Yes, Calgary is one of the safer large cities in Canada: the Calgary metro area’s Crime Severity Index (CSI) fell 3% to 61.7 in 2025, the lowest level since at least 2015 and about 18% below the national 75.0. Its crime rate was 5,038 incidents per 100,000 people, about 10% below Canada’s 5,585, although that rate rose 5% in 2025, mainly because of a jump in shoplifting.
Data: Statistics Canada, police-reported crime statistics for 2025 (released 22 July 2026), Crime Severity Index and incident-based crime tables. Figures are for the Calgary census metropolitan area (CMA). Comparisons and percentages that are not in the release are our own arithmetic. Updated 5 October 2026.
All figures are for calendar year 2025, the latest full year Statistics Canada has published.
Is Calgary safe compared with other Canadian cities?
Calgary has a markedly lower CSI than Alberta’s other large metro and the province as a whole. Among Canada’s six largest metros it sits in the middle, just above Montréal, and among all 41 metropolitan areas it is in the lower half.
| Area (2025) | Crime Severity Index | CSI change vs 2024 | Crime rate per 100,000 | Rate change vs 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calgary (CMA) | 61.7 | −3% | 5,038 | +5% |
| Edmonton (CMA) | 95.6 | −7% | 7,463 | +2% |
| Red Deer (CMA) | 114.4 | −3% | 10,592 | −1% |
| Lethbridge (CMA) | 107.7 | +2% | 8,335 | +8% |
| Vancouver (CMA) | 83.5 | +1% | 5,672 | +3% |
| Toronto (CMA) | 55.0 | −7% | 3,950 | −5% |
| Alberta (province) | 90.6 | −7% | 7,390 | −1% |
| Canada (all police services) | 75.0 | −5% | 5,585 | −2% |
The crime rate counts every Criminal Code incident (excluding traffic) per 100,000 people; the CSI weights incidents by seriousness. In 2025 Calgary’s CSI fell while its crime rate rose. That happens when the number of lower-severity offences, such as shoplifting, rises while more serious crime falls. Our CSI explainer covers the method.
City of Calgary vs the Calgary CMA
The Calgary CMA includes the City of Calgary and nearby communities such as Airdrie and Cochrane. Because the City of Calgary makes up most of the metro population, the CMA figures are a reasonable guide to the city. Statistics Canada also publishes CSI values for individual police services, but a separate Calgary Police Service figure is not part of the data set used for this guide, so we do not quote one. As in most cities, the central core is likely to record more incidents per resident than the suburbs because it draws commuters and visitors.
Is crime in Calgary going up or down?
Down, and by a large margin. Calgary’s CSI peaked at 94.1 in 2019. By 2025 it had fallen to 61.7, about 34% below that peak and about 23% below 2015. It has declined in four of the last five years.
| Year | Calgary CSI | Canada CSI |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 79.8 | 70.4 |
| 2016 | 78.4 | 72.0 |
| 2017 | 83.9 | 73.6 |
| 2018 | 89.7 | 75.6 |
| 2019 | 94.1 | 79.7 |
| 2020 | 80.0 | 73.9 |
| 2021 | 72.8 | 74.9 |
| 2022 | 77.5 | 78.7 |
| 2023 | 72.7 | 81.3 |
| 2024 | 63.3 | 78.8 |
| 2025 | 61.7 | 75.0 |
The 2025 fall was led by violent crime: the violent CSI dropped from 78.78 to 68.49 (about 13%), while the non-violent CSI rose slightly, from 57.64 to 59.45 (about 3%). Calgary’s violent CSI is now about 30% below the national violent CSI of 97.19.
What kind of crime is most common in Calgary?
The Calgary CMA recorded 92,551 Criminal Code incidents in 2025, including 57,580 property crimes and 19,418 violent incidents.
| Offence | Calgary rate 2025 | Calgary rate 2024 | Canada rate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Criminal Code offences (excl. traffic) | 5,038 | 4,821 | 5,585 |
| Violent crime | 1,057 | 1,070 | 1,443 |
| Homicide | 0.82 | 1.29 | 1.61 |
| Robbery | 60 | 72 | 55 |
| Breaking and entering | 310 | 317 | 262 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 243 | 279 | 201 |
| Shoplifting ($5,000 or under) | 749 | 492 | 502 |
| Fraud | 401 | n/a | 426 |
| Mischief | 384 | n/a | 739 |
Rates are incidents per 100,000 people (homicide: victims per 100,000), Calgary census metropolitan area. n/a = 2024 rate not available in our data set.
- Shoplifting surged. 13,766 incidents, a rate of 749 per 100,000, up about 52% from 492 and well above the national 502. This is the main reason the overall crime rate rose. See shoplifting in Canada.
- Homicide is low. 15 victims, a rate of 0.82 per 100,000 (1.29 in 2024), about half the national 1.61.
- Car theft fell about 13% to 243 per 100,000, but remains above the national 201. See car theft in Canada.
- Break-ins are above average at 310 per 100,000 (Canada: 262), little changed from 2024.
- Robbery fell about 16% to 60 per 100,000 (Canada: 55).
Calgary’s weighted clearance rate was 34.74, slightly below the national 36.64.
Which parts of Calgary record more crime?
Statistics Canada does not publish neighbourhood figures, and we do not rank communities. As in other cities, reported incidents concentrate where people gather: downtown, nightlife streets, large shopping centres and transit stations. These areas see many more visitors than residents, so higher counts there do not mean higher risk for people living nearby. The Calgary Police Service publishes community-level statistics you can check directly (see below).
Is Calgary safe to live in and visit?
For most people, yes. Calgary’s violent crime and homicide rates are below the national average, and its overall severity has been falling for several years. The more likely issues are property-related: vehicle theft, break-ins and thefts from cars. Lock vehicles, keep valuables out of sight, and take basic home-security steps. See our car theft prevention and home security tips.
How reliable are these figures?
- They are reported incidents only. In 2019 only about 29% of victimizations in Canada were reported to police.
- Retail reporting affects shoplifting numbers. Changes in how often stores call police can move this category sharply.
- The CSI is not a complete safety score, as Statistics Canada notes. See the official 2025 release.
How do I check crime near a specific address in Calgary?
- Use Calgary Police statistics. The Calgary Police Service statistics page links to community crime and disorder data and maps.
- Look at our map. The Canada Crime Map gathers official figures by city; our Calgary crime map guide explains how to read the police data.
- Compare two communities. Check the area you are considering against another you know, using the same offence types and period.
- Read the limits. Communities with shopping centres or transit stations always record more incidents. Visit at different times of day.
Want this on your phone?
Safety App Canada puts official crime data on a live map, plans walking routes that avoid high-risk areas and sends one-tap SOS alerts to the people you trust. Coming soon to Android and iPhone.
Calgary crime FAQ
What is Calgary’s crime rate?
The Calgary CMA recorded 5,038 Criminal Code incidents per 100,000 people in 2025, up 5% on 2024 but about 10% below the national rate of 5,585.
Is Calgary safer than Edmonton?
On the official measures, yes. Calgary’s CSI was 61.7 against Edmonton’s 95.6, and its crime rate was 5,038 against 7,463.
Is crime in Calgary going down?
Yes. The CSI fell 3% in 2025 to 61.7, about 34% below its 2019 peak of 94.1.
Why did Calgary’s crime rate rise if the CSI fell?
Mostly shoplifting, which rose about 52% in 2025. Shoplifting adds a lot to the incident count but carries little weight in the severity index, while violent crime, which is weighted heavily, fell.
How many homicides were there in Calgary in 2025?
The Calgary CMA recorded 15 homicide victims, a rate of 0.82 per 100,000, about half the national rate of 1.61.
Related: is Edmonton safe? · safest places to live in Alberta · most dangerous cities in Alberta · safest big cities in Canada · Calgary crime map. In an emergency call 911.