Police in Canada reported 672 homicide victims in 2025, a rate of 1.61 per 100,000 people, down 16% from 1.93 in 2024. Statistics Canada says it was the largest annual drop since 1986 and the lowest rate since 2014. Gang-related homicides fell from 155 to 119 and handgun homicides fell 31%. Toronto’s rate roughly halved, to 0.91 per 100,000.
Data: Statistics Canada, police-reported crime statistics for 2025 (released 22 July 2026), incident-based crime tables by census metropolitan area and province. Figures are for the whole census metropolitan area (CMA) unless stated. Comparisons and percentages that are not in the release are our own arithmetic. Updated 5 October 2026.
Every number on this page represents a person who was killed, and families and communities who live with that loss. We present the figures plainly, to inform rather than to rank places.
How many homicides were there in Canada in 2025?
Police reported 672 homicide victims in 2025. The rate of 1.61 per 100,000 people was 16% lower than the 2024 rate of 1.93. Statistics Canada describes this as the largest one-year decline since 1986, and the rate was the lowest since 2014.
Several of the specific measures moved in the same direction:
- Gang-related homicides: 119 in 2025, down from 155 in 2024 (about -23%, our arithmetic).
- Handgun homicides: down 31%.
- Victims: 74% were men or boys. Women and girls who were killed were far more likely to have been killed by a spouse or intimate partner: 41% of women victims, compared with 5% of men.
What is the homicide rate in Canada’s biggest cities?
The table shows police-reported homicides and rates for census metropolitan areas where the 2025 count is in our data.
| Census metropolitan area | Homicide victims (2025) | Rate per 100,000 (2025) | Rate in 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | 64 | 0.91 | 1.90 |
| Montréal | 52 | 1.12 | 1.26 |
| Vancouver | 47 | 1.52 | 1.23 |
| Edmonton | 32 | 1.88 | 2.18 |
| Winnipeg | 23 | 2.48 | 4.67 |
| Ottawa (Ont. part) | 21 | 1.59 | 2.10 |
| Calgary | 15 | 0.82 | 1.29 |
| Halifax | 11 | 2.02 | 2.05 |
| Regina | 10 | 3.45 | 2.11 |
| Saskatoon | 8 | 2.09 | 3.74 |
| Thunder Bay | 8 | 6.06 | 6.08 |
| Greater Sudbury | 8 | 4.05 | 1.02 |
| Hamilton | 8 | 0.95 | 1.32 |
| St. John’s | 8 | 3.41 | – |
| Abbotsford–Mission | 8 | 3.58 | – |
| St. Catharines–Niagara | 8 | 1.45 | – |
| Saint John | 7 | 4.87 | – |
| Windsor | 7 | 1.43 | – |
| London | 7 | 1.10 | – |
| Canada | 672 | 1.61 | 1.93 |
A dash means the 2024 rate is not in our data extract. Other metros with small counts in 2025 included Barrie (5), Kingston, Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo, Victoria, Kelowna and Québec (4 each), Gatineau (1) and Saguenay (0).
Why do small cities appear to have high homicide rates?
Homicide is rare, so rates in smaller metro areas are based on very small numbers. Thunder Bay’s rate of 6.06 per 100,000 reflects 8 victims; Saint John’s 4.87 reflects 7. In Greater Sudbury, the rate rose from 1.02 to 4.05, which looks dramatic but reflects 8 victims in 2025.
With numbers this small, one incident with several victims, or a quiet year followed by a difficult one, can double or halve a rate. A single year’s homicide rate is not a reliable guide to everyday safety in a smaller city. Looking at several years, and at broader measures such as the violent Crime Severity Index, gives a steadier picture.
Did Toronto’s homicide rate really halve?
Yes, at the metro level. The Toronto CMA recorded 64 homicide victims in 2025, a rate of 0.91 per 100,000, compared with 1.90 in 2024. Toronto now has one of the lowest homicide rates of any large Canadian metro, alongside Calgary (0.82) and Hamilton (0.95).
Winnipeg also saw a large fall, from 4.67 to 2.48 per 100,000, while Vancouver’s rate rose from 1.23 to 1.52. Statistics Canada’s data do not set out the reasons behind changes in individual cities.
Which provinces have the highest homicide rates?
| Province | Homicide victims (2025) | Rate per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Saskatchewan | 66 | 5.21 |
| Manitoba | 55 | 3.64 |
| British Columbia | 103 | 1.81 |
| Alberta | 89 | 1.77 |
| Ontario | 207 | 1.27 |
| Quebec | 88 | 0.97 |
| Canada | 672 | 1.61 |
Nova Scotia recorded 19 homicides, New Brunswick 15 and Newfoundland and Labrador 12; their rates are not in our data extract. Ontario had the most victims, as the most populous province, but a rate below the national average.
How does 2025 compare with recent years?
The 2025 rate of 1.61 per 100,000 was the lowest since 2014, and the 16% fall was the steepest one-year drop since 1986. Among the largest metros, rates fell in Toronto, Montréal, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Calgary, while Vancouver’s rose. By our arithmetic, Calgary’s rate fell by about 36% and Ottawa’s by about 24%.
One good year does not make a trend, and homicide figures can rise again. But the combination of fewer gang-related killings and fewer handgun homicides suggests the 2025 decline was broad rather than limited to one city.
What does this mean for personal safety?
For most people in most Canadian cities, homicide is an extremely rare event, and 2025 saw a substantial decline. The risk is not spread evenly: Statistics Canada’s figures show that 41% of women and girls who were killed died at the hands of a spouse or intimate partner, compared with 5% of male victims.
If you or someone you know is at risk from a partner or family member, contact police or a local support service. For everyday safety concerns, broader indicators such as the violent crime rate and the Crime Severity Index are more useful than homicide counts. See our page on violent crime in Canada by city.
How do I check crime near a specific address?
- Use your local police service’s map or open data, for example Toronto Police open data or Winnipeg Police.
- See our Canada crime map for city-level context.
- Compare areas over several years, not single incidents.
- Remember that homicide locations on maps are generalised and do not describe the risk to residents or visitors.
Want this on your phone?
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Homicide rate in Canada FAQ
What was Canada’s homicide rate in 2025?
1.61 per 100,000 people, with 672 victims. That was down 16% from 1.93 in 2024 and the lowest rate since 2014.
Which big city has the lowest homicide rate?
Among the largest metros, Calgary had the lowest rate in 2025 at 0.82 per 100,000, followed by Toronto at 0.91.
Did gang-related homicides go down?
Yes. Police reported 119 gang-related homicides in 2025, down from 155 in 2024. Handgun homicides fell 31%.
Which province has the highest homicide rate?
Saskatchewan, at 5.21 per 100,000 (66 victims), followed by Manitoba at 3.64 (55 victims).
Why is Thunder Bay’s homicide rate so high?
Thunder Bay’s rate of 6.06 per 100,000 is based on 8 victims in a small metro area. Small numbers make rates volatile, so a single year should be read with caution.
Related: Violent crime by city · Crime rate in Canada 2025 · Most dangerous cities in Canada · The Crime Severity Index explained · Is Toronto safe?. Source: Statistics Canada, The Daily. In an emergency call 911.
