Police-reported crime in rural and urban areas of Canada’s provinces, 2024

Release date: May 26, 2026
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Infographic: Police-reported crime in rural and urban areas of Canada’s provinces, 2024
Description: Police-reported crime in rural and urban areas of Canada’s provinces, 2024

In 2024, while rural areas accounted for 14% of the population of the provinces, they represented…

  • 27% of traffic offences
  • 22% of violent crimes
  • 17% of property crimes
In almost all the provinces, the Crime Severity Index (CSI) was higher in rural areas Table summary
This table displays the results of In almost all the provinces, the Crime Severity Index (CSI) was higher in rural areas Crime Severity Index, Urban areas and Rural areas, calculated using units of measure (appearing as column headers).
  Crime Severity Index
Urban areas Rural areas
N.L. 77.3 104.3
P.E.I. 76.2 65.9
N.S. 72.6 82.0
N.B. 78.4 96.2
Que. 61.4 71.7
Ont. 60.7 61.1
Man. 126.6 180.6
Sask. 125.7 219.4
Alta. 86.3 141.9
B.C. 92.0 93.0
All provinces 72.7 100.6
In 2009, the violent CSI was lower in rural areas than in urban areas, but it was the opposite in 2024 Table summary
This table displays the results of In 2009, the violent CSI was lower in rural areas than in urban areas, but it was the opposite in 2024 Violent CSI, 2009 and 2024, calculated using units of measure (appearing as column headers).
  Violent CSI
2009 2024
Rural areas 84.5 134.8
Urban areas 95.3 92.5
In 2024, crime rates were higher in the northern part of the provinces Table summary
This table displays the results of In 2024, crime rates were higher in the northern part of the provinces , calculated using (appearing as column headers).
  Rural areas Urban areas
Northern part of provinces 17,766 crimes per 100,000 population 8,603 crimes per 100,000 population
Southern part of provinces 5,468 crimes per 100,000 population 5,106 crimes per 100,000 population
The rate of intimate partner violence in rural areas was almost twice the urban rate Table summary
This table displays the results of The rate of intimate partner violence in rural areas was almost twice the urban rate , calculated using (appearing as column headers).
  Number of victims aged 12 and over per 100,000 population
Rural areas 573
Urban areas 310

Source: Perreault, S., 2026, “Police-reported crime in rural and urban areas in the Canadian provinces, 2024,” Juristat, Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 85-002-X.

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Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2026

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