Table 7
Homicides, by closest accused to victim relationship, Canada, 2019 and 2020


Table 7
Homicides, by closest accused to victim relationship, Canada, 2019 and 2020
Table summary
This table displays the results of Homicides. The information is grouped by Relationship type (victim killed by) (appearing as row headers), Closest accused to victim relationship, 2020, 2019 and Average 2010 to 2019, calculated using number of victims, percent and rate units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Relationship typeTable 7 Note 1 (victim killed by) Closest accused to victim relationship
2020 2019Note r: revised Average 2010 to 2019
number of victims percentTable 7 Note 2 rateTable 7 Note 3 number of victims percentTable 7 Note 2 rateTable 7 Note 3 number of victims percentTable 7 Note 2
Family relationship 146 30.8 0.38 144 33.7 0.38 148 32.6
Spousal relationship 49 10.3 Note ...: not applicable 58 13.6 Note ...: not applicable 62 13.7
Married spouse 22 4.6 Note ...: not applicable 26 6.1 Note ...: not applicable 22 4.8
Common-law spouse 21 4.4 Note ...: not applicable 24 5.6 Note ...: not applicable 27 5.9
Separated or divorced spouse 3 0.6 Note ...: not applicable 6 1.4 Note ...: not applicable 6 1.3
Separated common-law spouse 3 0.6 Note ...: not applicable 2 0.5 Note ...: not applicable 6 1.3
Other family relationshipTable 7 Note 4 97 20.5 Note ...: not applicable 86 20.1 Note ...: not applicable 87 19.2
Parent 28 5.9 Note ...: not applicable 32 7.5 Note ...: not applicable 25 5.5
Child 27 5.7 Note ...: not applicable 29 6.8 Note ...: not applicable 30 6.6
Sibling 19 4.0 Note ...: not applicable 10 2.3 Note ...: not applicable 10 2.2
Extended familyTable 7 Note 5 23 4.9 Note ...: not applicable 15 3.5 Note ...: not applicable 22 4.8
Intimate relationship (non-spousal)Table 7 Note 6 25 5.3 Note ...: not applicable 18 4.2 Note ...: not applicable 23 5.1
Acquaintance 180 38.0 0.47 166 38.9 0.44 166 36.6
Close friend 13 2.7 Note ...: not applicable 19 4.4 Note ...: not applicable 33 7.3
Neighbour 20 4.2 Note ...: not applicable 15 3.5 Note ...: not applicable 15 3.3
Authority or reverse authority figure 3 0.6 Note ...: not applicable 1 0.2 Note ...: not applicable 4 0.9
Business relationship 5 1.1 Note ...: not applicable 1 0.2 Note ...: not applicable 7 1.5
Casual acquaintance 139 29.3 Note ...: not applicable 130 30.4 Note ...: not applicable 108 23.8
Criminal relationshipTable 7 Note 7 37 7.8 0.10 37 8.7 0.10 42 9.3
Stranger 86 18.1 0.23 62 14.5 0.16 74 16.3
Unknown relationship 43 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable 64 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable 13 Note ...: not applicable
Total solved homicidesTable 7 Note 8 517 100.0 Note ...: not applicable 491 100.0 Note ...: not applicable 466 100.0
Unsolved homicides 226 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable 196 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable 133 Note ...: not applicable
Total homicides 743 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable 687 Note ...: not applicable Note ...: not applicable 599 Note ...: not applicable
... not applicable
r revised
Note 1

Includes homicides with a known accused. If there were more than one accused, only the closest relationship to the victim was recorded.

Return to note 1 referrer

Note 2

Solved homicides where the type of relationship was unknown are excluded from the calculation of percentages.

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Note 3

Rates are calculated per 100,000 population using revised July 1st, 2020 population estimates from Statistics Canada, Centre for Demography.

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Note 4

Includes biological, adopted, step, and foster relationships.

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Note 5

Includes nieces, nephews, grandchildren, uncles, aunts, cousins, in-laws, etc., related by blood, marriage (including common-law) or adoption.

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Note 6

Includes dating relationships (current and former) and other intimate relationships.

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Note 7

Includes, for example, drug dealers, and their clients, loan sharks, or gang members. When more than one relationship applies (e.g., criminal relationship and close friend), police are asked to report the primary relationship.

Return to note 7 referrer

Note 8

Includes homicides with a known accused.

Return to note 8 referrer

Note: There may be a small number of homicides included in a given year's total that occurred in previous years. Homicides are counted according to the year in which they are reported to Statistics Canada. Percentages may not add up due to rounding.
Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics, Homicide Survey.
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