Ottawa

Crime data for Ottawa, Ontario.

98/100

Ottawa Safety Score

Very Safe

Ranked #2 out of 56 communities

Police Reported Crime Data

Total Crimes (2024)

53,510

↑ 4.8%

Historical Trend (2010 - 2024)

Clearance Rate

28.6%

Cases solved by police

15,291 Solved38,219 Unsolved

Most Common

Property Crime

70%

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 Score2024

Rank #2 of 56 areas

CSI: 53.8 (lower = safer)

Year-over-Year

2024

Overall↓ 0.7%

Violent↑ 1.0%

Non-Violent↓ 1.6%

CSI Trend

Ottawa

🇨🇦 Canada Avg

Crime Breakdown2024

Violent

57.2%CSI 66.0

Non-Violent

42.8%CSI 49.4

Crime Breakdown

2024

Property Crime

65.4%90,020

Violent Crime

21.9%30,212

Other Offences

12.7%17,426

Comparison

31% BELOW NATL AVG

Ottawa

53.8

Ontario Avg

60.7

Canada Avg

77.9

Crime Severity Index — lower is safer

Police & Justice

Clearance Rate2024

32.0%

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

Hate crime data shown for Ontario (provincial level)

Hate Crimes

2024

2,575↑3.0%vs 2023

Police-reported hate crime incidents in Ontario

Hate Crime Trend (2014–2024)

Click on chart to view sub-categories for that year

By Motivation

Sub-categories based on national distribution

In 2024, Ontario recorded 2,575 police-reported hate crimes, an increase of 3.0% from 2023. The most common motivation was Race or ethnicity (1,190 incidents, 46% of total), with Jewish being the most targeted group (580 incidents). Religion-motivated crimes totalled 846 (33%).

Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0066-01 — Police-reported hate crime

Homicide data shown for Canada (national level)

Homicides

2024

788↓1.0%vs 2023

Homicide victims in Canada

(1.91 per 100k)

Homicide Trend (1961–2024)

Click on chart to view methods breakdown for that year

By Method

788 victims(-1.0%)

🔫Shooting

28636.3%

🔪Stabbing

25031.7%

👊Beating

13116.6%

📋Other methods used

445.6%

⛓️Strangulation

313.9%

❓Methods used unknown

293.7%

🔥Fire (burns or suffocation)

172.2%

Homicide rate:1.91 per 100,000

In 2024, Canada recorded 788 homicide victims, a decrease of 1.0% from 2023. The most common method was Shooting (286 victims, 36.3% of total), followed by Stabbing (250 victims, 31.7%). The homicide rate was 1.91 per 100,000 population.

Source: Statistics Canada, Homicide Survey — Tables 35-10-0068-01, 35-10-0069-01, 35-10-0071-01

Impaired Driving

2024

2,532↓4.7%vs 2023

Impaired driving incidents in Ottawa

(76.9 per 100k)

Impaired Driving Trend (1998–2024)

Click on chart to view breakdown for that year

By Type

2,532 incidents(-4.7%)

🍺Impaired by alcohol

1,84498.4%

🏥Causing bodily harm

301.6%

🩸Failure to provide blood sample

00%

💀Causing death

00%

💨Failure to provide breath sample

00%

2,470

Total Charged

2,458

Adults Charged

Youth Charged

Impaired driving rate:76.9 per 100,000

In 2024, Ottawa recorded 2,532 impaired driving incidents, a decrease of 4.7% from 2023. The most common offence type was Impaired by alcohol (1,844 incidents, 98.4% of sub-types), followed by Causing bodily harm (30 incidents, 1.6%). The impaired driving rate was 76.9 per 100,000 population. A total of 2,470 persons were charged, including 2,458 adults and 12 youth.

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

🏘️

Socioeconomic Profile

Census 2021

1,488,307

Population

$84,000

Median Income

9.7%

Unemployment

65.4%

Homeownership

👥 Population

40.4

Median Age

8.5%

Growth (2016–2021)

💰 Income

$98,000

Median Household Income

$119,500

Average Household Income

8.8%

Low Income Prevalence (LIM-AT)

💼 Labour

66.0%

Participation Rate

59.6%

Employment Rate

9.7%

Unemployment Rate

🎓 Education (25–64)

No Certificate

154,760

High School

283,270

Postsecondary

775,330

Bachelor's+

441,935

🏠 Housing

$585,000

Avg. Dwelling Value

$1,296

Avg. Monthly Rent

$1,562

Avg. Mortgage Cost

🌍 Diversity

386,925

Visible Minorities

313,845

Immigrants

46,545

Indigenous Identity

According to the 2021 Census, Ottawa - Gatineau had a population of 1,488,307 (+8.5% change from 2016) with a median age of 40.4. The median after-tax household income was $84,000, and the unemployment rate was 9.7%. Homeownership rate was 65.4% with an average dwelling value of $585,000.

Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021

⚖️

Adult vs Youth Charged

2024

29,476

Adults Charged

-1.2% YoY

2,350

Youth Charged

+0.9% YoY

7.4%

Youth Share

31,826

Total Charged

Adult rate: 1903.1 per 100,000

Youth rate: 1031.2 per 100,000

2024

Adults: 29,476

Youth: 2,350

Adults (left axis) Youth (right axis)

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

Adult Δ (1998–2024)

+13.9%

Youth Δ (1998–2024)

-52.7%

In 2024, Ottawa recorded 29,476 adults charged and 2,350 youth charged across all Criminal Code violations. Youth accounted for 7.4% of all persons charged. Since 1998, youth charges have changed by -52.7%, while adult charges changed by +13.9%.

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

🚗Motor Vehicle Theft🔵 VERY LOW

2024

6,364incidents

40.7 per 100,000 population

-94%

Since 1998

10%

Solved Rate

1998

Peak Year

2.4%

CSI Impact

Persons Charged550

👤 Adults: 419 (76%)🧑 Youth: 131 (24%)

+ 60 youth diverted (not charged)

Low solve rate for this crime type

How Cases Are Cleared

Cleared by Charge478 (75%)

Cleared Otherwise156 (25%)

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

Unfounded Reports

634

0.0%

of all reported MVT

vs National Average▼ 83% below

This Location40.7

National Avg232.5

Rate per 100KNational AvgPeak Year (1998)

Ottawa recorded 6,364 motor vehicle thefts in 2024 (40.7 per 100K), down from a peak rate of 664.5 in 1998. Only 10% 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

578

▼ 11.3% vs 2023

Rate per 100K

17.6

Breakdown

Possession of weapons

51867.1%

Discharge firearm

13016.8%

Pointing a firearm

9412.2%

Unsafe storage

243.1%

Firearms Act

60.8%

Weapons trafficking

00%

💊

Drug Offences

2024

Incidents

2,022

▲ 14.4% vs 2023

Rate per 100K

61.4

Breakdown

Other drug trafficking

32458.5%

Cocaine trafficking

23041.5%

Cannabis trafficking

00%

Cannabis possession

00%

🏠

Property Crime

2024

Incidents

90,020

▲ 5.2% vs 2023

Rate per 100K

2732.7

Breakdown

Theft under $5K

46,57267%

Mischief

9,72414%

Break & Enter

6,8749.9%

Motor vehicle theft

4,5566.6%

Theft over $5K

1,2381.8%

Arson

4000.6%

Shoplifting $5K+

1100.2%

🔪

Violent Crime

2024

Incidents

30,212

▲ 3.0% vs 2023

Rate per 100K

1385.9

Breakdown

Assault Level 1

10,80052.9%

Assault Level 2

4,19220.5%

Sexual Assault L1

2,26611.1%

Criminal Harassment

1,3706.7%

Robbery

1,3106.4%

Uttering Threats

2561.3%

Assault Level 3

2161.1%

💰

Fraud & Identity Crime

2024

Incidents

16,684

▲ 8.3% vs 2023

Rate per 100K

388.8

Breakdown

Identity Fraud

3,28895%

Identity Theft

1725%

🔞

Sexual Violence

2024

Content warning: This section contains data about sexual offences

Total Incidents

3,366

▲ 8.9% vs 2023

SA L1 Rate / 100K

88.3

Breakdown

Sexual Assault L1

2,26667.3%

Violations Against Children

68220.3%

Non-consensual Images

2387.1%

Voyeurism

1083.2%

Sexual Assault L2

601.8%

Sexual Assault L3

120.4%

🏚️

Breaking & Entering

2024

Incidents

6,874

▼ 3.9% vs 2023

Rate per 100K

208.7

Breakdown

Standard B&E

6,85299.8%

B&E to Steal Firearm

160.2%

🍺

Substance-Related Crime

2024

Total Incidents

4,554

▲ 2.9% vs 2023

Drug Rate / 100K

39.2

Breakdown

Impaired Driving

2,53255.6%

Drug Violations

2,02244.4%

Cannabis Possession

00%

Cannabis Trafficking

00%

Ottawa

Ontario, Canada

Population

1,017,449

Established

1855

Wikipedia

About Ottawa

Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It is located in the southern portion of the province of Ontario, at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core of the Ottawa–Gatineau census metropolitan area (CMA) and the National Capital Region (NCR). As of 2021, Ottawa had a city population of 1,017,449 and a metropolitan population of 1,488,307, making it the fourth-largest city and fourth-largest metropolitan area in Canada.

Livability Score

78/100 Score

Cost of Living Index

132Very High

National Baseline = 100

Climate & Weather

Annual historical averages

July High

27.4°C

Jan Low

-15.3°C

Annual Rain

538 mm

Annual Snow

150 cm

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📰 Latest Crime News

LIVE

March 21, 2026

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March 21, 2026

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March 20, 2026

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March 20, 2026

Community Alert: CBSA Officer and Truck Driver Charged in Major Drug & Tobacco Importation Case Near Niagara-on-the-Lake

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Nearby Areas

15 locations

References & Sources

Wikipedia

General information about Ottawa

View source

Statistics Canada

Crime statistics, population & census data

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

1,488,307

Population

$84,000

Median Income

9.7%

Unemployment

65.4%

Homeownership

👥 Population

40.4

Median Age

8.5%

Growth (2016–2021)

💰 Income

$98,000

Median Household Income

$119,500

Average Household Income

8.8%

Low Income Prevalence (LIM-AT)

💼 Labour

66.0%

Participation Rate

59.6%

Employment Rate

9.7%

Unemployment Rate

🎓 Education (25–64)

No Certificate

154,760

High School

283,270

Postsecondary

775,330

Bachelor's+

441,935

🏠 Housing

$585,000

Avg. Dwelling Value

$1,296

Avg. Monthly Rent

$1,562

Avg. Mortgage Cost

🌍 Diversity

386,925

Visible Minorities

313,845

Immigrants

46,545

Indigenous Identity

Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population, 2021

Ottawa Safety Score

Police Reported Crime Data

53,510

28.6%

Property Crime

Top 5 Reported Violations

Historical Trend by Violation

Safety Scores & Indices

Crime & Safety Overview

Safety Score2024

Year-over-Year

CSI Trend

Crime Breakdown2024

Crime Breakdown

Comparison

Police & Justice

Clearance Rate2024

Hate Crimes

Homicides

Impaired Driving

Socioeconomic Profile

👥 Population

💰 Income

💼 Labour

🎓 Education (25–64)

🏠 Housing

🌍 Diversity

Adult vs Youth Charged

Firearms & Weapons

Drug Offences

Property Crime

Violent Crime

Fraud & Identity Crime

Sexual Violence

Breaking & Entering

Substance-Related Crime

Ottawa

About Ottawa

Climate & Weather

📰 Latest Crime News

Non-Life-Threatening Stabbing Near Rexdale Renews Questions About Safety at Kipling and Dixon

Hamilton Mob-Linked Fugitive Arrested in Mexico: What It Means for Community Safety

Threadneedle Crescent Homicide: Community Safety Context After Second-Degree Murder Charge in Toronto

Brampton Man Wanted in Alleged $200K Trucking Investment Fraud: What Local Investors Should Know

Bathurst Street Hit-and-Run: Driver Flees After Crashing Into Utility Pole Near North York Synagogue

Community Alert: CBSA Officer and Truck Driver Charged in Major Drug & Tobacco Importation Case Near Niagara-on-the-Lake

Nearby Areas

Ottawa - Gatineau (Ontario part / partie de l'Ontario)

Gatineau

Chelsea

North Grenville

Beckwith

Carleton Place

Montague

Smiths Falls

Drummond/North Elmsley

References & Sources

📰 Latest Crime News

Non-Life-Threatening Stabbing Near Rexdale Renews Questions About Safety at Kipling and Dixon

Hamilton Mob-Linked Fugitive Arrested in Mexico: What It Means for Community Safety

Threadneedle Crescent Homicide: Community Safety Context After Second-Degree Murder Charge in Toronto

Brampton Man Wanted in Alleged $200K Trucking Investment Fraud: What Local Investors Should Know

Bathurst Street Hit-and-Run: Driver Flees After Crashing Into Utility Pole Near North York Synagogue

Community Alert: CBSA Officer and Truck Driver Charged in Major Drug & Tobacco Importation Case Near Niagara-on-the-Lake

Crime & Safety Overview

Safety Score2024

Year-over-Year

CSI Trend

Crime Breakdown2024

Crime Breakdown

Comparison

Police & Justice

Clearance Rate2024

Hate Crimes

Homicides

Impaired Driving

Socioeconomic Profile

👥 Population

💰 Income

💼 Labour