Nanaimo’s Crime Severity Index was 106.0 in 2025, down 1% from 2024 but about 1.4 times the national 75.0, according to Statistics Canada. The Nanaimo census metropolitan area (CMA) recorded 9,648 police-reported crimes per 100,000 people, the fourth-highest crime rate of Canada’s 41 metro areas (our calculation).
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 and ratios are our own calculation. Updated 12 October 2026.
Key facts
- The Nanaimo CMA had a Crime Severity Index of 106.0 in 2025, down 1% from 107.5 in 2024 (Statistics Canada, released 22 July 2026).
- Nanaimo’s crime rate was 9,648 incidents per 100,000 people in 2025, up 3% and about 1.7 times the national 5,585 (our calculation).
- Nanaimo ranked 7th highest for crime severity and 4th highest for crime rate among Canada’s 41 metro areas (our calculation).
- Nanaimo’s CSI was 17% lower than in 2022, when it peaked at 128.3 (our calculation from Statistics Canada data).
- Nanaimo recorded 2,703 violent incidents in 2025, a rate of 2,100 per 100,000, about 1.5 times the national 1,443 (our calculation).
Is Nanaimo safe?
Nanaimo records more police-reported crime than most Canadian metro areas: its 2025 Crime Severity Index of 106.0 was about 41% above the national 75.0 and 15% above British Columbia’s 92.4, according to Statistics Canada (ratios are our calculation). The figures describe the whole metro area on average, not the risk on a particular street, and most residents are not victims of crime in a given year.
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. A census metropolitan area (CMA) covers the whole metro region, not only the city of Nanaimo. Our Crime Severity Index explainer covers the method.
| Measure (2025) | Nanaimo CMA | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crime Severity Index | 106.0 | 92.4 | 75.0 |
| CSI change 2024–25 | −1% | −2% | −5% |
| Crime rate per 100,000 | 9,648 | 6,943 | 5,585 |
| Crime rate change 2024–25 | +3% | 0% | −2% |
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0026-01 and The Daily, 22 July 2026.
Nanaimo’s severity index edged down in 2025 while its crime rate rose, meaning slightly more incidents were recorded but they were, on average, less serious.
What is the crime rate in Nanaimo?
The Nanaimo CMA recorded 12,416 Criminal Code incidents in 2025, a crime rate of 9,648 per 100,000 people, according to Statistics Canada. Only Chilliwack (11,455), Kamloops (10,949) and Red Deer (10,592) had higher rates.
| Offence (Nanaimo CMA, 2025) | Incidents | Rate per 100,000 | Canada rate per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Criminal Code (excl. traffic) | 12,416 | 9,648 | 5,585 |
| Violent crime | 2,703 | 2,100 | 1,443 |
| Break and enter | 342 | 266 | 262 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 213 | 166 | 201 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0177-01 (2025).
Break-ins in Nanaimo (266 per 100,000) were almost exactly the national rate, and car theft (166) was 18% below it (our calculation). The high overall rate therefore comes mainly from other offences, including violent crime. Compare cities in violent crime in Canada by city and car theft in Canada.
Is crime in Nanaimo going down?
Crime severity in Nanaimo has gone down for three years in a row, from a peak of 128.3 in 2022 to 106.0 in 2025, a fall of 17%, according to Statistics Canada data (our calculation). The 2025 decline was small, at 1%.
| Year | Nanaimo CSI | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 121.6 | — |
| 2022 (peak) | 128.3 | +6% |
| 2023 | 126.6 | −1% |
| 2024 | 107.5 | −15% |
| 2025 | 106.0 | −1% |
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0026-01. Comparable series starts in 2021; year-to-year changes are our calculation.
Statistics Canada cautions that smaller metro areas can swing more from year to year and that the CSI is not a universal indicator of safety.
How does Nanaimo compare with other B.C. cities?
Nanaimo’s 2025 Crime Severity Index of 106.0 was the third highest of British Columbia’s seven metro areas, after Chilliwack (134.3) and Kamloops (126.2) and just above Kelowna (103.7), according to Statistics Canada. On Vancouver Island, the Victoria CMA had a much lower index of 74.6.
| B.C. metro area (CMA) | CSI 2025 | Crime rate per 100,000 (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Chilliwack | 134.3 | 11,455 |
| Kamloops | 126.2 | 10,949 |
| Nanaimo | 106.0 | 9,648 |
| Kelowna | 103.7 | 8,688 |
| Abbotsford–Mission | 95.5 | 6,717 |
| Vancouver | 83.5 | 5,672 |
| Victoria | 74.6 | 5,588 |
Source: Statistics Canada (2025).
See most dangerous cities in BC, safest cities in BC, is Victoria, BC safe? and is Kelowna safe? for comparisons.
How does Nanaimo rank in Canada?
Nanaimo had the seventh-highest Crime Severity Index of Canada’s 41 metro areas in 2025 and the fourth-highest crime rate, according to Statistics Canada (rankings are our calculation). The full list is in our crime rate in Canada by city table, and the cities above it are covered in highest crime rate in Canada.
How do I report or check crime in Nanaimo?
- Emergencies. Call 911 for any crime in progress or any threat to safety.
- Report minor crimes online. The City of Nanaimo’s online crime reporting page lets residents report some non-emergency crimes to Nanaimo RCMP, such as loss, theft or vandalism under $5,000 with no witness or suspect.
- Follow police updates. Nanaimo RCMP post news releases on the RCMP website.
- Know the limits of data. Our guide on how to check crime in your neighbourhood explains what maps and rates can show.
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Nanaimo crime FAQ
What is the crime rate in Nanaimo?
The Nanaimo CMA’s crime rate was 9,648 police-reported incidents per 100,000 people in 2025, up 3% from 2024, according to Statistics Canada.
Is Nanaimo safer than Victoria?
No. The Victoria CMA’s 2025 Crime Severity Index was 74.6, compared with 106.0 for Nanaimo, according to Statistics Canada.
Is crime in Nanaimo going down?
Yes, slowly. Nanaimo’s CSI fell 1% in 2025 to 106.0 and is 17% below its 2022 peak of 128.3 (our calculation).
Can I report a crime online in Nanaimo?
Yes, for some non-emergency crimes, such as theft or vandalism under $5,000 with no witness or suspect, through the City of Nanaimo’s online reporting tool for Nanaimo RCMP.
Related: most dangerous cities in BC · is Victoria, BC safe? · is Chilliwack safe? · Vancouver crime map · crime rate by province · Canada Crime Map. In an emergency call 911.