Police-reported crime in Canada, 2023
Description: Police-reported crime in Canada, 2023
The volume and severity of crime, as measured by the Crime Severity Index (CSI),Note 1 increased for the third consecutive year, up 2% in 2023. Relatively large shifts in certain types of crime led to an increase in the Non-violent CSI, while the Violent CSI remained virtually unchanged. Annual changes in the crime rate, or the volume of crime, have been similar to the CSI over time.
| Year | Crime Severity IndexTable 1 Note 1 | Violent Crime Severity IndexTable 1 Note 1 | Non-violent Crime Severity IndexTable 1 Note 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 (Index base year) | 100.0 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| 2007 | 95.3 | 97.8 | 94.3 |
| 2008 | 90.6 | 95.1 | 88.9 |
| 2009 | 87.8 | 94.3 | 85.3 |
| 2010 | 82.9 | 89.2 | 80.5 |
| 2011 | 77.6 | 85.7 | 74.5 |
| 2012 | 75.5 | 82.0 | 73.0 |
| 2013 | 68.9 | 74.0 | 66.9 |
| 2014 | 66.9 | 70.7 | 65.4 |
| 2015 | 70.4 | 75.3 | 68.4 |
| 2016 | 72.0 | 76.9 | 70.1 |
| 2017 | 73.6 | 81.3 | 70.7 |
| 2018 | 75.6 | 83.5 | 72.6 |
| 2019 | 79.7 | 90.2 | 75.8 |
| 2020 | 73.9 | 88.0 | 68.7 |
| 2021 | 74.9 | 93.4 | 68.1 |
| 2022 | 78.8 | 99.1 | 71.3 |
| 2023 | 80.5 | 99.5 | 73.5 |
In 2023, the change in the CSI varied across the provinces and territories compared with 2022
| Province or territory | CSI value, 2023 | Percentage change in CSI, 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 86.3 | +5% |
| Prince Edward Island | 72.4 | +17% |
| Nova Scotia | 73.8 | -1% |
| New Brunswick | 86.1 | -1% |
| Quebec | 62.2 | +3% |
| Ontario | 60.9 | +4% |
| Manitoba | 145.5 | -1% |
| Saskatchewan | 160.2 | +2% |
| Alberta | 103.0 | -2% |
| British Columbia | 104.1 | +4% |
| Yukon | 218.8 | +2% |
| Northwest Territories | 473.7 | +5% |
| Nunavut | 429.1 | +12% |
| Canada | 80.5 | +2% |
The CSI should always be considered within a broader community context. See the infosheet Understanding and using the Crime Severity Index for more information.
Five largest increases and decreases in the CSI, by census metropolitan area
| Census metropolitan area | Percentage change in CSI, 2022 to 2023 |
|---|---|
| Top 5 increases | |
| Chilliwack, B.C. | +24% |
| Abbotsford-Mission, B.C. | +23% |
| Drummondville, Que. | +13% |
| Québec, Que. | +12% |
| Toronto, Ont. | +11% |
| Top 5 decreases | |
| London, Ont. | -14% |
| Red Deer, Alta. | -11% |
| Greater Sudbury, Ont. | -8% |
| Calgary, Alta. | -8% |
| Guelph, Ont. | -7% |
Important shifts in certain violent and non-violent crimes impacted the CSI across Canada
| Type of offence | Rate |
|---|---|
| Violent offences | |
| Homicide | Rate -14% |
| Extortion | Rate +35% |
| Robbery | Rate +4% |
| Assault (level 2) | Rate +7% |
| Non-violent offences | |
| Child pornographyTable 4 Note 2 | Rate +52% |
| Fraud | Rate +12% |
| Shoplifting $5,000 or under | Rate +18% |
| Motor vehicle theft | Rate +5% |
| Breaking and entering | Rate -5% |
In 2023, there were 778 victims of homicide, 104 fewer than in 2022.
Gang-related homicides continued to account for about one-quarter (22%) of all homicides; 78% of these were committed with a firearm, most often a handgun.
The proportion of women who were killed by their spouse or intimate partner was approximately 5 times higher than the proportion of men (31% versus 6%).Note 3
4,777 hate crime incidents
- The number of police-reported hate crimes rose 32%. Hate crimes targeting a religion or a sexual orientation accounted for most of the increase.
Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, 2023.
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