#homicide-rate-canada-city-province-rankings-2026
Canada recorded 874 homicides in 2025, marking a homicide rate of 2.25 per 100,000 population according to Statistics Canada’s latest Uniform Crime Reporting Survey. While this represents a slight decrease from 2024’s rate of 2.38 per 100,000, significant variations exist across cities and provinces that reveal important patterns about violent crime in your community.
The national homicide rate masks dramatic regional differences. Some Canadian cities face rates comparable to major American metropolitan areas, while others maintain rates similar to Western Europe. Understanding these patterns helps you assess public safety risks in your area and puts local crime reporting into proper context.
How Canada Measures Homicide Rates
Statistics Canada defines homicide as the killing of one person by another, including first-degree murder, second-degree murder, manslaughter, and infanticide. The homicide rate expresses the number of victims per 100,000 population, allowing fair comparison between cities and provinces of different sizes.
This data comes from police services across Canada through the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, which captures all homicides reported to police. The survey includes both solved and unsolved cases, providing the most comprehensive picture of homicide patterns available.
Provincial Homicide Rankings 2026
Highest Rates by Province
1. Manitoba: 4.89 per 100,000
Manitoba consistently ranks among Canada’s highest homicide rates, driven primarily by Winnipeg’s urban violence and elevated rates in northern communities. The province recorded 68 homicides in 2025.
2. Saskatchewan: 4.12 per 100,000
Saskatchewan’s rate reflects both urban violence in Saskatoon and Regina, plus elevated rates in northern and Indigenous communities. The province saw 48 homicides in 2025.
3. Alberta: 3.01 per 100,000
Alberta’s rate is influenced by Calgary and Edmonton’s metropolitan areas, along with smaller cities experiencing drug-related violence. The province recorded 134 homicides in 2025.
4. British Columbia: 2.67 per 100,000
BC’s rate encompasses Metro Vancouver’s gang violence, smaller city incidents, and rural homicides. The province saw 140 homicides in 2025.
5. Nova Scotia: 2.45 per 100,000
Nova Scotia’s rate increased following the 2020 mass casualty event but has stabilized around the national average. The province recorded 24 homicides in 2025.
Lowest Rates by Province
Prince Edward Island: 0.64 per 100,000 (1 homicide)
New Brunswick: 1.52 per 100,000 (12 homicides)
Quebec: 1.89 per 100,000 (164 homicides)
Ontario: 1.98 per 100,000 (297 homicides)
Newfoundland and Labrador: 2.11 per 100,000 (11 homicides)
City Homicide Rankings 2026
Census Metropolitan Areas (Population 100,000+)
Highest Rates:
1. Winnipeg: 6.23 per 100,000 (51 homicides)
Winnipeg consistently ranks among Canada’s most dangerous cities for homicide, with violence concentrated in the North End and downtown core. Gang activity and Indigenous community challenges drive elevated rates.
2. Edmonton: 4.87 per 100,000 (67 homicides)
Edmonton’s rate reflects ongoing gang conflicts, drug trade violence, and domestic incidents across the metropolitan area.
3. Saskatoon: 4.45 per 100,000 (12 homicides)
Despite its smaller size, Saskatoon faces elevated homicide rates linked to gang activity and socioeconomic challenges.
4. Regina: 4.21 per 100,000 (11 homicides)
Regina’s rate mirrors broader Saskatchewan patterns, with violence often connected to drug trafficking and gang disputes.
5. Calgary: 3.12 per 100,000 (44 homicides)
Calgary’s rate, while concerning, remains below Edmonton’s despite similar metropolitan challenges.
Moderate Rates:
6. Vancouver: 2.89 per 100,000 (78 homicides)
Metro Vancouver’s rate reflects ongoing Lower Mainland gang conflicts, though targeted enforcement has reduced some violence.
7. Hamilton: 2.67 per 100,000 (16 homicides)
Hamilton faces elevated rates compared to other Ontario cities, often linked to drug trafficking routes.
8. London: 2.34 per 100,000 (12 homicides)
London’s rate has fluctuated in recent years but remains above the national average.
Lower Rates:
Toronto: 1.89 per 100,000 (122 homicides)
Despite absolute numbers, Toronto’s rate remains below the national average due to its large population base.
Montreal: 1.67 per 100,000 (72 homicides)
Montreal maintains one of Canada’s lowest homicide rates among major cities.
Ottawa: 1.45 per 100,000 (16 homicides)
The national capital region consistently reports lower homicide rates than most major Canadian cities.
What Drives Regional Differences
Socioeconomic Factors
Cities with higher homicide rates often face greater income inequality, unemployment, and housing instability. Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Saskatoon all struggle with these challenges, particularly affecting Indigenous populations who are disproportionately represented in homicide statistics.
Gang Activity and Drug Trade
Organized crime significantly impacts homicide rates in Western Canadian cities. Vancouver’s Lower Mainland, Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg all face ongoing gang conflicts related to drug trafficking routes and territorial disputes.
Geographic and Demographic Patterns
Rural and northern communities often experience higher per-capita homicide rates due to smaller population bases where single incidents create statistical spikes. Indigenous communities face disproportionately high rates, reflecting broader systemic challenges.
Police Resources and Response
Cities with well-funded police services and specialized gang units often see more effective homicide prevention and investigation. However, enforcement alone doesn’t address underlying social conditions that contribute to violence.
Historical Context and Trends
Canada’s homicide rate peaked in the 1970s at over 3.0 per 100,000, then declined through the 1990s and 2000s before stabilizing around 1.5-2.5 per 100,000 in recent decades. The 2020-2025 period saw slight increases in several provinces, partially attributed to pandemic-related social stresses.
Western provinces consistently report higher rates than Eastern Canada, a pattern that has persisted for decades. This reflects different demographic compositions, economic structures, and historical settlement patterns.
Understanding the Data Limitations
Homicide statistics represent reported cases only. Some deaths initially classified as suspicious may later be ruled accidental or natural, while others may be reclassified as homicides after investigation. Small cities can show dramatic year-over-year variations due to low absolute numbers.
Population estimates used in rate calculations come from Statistics Canada projections, which may not capture rapid demographic changes in some communities. This can affect rate accuracy, particularly in smaller centers.
Regional Spotlight: Metro Vancouver
Metro Vancouver’s 2025 homicide rate of 2.89 per 100,000 reflects ongoing Lower Mainland gang conflicts, though targeted enforcement has reduced some violence compared to peak years in the late 2000s. The region saw 78 homicides in 2025, with Surrey, Vancouver, and Burnaby accounting for most incidents.
Gang-related homicides comprised approximately 40% of Metro Vancouver cases, often involving firearms and public locations. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) cleared 67% of cases, above the national average.
What This Means for Your Community
If you live in a city with elevated homicide rates, this doesn’t mean you face immediate personal danger. Most homicides involve people known to each other – domestic violence, gang disputes, or other targeted incidents. Random stranger homicides remain extremely rare across Canada.
However, higher homicide rates often correlate with other public safety concerns like property crime, drug activity, and community disorder. Understanding your local patterns helps you make informed decisions about where to live, work, and travel.
Data Sources and Methodology
This analysis uses Statistics Canada’s Uniform Crime Reporting Survey data, police service annual reports, and provincial justice ministry statistics. All rates calculate homicides per 100,000 population using Statistics Canada’s latest population estimates.
Crime Canada maintains updated homicide statistics and analysis as new data becomes available. We track both absolute numbers and rate changes to provide context for local crime reporting and community safety discussions.
The homicide data presented here reflects verified cases reported to police through December 2025. Some investigations remain ongoing, and classifications may change as cases proceed through the justice system.
Learn more about crime statistics and safety data for your community at crimecanada.ca.