.1 per 100,000 people (Statistics Canada).
Is sexual assault with a weapon / causing bodily harm / threats to third party going up in Canada?
Yes. The police-reported rate rose 96% from 2015 to 2025.
Which province has the highest sexual assault with a weapon / causing bodily harm / threats to third party rate?
Nunavut had the highest rate in 2025: 33.5 per 100,000 people.
How often does sexual assault with a weapon / causing bodily harm / threats to third party lead to charges?
In 2025, 72% of reported incidents were cleared by a charge, and 622 people were charged (537 adults, 85 youth).
Related Offences
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