How prevalent are homicides in Canada?

There were 788 homicides recorded in Canada in 2024, a decrease of eight incidents from the year before. Four out of 10 provinces recorded decreases in homicides compared to 2023, and six reported increases. Meanwhile, the number of homicides decreased in two of the three territories. In Canada, homicides include Criminal Code offenses of murder, manslaughter, and infanticide. Nationally, the homicide rate was 1.91 homicides per 100,000 people, a 3.89% decrease from 2023. The murder rate measures the prevalence of homicides, and it is a closely followed crime statistic, as murder is the most violent crime, and its occurrences are generally regarded as a benchmark for community safety and well-being. Murders are also one of the most accurately measured crime statistics by various levels of government and police forces.

How common are homicides in Canada?

Murders are quite rare in Canada. To put this into context, let’s zoom out and look at crimes overall. In 2024, there were 2,532,446 police reported criminal code violations, excluding traffic violations, of which over one-fifth are violent crimes (591,856), a category that includes assaults, robberies, and homicides, among others. The 788 homicides reported in 2024 represent 0.13% of all incidents of violent crimes that year. Between 2005 and 2024, the murder rate nationally fluctuated between a low of 1.58 per 100,000 people recorded in 2012 and a high of 2.89 per 100,000 in 2022.

Where is the homicide rate highest in Canada?

Among provinces, Manitoba had the highest homicide rate in the country in 2024, with a reported 6.29 homicides per 100,000 people. Next was Saskatchewan, with 5.24 homicides per 100,000 people. In contrast, the homicide rate was lowest in Newfoundland and Labrador. Explore the homicide rates of each Canadian province and territory.