Northwest Territories

A vast territory in northern Canada comprised of forests, tundra, and the Arctic archipelago. It boasts strong Indigenous cultures and a resource-driven economy.

About Northwest Territories

The Northwest Territories is a territory of Canada. At a land area of approximately 1,144,000 km2 and a 2021 census population of 41,070, it is the second-largest and the most populous of the three territories in Northern Canada. Yellowknife has been the territorial capital since 1967.

Population

41,070

Locations

1 metro areas · 41 police areas

Official Website Wikipedia

Provincial Overview

Crime & Safety Overview

Data: 2024

Safety Score2024

Rank #56 of 56 areas

CSI: 526.9 (lower = safer)

Year-over-Year

2024

Overall↑ 9.5%

Violent↑ 4.8%

Non-Violent↑ 11.7%

CSI Trend

Northwest Territories

🇨🇦 Canada Avg

Crime Breakdown2024

Violent

52.7%CSI 571.6

Non-Violent

47.3%CSI 513.5

Crime Breakdown

2024

Property Crime

55.4%26,848

Other Offences

22.6%10,960

Violent Crime

22.0%10,674

Comparison

576% ABOVE NATL AVG

Northwest Territories

526.9

Canada Avg

77.9

Crime Severity Index — lower is safer

Police & Justice

Clearance Rate2024

27.7%

Percentage of reported crimes cleared by charge or otherwise. Higher rates indicate better police case resolution.

Impaired Driving

2024

2,300↓21.2%vs 2023

Impaired driving incidents in Northwest Territories

(2570.9 per 100k)

Impaired Driving Trend (1998–2024)

Click on chart to view breakdown for that year

By Type

2,300 incidents(-21.2%)

🍺Impaired by alcohol

1,96299.7%

🏥Causing bodily harm

40.2%

💀Causing death

20.1%

💨Failure to provide breath sample

00%

🩸Failure to provide blood sample

00%

414

Total Charged

406

Adults Charged

Youth Charged

Impaired driving rate:2570.9 per 100,000

In 2024, Northwest Territories recorded 2,300 impaired driving incidents, a decrease of 21.2% from 2023. The most common offence type was Impaired by alcohol (1,962 incidents, 99.7% of sub-types), followed by Causing bodily harm (4 incidents, 0.2%). The impaired driving rate was 2570.9 per 100,000 population. A total of 414 persons were charged, including 406 adults and 8 youth.

Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0177-01 — Incident-based crime statistics

⚖️

Adult vs Youth Charged

2024

4,414

Adults Charged

+21.1% YoY

186

Youth Charged

-5.1% YoY

4.0%

Youth Share

4,600

Total Charged

Adult rate: 6351.1 per 100,000

Youth rate: 2695.7 per 100,000

2024

Adults: 4,414

Youth: 186

Adults (left axis) Youth (right axis)

Dual-axis: each line has its own scale · Click to view year details

Adult Δ (1998–2024)

+31.4%

Youth Δ (1998–2024)

-77.7%

In 2024, Northwest Territories recorded 4,414 adults charged and 186 youth charged across all Criminal Code violations. Youth accounted for 4.0% of all persons charged. Since 1998, youth charges have changed by -77.7%, while adult charges changed by +31.4%.

Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0177-01 — Incident-based crime statistics

🖥️Cybercrime🟡 AVERAGE

2024

250.4per 100,000 population

+628%

Since 2014

2024

Peak Year

250.4

Peak Rate

Years of Data

vs National Average▲ 1% above

This Location250.4

National Avg249.2

Rate per 100KNational AvgPeak Year

Cybercrime in Northwest Territories reached 250.4 per 100,000 in 2024, its highest level on record.

Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0002. Click chart to select year.

🚗Motor Vehicle Theft

2024

536incidents

0 per 100,000 population

Since 1998

15.9%

Solved Rate

2003

Peak Year

1.4%

CSI Impact

Persons Charged28

👤 Adults: 20 (71%)🧑 Youth: 8 (29%)

+ 4 youth diverted (not charged)

Low solve rate for this crime type

How Cases Are Cleared

Cleared by Charge37 (44%)

Cleared Otherwise48 (56%)

"Cleared otherwise" includes cases where charges cannot be laid (e.g., suspect deceased, diplomatic immunity, victim declines).

Unfounded Reports

145

20.9%

of all reported MVT

Rate per 100KNational AvgPeak Year (2003)

Northwest Territories recorded 536 motor vehicle thefts in 2024, down from a peak rate of 904.6 in 2003. 15.9% of cases resulted in clearance.

Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0177. Click chart to select year.

🔫

Firearms & Weapons

2024

Incidents

209

▲ 11.2% vs 2023

Rate per 100K

232.5

Breakdown

Possession of weapons

16250.5%

Firearms Act

6620.6%

Unsafe storage

4313.4%

Pointing a firearm

288.7%

Discharge firearm

206.2%

Weapons trafficking

20.6%

💊

Drug Offences

2024

Incidents

1,159

▲ 54.9% vs 2023

Rate per 100K

2591.0

Breakdown

Cocaine trafficking

1,68091.8%

Other drug trafficking

1518.2%

Cannabis possession

00%

Cannabis trafficking

00%

🏠

Property Crime

2024

Incidents

27,033

▼ 1.1% vs 2023

Rate per 100K

30010.5

Breakdown

Mischief

21,92983.1%

Theft under $5K

2,73510.4%

Break & Enter

1,0544%

Motor vehicle theft

5111.9%

Arson

880.3%

Theft over $5K

720.3%

Shoplifting $5K+

60%

🔪

Violent Crime

2024

Incidents

10,822

▲ 2.5% vs 2023

Rate per 100K

11931.3

Breakdown

Assault Level 1

5,68769.4%

Assault Level 2

1,32616.2%

Sexual Assault L1

4645.7%

Uttering Threats

2693.3%

Criminal Harassment

1982.4%

Robbery

1581.9%

Assault Level 3

961.2%

💰

Fraud & Identity Crime

2024

Incidents

532

▲ 5.3% vs 2023

Rate per 100K

588.0

Breakdown

Identity Fraud

2866.7%

Identity Theft

1433.3%

🔞

Sexual Violence

2024

Content warning: This section contains data about sexual offences

Total Incidents

671

▲ 14.1% vs 2023

SA L1 Rate / 100K

507.5

Breakdown

Sexual Assault L1

46469.2%

Violations Against Children

14121%

Non-consensual Images

487.2%

Voyeurism

101.5%

Sexual Assault L2

81.2%

Sexual Assault L3

00%

🏚️

Breaking & Entering

2024

Incidents

1,054

▲ 16.7% vs 2023

Rate per 100K

0.0

Breakdown

Standard B&E

1,05099.6%

B&E to Steal Firearm

40.4%

🍺

Substance-Related Crime

2024

Total Incidents

3,480

▼ 5.7% vs 2023

Drug Rate / 100K

2591.0

Breakdown

Impaired Driving

2,32166.7%

Drug Violations

1,15933.3%

Cannabis Possession

00%

Cannabis Trafficking

00%

Metro Areas

1 locations

Yellowknife

Metro Area

Police Areas

41 locations

📰 Latest Crime News

LIVE

March 23, 2026

Community Safety Alert: National Impaired Driving Prevention Week in Northwest Territories

Community Safety Alert: National Impaired Driving Prevention Week in Northwest Territories From March 15 to March 23, the Northwest Territor…

Read More ↗

March 20, 2026

Custody Death Under RCMP Investigation in Yellowknife Hotel Arrest Case

Community Safety Alert: In-Custody Death Under RCMP Investigation in Yellowknife A 35-year-old man has died after being held in Yellowknife …

Read More ↗

March 20, 2026

Community Safety Alert: Fort Providence RCMP Seek Help Identifying Break‑and‑Enter Suspect

Community Safety Alert: Fort Providence RCMP Seek Help Identifying Break‑and‑Enter Suspect Fort Providence RCMP are asking the public for as…

Read More ↗

March 13, 2026

Community Safety Alert: Yellowknife RCMP Arrest Wanted Parolee and Seize Suspected Crack Cocaine

Community Safety Alert: Yellowknife RCMP Arrest Wanted Parolee and Seize Suspected Crack Cocaine Overview of the Incident On the evening of …

Read More ↗

March 13, 2026

Community Safety Alert: Suspect Arrested After Tour Bus Theft in Yellowknife

Community Safety Alert: Suspect Arrested After Tour Bus Theft in Yellowknife Incident Overview Yellowknife RCMP have charged a 39-year-old w…

Read More ↗

March 13, 2026

Community Safety Alert: Four Suspects Charged After Armed Home Invasion in Fort Providence

Community Safety Alert: Four Suspects Charged After Armed Home Invasion in Fort Providence Armed Home Invasion Under Investigation in Fort P…

Read More ↗

Northwest Territories

About Northwest Territories

Provincial Overview

Crime & Safety Overview

Safety Score2024

Year-over-Year

CSI Trend

Crime Breakdown2024

Crime Breakdown

Comparison

Police & Justice

Clearance Rate2024

Impaired Driving

Adult vs Youth Charged

Firearms & Weapons

Drug Offences

Property Crime

Violent Crime

Fraud & Identity Crime

Sexual Violence

Breaking & Entering

Substance-Related Crime

Metro Areas

Yellowknife

Police Areas

Aklavik

Fort Good Hope

Fort Liard

Fort McPherson

Fort Providence

Fort Resolution

Fort Simpson

Fort Smith

Hay River

📰 Latest Crime News

Community Safety Alert: National Impaired Driving Prevention Week in Northwest Territories

Custody Death Under RCMP Investigation in Yellowknife Hotel Arrest Case

Community Safety Alert: Fort Providence RCMP Seek Help Identifying Break‑and‑Enter Suspect

Community Safety Alert: Yellowknife RCMP Arrest Wanted Parolee and Seize Suspected Crack Cocaine

Community Safety Alert: Suspect Arrested After Tour Bus Theft in Yellowknife

Community Safety Alert: Four Suspects Charged After Armed Home Invasion in Fort Providence

Crime & Safety Overview

Safety Score2024

Year-over-Year

CSI Trend

Crime Breakdown2024

Crime Breakdown

Comparison

Police & Justice

Clearance Rate2024

Impaired Driving

Adult vs Youth Charged

Firearms & Weapons

Drug Offences

Property Crime

Violent Crime

Fraud & Identity Crime

Sexual Violence

Breaking & Entering

Substance-Related Crime

📰 Latest Crime News

Community Safety Alert: National Impaired Driving Prevention Week in Northwest Territories

Custody Death Under RCMP Investigation in Yellowknife Hotel Arrest Case

Community Safety Alert: Fort Providence RCMP Seek Help Identifying Break‑and‑Enter Suspect

Community Safety Alert: Yellowknife RCMP Arrest Wanted Parolee and Seize Suspected Crack Cocaine

Community Safety Alert: Suspect Arrested After Tour Bus Theft in Yellowknife

Community Safety Alert: Four Suspects Charged After Armed Home Invasion in Fort Providence