Infographic: Homicide in Canada, 2018

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Release date: November 27, 2019

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Infographic: Homicide in Canada, 2018
Description: Infographic: Homicide in Canada, 2018

Infographic: Homicide in Canada, 2018

Nationwide there were 651 homicides at a rate of 1.76 per 100,000 population.

  • 487 male victims
  • 164 female victims
Number of homicides in 2018 and the Change in number of homicides from 2017
Province or territory Number of homicides in 2018 Change in number of homicides from 2017
Canada 651 -15
Newfoundland and Labrador 2 -2
Prince Edward Island 0 -2
Nova Scotia 11 -10
New Brunswick 13 +3
Quebec 83 -10
Ontario 266 +69
Manitoba 55 +8
Saskatchewan 34 -4
Alberta 81 -38
British Columbia 89 -30
Yukon 3 -5
Northwest Territories 6 +4
Nunavut 8 +2

1 in every 10 homicides in Canada was gang-related.

The number of gang-related homicides decreased after 3 consecutive years of increases.

The rate of gang-related homicides in 2018 was still the 2nd highest rate since 2005.

Homicides committed with a firearm were down for the first time in 5 years.

249 homicides in Canada were committed with a firearm, or 2 in every 5 homicides.

Type of firearm, Number of homicide victims and Change from 2017
Type of firearm Number of homicide victims Change from 2017
Handgun 143 Decrease
Rifle or shotgun 56 Decrease
Sawed-off rifle or shotgun 18 Decrease
Fully automatic firearm 2 No change
Type unknown 30 No change
Firearm-like weapon 0 Decrease

Indigenous peopleFootnote 1 represented about 5% of Canada's total population in 2018 yet accounted for 22% of homicide victims and 30% of accused persons.

Percentage of Indigenous, Non-Indigenous and Unknown Homicide victims and Persons accused of homicide
  Indigenous Non-Indigenous Unknown
Homicide victims* 22% 78% <1%
Persons accused of homicide 30% 69% 1%
*Total exceeds 100% due to rounding.

Of solved homicides, approximately 4 out of 5 victims knew their accused.

Homicide victims by accused-victim relationship
Accused-victim relationship Number of male victims Number of female victims
Spousal and intimate relationshipFootnote 2 20 67
Family relationship (non-spousal) 45 31
AcquaintanceFootnote 3 118 22
Criminal relationship 32 1
Stranger 59 22
Unknown relationship 17 1
No accused identified 196 20
Homicide rate for every 100,000 people living in the 5 largest census metropolitan areas (CMAs)
Census metropolitan area Rate per 100,000 population – 2017 Rate per 100,000 population – 2018
Toronto 1.51 2.26
Montréal 1.10 1.11
Vancouver 1.99 1.66
Calgary 2.10 1.33
Edmonton 3.51 2.60

Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics, Homicide Survey.

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Copyright

Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2019

Use of this publication is governed by the Statistics Canada Open Licence Agreement.

Catalogue no. 11-627-M

Frequency: Occasional

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