Saint John has one of the lowest crime rates in Atlantic Canada, but its crime severity rose sharply in 2025: the Saint John census metropolitan area’s Crime Severity Index jumped 20% to 70.0, the largest increase of Canada’s 41 metro areas, while staying below the national 75.0, according to Statistics Canada. Its crime rate was 4,556 police-reported incidents per 100,000 people, the lowest of the five Atlantic metro areas.
Data: Statistics Canada, police-reported crime statistics for 2025 (released 22 July 2026), Crime Severity Index by census metropolitan area (Table 35-10-0026-01) and incidents by violation (Table 35-10-0177-01). Rankings, ratios and percentage gaps are our own calculation. Online reporting rules checked on the Saint John Police Force website on 12 October 2026. Updated 12 October 2026.
Key facts
- The Saint John CMA had a Crime Severity Index of 70.0 in 2025, up 20% from 58.2 in 2024 — the largest rise of any Canadian metro area (Statistics Canada, released 22 July 2026).
- Saint John’s crime rate was 4,556 incidents per 100,000 people in 2025, up 3%, about 18% below the national 5,585 (our calculation).
- Saint John had the lowest crime rate in Atlantic Canada in 2025 and the second-lowest Crime Severity Index there, after Halifax (68.6) (our calculation from Statistics Canada data).
- Saint John recorded 1,787 violent incidents in 2025, a rate of 1,244 per 100,000, about 14% below the national 1,443 (our calculation).
- The 2025 index of 70.0 was the highest for Saint John in the 2015–2025 period, up from a low of 50.0 in 2021 (Statistics Canada).
Is Saint John safe?
Saint John is safer than the Canadian and New Brunswick averages on the official measures: its 2025 Crime Severity Index of 70.0 was about 7% below the national 75.0 and about 23% below New Brunswick’s 90.4, according to Statistics Canada (ratios are our calculation). Saint John’s crime rate of 4,556 per 100,000 was about 18% below Canada’s 5,585 and about 27% below the provincial 6,200.
The Crime Severity Index (CSI) is a Statistics Canada measure that weights each police-reported offence by its seriousness, with Canada in 2006 set at 100. The crime rate counts Criminal Code incidents (excluding traffic) per 100,000 people. The Saint John census metropolitan area (CMA) covers the City of Saint John and surrounding communities such as Quispamsis and Rothesay, not only the city itself. Our Crime Severity Index explainer covers the method.
| Measure (2025) | Saint John CMA | New Brunswick | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crime Severity Index | 70.0 | 90.4 | 75.0 |
| CSI change 2024–25 | +20% | +6% | −5% |
| Crime rate per 100,000 | 4,556 | 6,200 | 5,585 |
| Crime rate change 2024–25 | +3% | 0% | −2% |
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0026-01 and The Daily, 22 July 2026.
The contrast in the table is the main story: the number of incidents in Saint John is low, but their weighted seriousness grew much faster than the volume in 2025.
Why did Saint John’s crime severity rise 20%?
Saint John’s Crime Severity Index rose 20% in 2025 while its crime rate rose only 3%, which means the mix of offences shifted toward more serious crimes rather than a large rise in the number of incidents, based on Statistics Canada data (our interpretation). The CSI gives far more weight to crimes such as homicide, robbery and serious assault than to minor theft or mischief.
One sign of this is homicide. The Saint John CMA recorded 7 homicides in 2025, a rate of 4.87 per 100,000 — about three times the national rate of 1.61 (our calculation from Statistics Canada data). In a metro area of this size, a handful of cases can move the index a long way, and Statistics Canada cautions that smaller CMAs swing more from year to year.
Another measure of the shift is the ratio of severity to volume. Saint John had 15.4 CSI points per 1,000 incidents per 100,000 people in 2025, against 13.4 for Canada as a whole (our calculation). A higher ratio means the average reported incident was more serious than the national average.
What is the crime rate in Saint John?
The Saint John CMA recorded 6,547 Criminal Code incidents in 2025, a crime rate of 4,556 per 100,000 people, according to Statistics Canada. That was up 3% from 2024.
| Offence (Saint John CMA, 2025) | Incidents | Rate per 100,000 | Canada rate per 100,000 | New Brunswick rate per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Criminal Code (excl. traffic) | 6,547 | 4,556 | 5,585 | 6,200 |
| Violent crime | 1,787 | 1,244 | 1,443 | – |
| Homicide | 7 | 4.87 | 1.61 | – |
| Break and enter | 354 | 246 | 262 | 393 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0177-01 (2025). A dash means the figure is not in our data.
- Violent crime is below average. Saint John’s rate of 1,244 per 100,000 was about 14% below the national 1,443 and well below Moncton (1,909) and Fredericton (1,576) (our calculation). See violent crime in Canada by city.
- Break-ins are below the national and provincial rates. At 246 per 100,000, Saint John’s rate was about 6% below Canada’s 262 and about 37% below New Brunswick’s 393 (our calculation). See break-ins in Canada.
- Homicide is the outlier. Seven cases gave Saint John a rate about three times the national figure; see homicide rate in Canada by city for other metro areas. Saint John had the second-highest metro homicide rate in Canada in 2025, after Thunder Bay (full ranking).
Is crime in Saint John going up?
Crime severity in Saint John has risen for four years in a row: the Saint John CMA’s Crime Severity Index went from 50.0 in 2021 to 70.0 in 2025, an increase of about 40%, according to Statistics Canada (percentage is our calculation). Before that, the index stayed between 50 and 57 for most of the decade.
| Year | Saint John CSI | Canada CSI |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 55.7 | 70.4 |
| 2017 | 56.6 | 73.6 |
| 2019 | 56.8 | 79.7 |
| 2021 (low) | 50.0 | 74.9 |
| 2023 | 53.3 | 81.3 |
| 2024 | 58.2 | 78.8 |
| 2025 | 70.0 | 75.0 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0026-01.
Saint John’s index stayed below the national CSI in every year from 2015 to 2025, but the gap narrowed from about 15 points in 2015 to about 5 points in 2025 (our calculation).
How does Saint John compare with other Atlantic cities?
Saint John had the lowest crime rate of Atlantic Canada’s five metro areas in 2025, at 4,556 per 100,000, and the second-lowest Crime Severity Index, at 70.0, after Halifax, according to Statistics Canada (ranking is our calculation).
| Atlantic metro area (CMA) | CSI 2025 | CSI change 2024–25 | Crime rate per 100,000 (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moncton | 105.6 | +11% | 7,561 |
| Fredericton | 80.5 | +7% | 5,734 |
| St. John’s | 79.2 | −2% | 6,163 |
| Saint John | 70.0 | +20% | 4,556 |
| Halifax | 68.6 | −6% | 6,094 |
Source: Statistics Canada (2025).
All three New Brunswick metro areas recorded a higher severity index in 2025. Compare Moncton crime rate, is Fredericton safe?, is Halifax safe? and St. John’s crime rate. The regional overview is in crime in Atlantic Canada, and provincial figures are in crime rate by province.
How does Saint John rank in Canada?
Saint John had the 20th-highest Crime Severity Index and the 15th-lowest crime rate of Canada’s 41 metro areas in 2025, according to Statistics Canada (our calculation), close to Drummondville (72.3) and Brantford (72.1) on severity. Its 20% CSI increase was the largest in the country, ahead of Moncton (+11%). The full list is in our crime rate in Canada by city table.
How do I check or report crime in Saint John?
- Emergencies. Call 911 for any crime in progress or any threat to safety.
- Report minor crimes online. The Saint John Police Force accepts online reports for non-emergency incidents such as theft, property damage, lost property and driving complaints when the value is under $5,000, there is no known suspect and the incident happened in Saint John. You receive a reference number for insurance.
- Non-emergency line. Other non-emergency reports go to the Saint John Police Force at 506-648-3333, or in person at headquarters, 1 Peel Plaza.
- Compare areas. The Canada Crime Map gathers official figures by city, and our guide on how to check crime in your neighbourhood explains the limits of the data. See also how to report a crime in Canada.
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Saint John crime FAQ
What is the crime rate in Saint John, NB?
The Saint John CMA’s crime rate was 4,556 police-reported incidents per 100,000 people in 2025, up 3% from 2024 and the lowest in Atlantic Canada, according to Statistics Canada.
Is Saint John safer than Moncton?
Yes, on the official measures. Saint John’s 2025 Crime Severity Index was 70.0 against Moncton’s 105.6, and its crime rate was 4,556 per 100,000 against 7,561.
Is crime in Saint John going up?
Yes. Saint John’s Crime Severity Index rose 20% to 70.0 in 2025, the largest increase in Canada and the highest level for the city since at least 2015.
Is Saint John safer than the New Brunswick average?
Yes. Saint John’s 2025 Crime Severity Index of 70.0 was about 23% below New Brunswick’s 90.4, and its crime rate was about 27% lower (our calculation from Statistics Canada data).
Can I report a crime online in Saint John?
Yes. The Saint John Police Force accepts online reports for non-emergency incidents under $5,000 with no known suspect that happened in Saint John.
Related: crime in Atlantic Canada · is Moncton safe? · is Fredericton safe? · crime rate by province · crime rate in Canada by city · Canada Crime Map · is Charlottetown safe? · is Cape Breton safe?. In an emergency call 911.