Table 3
Police-reported crime for selected offences, Canada, 2020 and 2021


Table 3
Police-reported crime for selected offences, Canada, 2020 and 2021
Table summary
This table displays the results of Police-reported crime for selected offences. The information is grouped by Type of offence (appearing as row headers), 2020, 2021, Change in rate 2020 to 2021 and Change in rate 2011 to 2021, calculated using number, rate and percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Type of offence 2020Note r: revised 2021 Change in rate 2020 to 2021 Change in rate 2011 to 2021
number rate number rate percent
Total Criminal Code (excluding traffic) – "Crime rate" 2,030,264 5,338 2,055,799 5,375 1 -7
Total violent crime 481,072 1,265 506,101 1,323 5 7
Homicide 759 2.00 788 2.06 3 18
Other violations causing deathTable 3 Note 1 119 Note 0s value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded 99 Note 0s value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded -17 17
Attempted murder 852 2.24 746 1.95 -13 1
Sexual assault - level 3 - aggravated 140 Note 0s value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded 123 Note 0s value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded -13 -26
Sexual assault - level 2 - weapon or bodily harm 624 2 598 2 -5 34
Sexual assault - level 1 28,146 74 33,521 88 18 41
Sexual offence occurring prior to January 4, 1983Table 3 Note 2 470 1 466 1 -1 Note ...: not applicable
Sexual violations against childrenTable 3 Note 3 Table 3 Note 4 10,745 28 12,295 32 14 190
Assault - level 3 - aggravated 3,878 10 3,918 10 Note 0s value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded Note 0s value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded
Assault - level 2 - weapon or bodily harm 65,501 172 70,695 185 7 26
Assault - level 1 178,952 470 184,535 482 3 -4
Assault against a peace officer 12,285 32 12,361 32 Note 0s value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded -3
Other assaults 1,822 5 1,918 5 5 -42
Firearms - use of, discharge, pointing 4,187 11 4,381 11 4 102
Robbery 19,348 51 18,530 48 -5 -44
Forcible confinement or kidnapping 3,510 9 3,576 9 1 -15
Trafficking in personsTable 3 Note 5 Table 3 Note 6 385 1 352 1 -9 Note ...: not applicable
Extortion 5,659 15 6,747 18 19 297
Criminal harassment 24,554 65 27,055 71 10 12
Uttering threats 84,818 223 87,701 229 3 10
Indecent or harassing communicationsTable 3 Note 7 26,104 69 27,370 72 4 21
Non-consensual distribution of intimate imagesTable 3 Note 8 2,250 6 2,444 6 8 Note ...: not applicable
Offences in relation to sexual servicesTable 3 Note 9 756 2 704 2 -7 Note ...: not applicable
Other violent Criminal Code violations 5,208 14 5,178 14 -1 -7
Total property crime 1,173,087 3,084 1,164,208 3,044 -1 -14
Breaking and entering 138,067 363 125,536 328 -10 -38
Possess stolen propertyTable 3 Note 10 22,955 60 20,291 53 -12 -16
Theft of motor vehicle 78,198 206 83,288 218 6 -9
Theft over $5,000 (non-motor vehicle) 19,764 52 20,674 54 4 23
Shoplifting of $5,000 or under 91,347 240 95,009 248 3 -5
Theft of $5,000 or under (non-motor vehicle) 346,079 910 335,446 877 -4 -27
Fraud 138,049 363 137,609 360 -1 59
Identity theft 7,380 19 7,182 19 -3 357
Identity fraud 22,941 60 23,692 62 3 165
MischiefTable 3 Note 11 299,376 787 305,362 798 1 -13
Arson 8,931 23 10,119 26 13 -13
Total other Criminal Code offences 376,105 989 385,490 1,008 2 Note 0s value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded
Weapons violations 19,543 51 19,955 52 2 28
Child pornographyTable 3 Note 12 Table 3 Note 13 11,168 29 11,790 31 5 441
ProstitutionTable 3 Note 9 68 Note 0s value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded 45 Note 0s value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded -34 Note ...: not applicable
TerrorismTable 3 Note 14 69 Note 0s value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded 57 Note 0s value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded -18 -13
Disturb the peace 108,982 287 108,215 283 -1 -17
Administration of justice violations 204,571 538 213,014 557 4 7
Other violations 31,704 83 32,414 85 2 -9
Total Criminal Code traffic violations 125,875 331 119,106 311 -6 -27
Alcohol-impaired drivingTable 3 Note 15 61,563 162 55,731 146 -10 -43
Drug-impaired drivingTable 3 Note 16 7,621 20 7,690 20 Note 0s value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded 267
Alcohol- and drug-impaired drivingTable 3 Note 17 7,064 19 5,651 15 -20 Note ...: not applicable
Impaired driving (not specified)Table 3 Note 17 1,590 4 2,423 6 52 Note ...: not applicable
Other Criminal Code traffic violations 48,037 126 47,611 124 -1 -24
Total drug offences 67,486 177 61,798 162 -9 -51
Total other federal statute violations 18,834 50 18,660 49 -1 -48
Human trafficking under the Immigration and Refugee Protection ActTable 3 Note 18 168 Note 0s value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded 200 1 18 1,022
Youth Criminal Justice Act 1,723 5 1,015 3 -41 -92
Quarantine ActTable 3 Note 19 932 2 2,215 6 136 Note ...: not applicable
Other federal statutes 16,011 42 15,230 40 -5 -33
Total - all violations 2,242,459 5,895 2,255,363 5,897 Note 0s value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded -11
... not applicable
0s value rounded to 0 (zero) where there is a meaningful distinction between true zero and the value that was rounded
r revised
Note 1

Includes, for example, criminal negligence causing death.

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Note 2

In 2019, the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey added a new violation code to collect information on “sexual offences which occurred prior to January 4, 1983.” While most violations are not typically reported years after their occurrence, sexual violations may be reported by a victim long after the incident took place due to a variety of reasons. On January 4, 1983, Canadian legislation surrounding sexual offences changed considerably. In order to reflect these changes, the Survey added the new violation code rather than collect historical offences under an existing violation code that did not reflect the state of Canadian legislation at the time of the offence. Therefore, the percentage change from 2011 to 2021 is not shown.

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Note 3

Excludes sexual assaults against children and youth, which are reported as level 1, 2 or 3 sexual assault.

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Note 4

Includes sexual interference, invitation to sexual touching, sexual exploitation, luring a child via telecommunications/agreement or arrangement, making sexually explicit material available to a child for the purpose of facilitating sexual offences against children/youth, and the offences of parent or guardian procuring sexual activity, householder permitting prohibited sexual activity, agreement or arrangement of a sexual offence against a child, and bestiality in the presence of or inciting a child (s. 160(3)). Incidents of child pornography are not included in the category of sexual violations against children.

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Note 5

Changes to the Criminal Code, including the introduction of new offences related to trafficking in persons were made in 2005, 2010, 2012, and 2014. Therefore, the percentage change from 2011 to 2021 is not shown. Trafficking in persons incidents reported to the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Survey may be undercounted due to differences in police reporting practices for this violation.

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Note 6

"Trafficking in persons" includes four specific indictable offences to address human trafficking, namely sections 279.01 (Trafficking in persons), 279.011 (Trafficking of a person under the age of eighteen years), 279.02 (Material benefit), and 279.03 (Withholding or destroying documents).

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Note 7

This offence was amended in 2015 in the former Bill C-13 "Protecting Canadians from Online Crime Act" to include all means of telecommunication, not only phone calls.

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Note 8

Non-consensual distribution of intimate images is an offence created in 2015 by the former Bill C-13 "Protecting Canadians from Online Crime Act," therefore the percentage change from 2011 to 2021 is not shown.

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Note 9

In December 2014, new legislation came into effect governing prostitution-related activities. The new legislation targets “the exploitation that is inherent in prostitution and the risks of violence posed to those who engage in it” (Criminal Code Chapter 25, preamble). New violations classified as “offences in relation to sexual services” under “violent crime” include: the purchasing of sexual services or communicating for that purpose, receiving a material benefit deriving from the purchase of sexual services, procuring of persons for the purpose of prostitution, and advertising sexual services offered for sale. In addition, a number of other offences related to prostitution continue to be considered non-violent offences and are classified under “other Criminal Code offences”. These include communicating to provide sexual services for consideration and stopping or impeding traffic for the purpose of offering, providing or obtaining sexual services for consideration. Therefore, the percentage change from 2011 to 2021 is not shown.

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Note 10

Includes trafficking and the intent to traffic stolen goods. In 2011, the Uniform Crime Reported Survey updated the offences included in this violation, therefore the percentage change from 2011 to 2021 should be interpreted with caution as there could be delays in reporting new violations.

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Note 11

Includes altering/removing/destroying a vehicle identification number.

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Note 12

Due to the complexity of cyber incidents, these data likely reflect the number of active or closed investigations for the year rather than the total number of incidents reported to police. Data are based on police-reported incidents that are recorded in police services’ records management systems.

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Note 13

The offence of “child pornography” includes offences under section 163.1 of the Criminal Code which makes it illegal to access, possess, make, print, or distribute child pornography. When the actual victim is not identified, this offence is reported to the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey with the most serious offence being “child pornography” which falls under the larger crime category of “other Criminal Code offences”. In cases where an actual victim is identified, police will report the most serious offence as sexual assault, sexual exploitation or other sexual violations against children, which fall under the category of “violent crimes” and child pornography may be reported as a secondary violation.

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Note 14

Includes seven terrorism violations which were introduced mid-year in 2013, as a result of the enactment of former Bill S-7 "An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Canada Evidence Act and the Security of Information Act." An additional terrorism violation code was introduced in late 2015, as a result of the enactment of former Bill C-51 "Anti-terrorism Act." Therefore, comparisons to previous years should be made with caution. Due to the length of time for investigations to confirm whether or not the incident is founded, annual counts of terrorism offences are subject to revisions downwards when revised data are released one year after the initial release; therefore, changes between the current year of data and the previous year should be interpreted with caution.

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Note 15

Includes alcohol-impaired operation of a vehicle, alcohol-impaired operation of a vehicle causing death or bodily harm, failure or refusal to comply with testing for the presence of alcohol and failure or refusal to provide a breath or blood sample. In some jurisdictions, including British Columbia, impaired driving incidents that meet the elements of the Criminal Code may be handled using a provincial statute. Collection of these incidents is not within the scope of the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey.

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Note 16

Includes drug-impaired operation of a vehicle, drug-impaired operation of a vehicle causing death or bodily harm, failure or refusal to comply with testing for the presence of drugs and failure or refusal to provide a breath or blood sample. In some jurisdictions, including British Columbia, impaired driving incidents that meet the elements of the Criminal Code may be handled using a provincial statute. Collection of these incidents is not within the scope of the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey.

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Note 17

Reflects new impaired driving offences as per former Bill C-46 "An Act to amend the Criminal Code (offences relating to conveyances) and to make consequential amendments to other Acts," which came into effect part way through 2018. Therefore, the percentage change from 2011 to 2021 is not shown.

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Note 18

Includes human trafficking violations under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Data specific to these offences are not available prior to 2011, therefore, the percentage change from 2011 to 2021 should be interpreted with caution as there could be delays in reporting new violations. Trafficking in persons incidents reported to the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Survey may be undercounted due to differences in police reporting practices for this violation.

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Note 19

The Quarantine Act is applicable to persons arriving in or departing from Canada. It provides measures for the screening, health assessment and medical examination of travellers to determine whether they have a communicable disease and to prevent the introduction and spread of such disease. The Quarantine Act requires any persons entering Canada—whether by air, sea or land—to quarantine (self-isolate) themselves for 14 days if they are asymptomatic in order to limit the introduction and spread of COVID-19. The 14-day period begins on the day the person enters Canada. With the Government of Canada's March 2020 announcement of restrictions on persons arriving in or departing from Canada, pursuant to its powers under the Quarantine Act, the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Survey was adjusted to add a specific Quarantine Act violation code. Therefore, the percentage change from 2011 to 2021 is not shown.

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Note: Police-reported statistics may be affected by differences in the way police services deal with offences. In some instances, police or municipalities might choose to deal with some offences using municipal bylaws or provincial provisions rather than Criminal Code provisions. Counts are based on the most serious violation in the incident. One incident may involve multiple violations. Data for specific types of crime are available, in most cases, from 1977. Rates are calculated on the basis of 100,000 population. Percentage changes are based on unrounded rates. Populations are based upon July 1st estimates from Statistics Canada, Centre for Demography.
Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey.
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