Cape Breton

An island on the Atlantic coast forming part of Nova Scotia, famous for its Celtic heritage and the spectacular Cabot Trail. It has a transitioning economy with a strong cultural identity.

Cape Breton Safety Score

Below Average

Police Reported Crime Data

Total Crimes (2024)

4,230

↓ 6.7%

Historical Trend (2010 - 2024)

Clearance Rate

42.6%

Cases solved by police

1,804 Solved2,426 Unsolved

Most Common

Property Crime

60%

Property

Violent

Other

Top 5 Reported Violations

Most frequent specific criminal code violations in 2024.

Historical Trend by Violation

No trend data available.

Safety Scores & Indices

Crime & Safety Overview

Data: 2024

Safety Score and CSI data are not available for this police service jurisdiction. Please refer to the crime breakdown below.

Crime Breakdown

2024

Property Crime

60.1%2,416

Violent Crime

21.4%859

Other Offences

18.6%748

Impaired Driving

2024

97↓11.0%vs 2023

Impaired driving incidents in Cape Breton

(89.2 per 100k)

Impaired Driving Trend (1998–2024)

Click on chart to view breakdown for that year

By Type

97 incidents(-11.0%)

🍺Impaired by alcohol

7997.5%

🏥Causing bodily harm

22.5%

💀Causing death

00%

💨Failure to provide breath sample

00%

🩸Failure to provide blood sample

00%

Total Charged

Adults Charged

Youth Charged

Impaired driving rate:89.2 per 100,000

In 2024, Cape Breton recorded 97 impaired driving incidents, a decrease of 11.0% from 2023. The most common offence type was Impaired by alcohol (79 incidents, 97.5% of sub-types), followed by Causing bodily harm (2 incidents, 2.5%). The impaired driving rate was 89.2 per 100,000 population. A total of 95 persons were charged, including 95 adults and 0 youth.

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

🏘️

Socioeconomic Profile

Census 2021

98,318

Population

$55,600

Median Income

19.7%

Unemployment

71.0%

Homeownership

👥 Population

49.2

Median Age

-0.4%

Growth (2016–2021)

💰 Income

$62,000

Median Household Income

$76,800

Average Household Income

18.3%

Low Income Prevalence (LIM-AT)

💼 Labour

51.6%

Participation Rate

41.4%

Employment Rate

19.7%

Unemployment Rate

🎓 Education (25–64)

No Certificate

16,315

High School

23,870

Postsecondary

43,330

Bachelor's+

14,310

🏠 Housing

$183,600

Avg. Dwelling Value

$827

Avg. Monthly Rent

$891

Avg. Mortgage Cost

🌍 Diversity

4,945

Visible Minorities

2,185

Immigrants

7,385

Indigenous Identity

According to the 2021 Census, Cape Breton had a population of 98,318 (-0.4% change from 2016) with a median age of 49.2. The median after-tax household income was $55,600, and the unemployment rate was 19.7%. Homeownership rate was 71.0% with an average dwelling value of $183,600.

Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021

⚖️

Adult vs Youth Charged

2024

1,428

Adults Charged

-3.2% YoY

122

Youth Charged

+9.9% YoY

7.9%

Youth Share

1,550

Total Charged

Adult rate: 1550.0 per 100,000

Youth rate: 2031.6 per 100,000

2024

Adults: 1,428

Youth: 122

Adults (left axis) Youth (right axis)

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

Adult Δ (1998–2024)

—

Youth Δ (1998–2024)

—

In 2024, Cape Breton recorded 1,428 adults charged and 122 youth charged across all Criminal Code violations. Youth accounted for 7.9% of all persons charged. Since 1998, youth charges have changed by —, while adult charges changed by —.

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

🚗Motor Vehicle Theft🔵 VERY LOW

2024

180incidents

82.8 per 100,000 population

Since 1998

6.7%

Solved Rate

2006

Peak Year

—

CSI Impact

Persons Charged12

👤 Adults: 6 (50%)🧑 Youth: 6 (50%)

Very low — most thefts go unsolved

How Cases Are Cleared

Cleared by Charge12 (100%)

Cleared Otherwise0 (0%)

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

Unfounded Reports

4.3%

of all reported MVT

vs National Average▼ 64% below

This Location82.8

National Avg232.5

Rate per 100KNational AvgPeak Year (2006)

Cape Breton recorded 180 motor vehicle thefts in 2024 (82.8 per 100K), down from a peak rate of 326.3 in 2006. Only 6.7% of cases are solved, making it one of the hardest crimes for police to clear.

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

🔫

Firearms & Weapons

2024

Incidents

102

▲ 64.5% vs 2023

Rate per 100K

46.9

Breakdown

Possession of weapons

8489.4%

Pointing a firearm

44.3%

Unsafe storage

22.1%

Firearms Act

22.1%

Discharge firearm

22.1%

Weapons trafficking

00%

🏠

Property Crime

2024

Incidents

4,832

▼ 3.7% vs 2023

Rate per 100K

2222.7

Breakdown

Theft under $5K

2,49659%

Mischief

1,30030.7%

Break & Enter

1864.4%

Motor vehicle theft

1804.3%

Arson

360.9%

Theft over $5K

340.8%

Shoplifting $5K+

00%

🔪

Violent Crime

2024

Incidents

1,718

▼ 10.8% vs 2023

Rate per 100K

790.3

Breakdown

Assault Level 1

64657.2%

Assault Level 2

23220.5%

Sexual Assault L1

13612%

Robbery

544.8%

Criminal Harassment

302.7%

Assault Level 3

201.8%

Uttering Threats

121.1%

💰

Fraud & Identity Crime

2024

Incidents

518

▼ 26.6% vs 2023

Rate per 100K

238.3

Breakdown

Identity Fraud

3672%

Identity Theft

1428%

🔞

Sexual Violence

2024

Content warning: This section contains data about sexual offences

Total Incidents

176

▼ 18.5% vs 2023

SA L1 Rate / 100K

62.6

Breakdown

Sexual Assault L1

13677.3%

Violations Against Children

3218.2%

Voyeurism

42.3%

Sexual Assault L2

21.1%

Non-consensual Images

21.1%

Sexual Assault L3

00%

🏚️

Breaking & Entering

2024

Incidents

186

▼ 22.5% vs 2023

Rate per 100K

85.6

Breakdown

Standard B&E

186100%

B&E to Steal Firearm

00%

🍺

Substance-Related Crime

2024

Total Incidents

194

▼ 11.0% vs 2023

Drug Rate / 100K

—

Breakdown

Impaired Driving

194100%

Cannabis Possession

00%

Cannabis Trafficking

00%

Cape Breton

Nova Scotia, Canada

Population

98,722

Established

1820

Climate

Humid Continental

Key Industries

Tourism, Fishing, Healthcare, Education

Police Service

Cape Breton Regional Police Service

Wikipedia Police

About Cape Breton

Cape Breton Island is an island on the Atlantic coast of North America and part of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Its name may derive from Cap Breton near Bayonne, or more likely from the Breton translation. The island is known for its strong Celtic cultural heritage, traditional music, and dramatic coastal landscapes, notably the Cabot Trail.

Demographics & Economy

$56,000

Median Income

49.6 years

Median Age

11.5%

Unemployment Rate

25/100

Transit Score

Livability Score

A+

100/100 Score

Cost of Living Index

96Average

National Baseline = 100

Climate & Weather

Annual historical averages

July High

27°C

Jan Low

-7.7°C

Annual Rain

1403 mm

Annual Snow

359 cm

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📰 Latest Crime News

LIVE

March 25, 2026

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Community Safety Alert: Man Charged After Assault and Standoff Near Brecken Ridge Lane in Halifax Region Section 1: The Alert On the night o…

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March 25, 2026

Community Safety Alert: Multiple Impaired Drivers Stopped Around Halifax During National Prevention Week

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March 25, 2026

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March 24, 2026

Community Alert: RCMP Searching for Missing 17-Year-Old in Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia

Community Alert: RCMP Searching for Missing 17-Year-Old in Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia RCMP Halifax Regional Detachment is requesting the p…

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March 24, 2026

Community Alert: Antigonish County RCMP Investigate Theft of Historic Church Bell on Hwy 337

Community Alert: Antigonish County RCMP Investigate Theft of Historic Church Bell on Hwy 337 The Antigonish County District RCMP are investi…

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March 23, 2026

Community Safety Alert: Province-Wide Warrant for Impaired Driving Suspect in Nova Scotia

Community Safety Alert: Province-Wide Warrant for Impaired Driving Suspect in Nova Scotia Police in Queens County, Nova Scotia have issued a…

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Nearby Areas

15 locations

References & Sources

Wikipedia

General information about Cape Breton

View source

Statistics Canada

Crime statistics, population & census data

View source

Police Service

Official police website for Cape Breton

View source

Crime data sourced from the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Survey via Statistics Canada. Last updated for the most recent available reference year.

🏘️

Socioeconomic Profile

Census 2021

98,318

Population

$55,600

Median Income

19.7%

Unemployment

71.0%

Homeownership

👥 Population

49.2

Median Age

-0.4%

Growth (2016–2021)

💰 Income

$62,000

Median Household Income

$76,800

Average Household Income

18.3%

Low Income Prevalence (LIM-AT)

💼 Labour

51.6%

Participation Rate

41.4%

Employment Rate

19.7%

Unemployment Rate

🎓 Education (25–64)

No Certificate

16,315

High School

23,870

Postsecondary

43,330

Bachelor's+

14,310

🏠 Housing

$183,600

Avg. Dwelling Value

$827

Avg. Monthly Rent

$891

Avg. Mortgage Cost

🌍 Diversity

4,945

Visible Minorities

2,185

Immigrants

7,385

Indigenous Identity

Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021

Cape Breton Safety Score

Police Reported Crime Data

4,230

42.6%

Property Crime

Top 5 Reported Violations

Historical Trend by Violation

Safety Scores & Indices

Crime & Safety Overview

Crime Breakdown

Impaired Driving

Socioeconomic Profile

👥 Population

💰 Income

💼 Labour

🎓 Education (25–64)

🏠 Housing

🌍 Diversity

Adult vs Youth Charged

Firearms & Weapons

Property Crime

Violent Crime

Fraud & Identity Crime

Sexual Violence

Breaking & Entering

Substance-Related Crime

Cape Breton

About Cape Breton

Demographics & Economy

Climate & Weather

📰 Latest Crime News

Community Safety Alert: Man Charged After Assault and Standoff Near Brecken Ridge Lane in Halifax Region

Community Safety Alert: Multiple Impaired Drivers Stopped Around Halifax During National Prevention Week

Dartmouth Walmart Robbery Raises Retail Safety Concerns, But No Ongoing Public Threat Identified

Community Alert: RCMP Searching for Missing 17-Year-Old in Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia

Community Alert: Antigonish County RCMP Investigate Theft of Historic Church Bell on Hwy 337

Community Safety Alert: Province-Wide Warrant for Impaired Driving Suspect in Nova Scotia

Nearby Areas

Cape Breton

Membertou 28B

Eskasoni 3

Victoria, Subd. B

Richmond, Subd. B

Wagmatcook 1

Malagawatch 4

Chapel Island 5

Whycocomagh 2

References & Sources

📰 Latest Crime News

Community Safety Alert: Man Charged After Assault and Standoff Near Brecken Ridge Lane in Halifax Region

Community Safety Alert: Multiple Impaired Drivers Stopped Around Halifax During National Prevention Week

Dartmouth Walmart Robbery Raises Retail Safety Concerns, But No Ongoing Public Threat Identified

Community Alert: RCMP Searching for Missing 17-Year-Old in Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia

Community Alert: Antigonish County RCMP Investigate Theft of Historic Church Bell on Hwy 337

Community Safety Alert: Province-Wide Warrant for Impaired Driving Suspect in Nova Scotia

Crime & Safety Overview

Crime Breakdown

Impaired Driving

Socioeconomic Profile

👥 Population

💰 Income

💼 Labour

🎓 Education (25–64)

🏠 Housing

🌍 Diversity

Adult vs Youth Charged

Firearms & Weapons

Property Crime

Violent Crime

Fraud & Identity Crime

Sexual Violence

Breaking & Entering

Substance-Related Crime