Alberta and British Columbia are close, and in 2025 they swapped places: B.C.’s Crime Severity Index (CSI) was 92.4 and Alberta’s 90.6, the first year since at least 2015 that B.C.’s index was the higher of the two, according to Statistics Canada. Alberta still had the higher crime rate (7,390 incidents per 100,000 people against 6,943) and much more car theft and break-ins, while B.C. had more drug offences and extortion and a far lower share of crime solved.
Data: Statistics Canada, police-reported crime statistics for 2025 (released 22 July 2026), Crime Severity Index and clearance rates (Table 35-10-0026-01) and incidents by violation (Table 35-10-0177-01), checked 19 October 2026. Ratios, gaps and rankings that are not in the release are our own calculation from Statistics Canada data. Updated 19 October 2026.
Key facts
- British Columbia’s Crime Severity Index was 92.4 in 2025 and Alberta’s 90.6; Canada’s was 75.0 (Statistics Canada).
- Alberta’s CSI fell 7% in 2025 and is about 13% below 2015; B.C.’s fell 2% and is unchanged from 2015.
- Alberta’s crime rate was 7,390 per 100,000, about 6% higher than B.C.’s 6,943 (our calculation).
- Alberta’s motor vehicle theft rate (317 per 100,000) was about 2.3 times B.C.’s (138), and its break-in rate about 46% higher (our calculation).
- B.C.’s drug offence rate (322 per 100,000) was about 2.6 times Alberta’s (122), and its extortion rate about 1.8 times.
- Alberta’s weighted clearance rate was 34.9, against 23.0 in B.C., the lowest of any province.
Is Alberta safer than BC?
Alberta and British Columbia are roughly equally safe on Statistics Canada’s 2025 data, and which one comes out ahead depends on the measure: B.C. has the higher Crime Severity Index (92.4 against 90.6), while Alberta has the higher crime rate (7,390 against 6,943 incidents per 100,000). The Crime Severity Index is a measure of police-reported crime that gives more weight to serious offences; Canada’s 2006 level equals 100. Both provinces are above the national CSI of 75.0 and well below Saskatchewan (146.6) and Manitoba (130.0).
| Measure (2025) | Alberta | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crime Severity Index | 90.6 | 92.4 | 75.0 |
| CSI change vs 2024 | −7% | −2% | −5% |
| CSI change vs 2015 | −13% | 0% | +7% |
| Violent Crime Severity Index | 102.0 | 98.0 | 97.2 |
| Non-violent Crime Severity Index | 86.8 | 90.9 | 66.8 |
| Crime rate per 100,000 | 7,390 | 6,943 | 5,585 |
| Criminal Code incidents (excl. traffic) | 371,677 | 395,594 | 2,326,077 |
| Weighted clearance rate | 34.9 | 23.0 | 36.6 |
Better value in bold. Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0026-01 and The Daily, 22 July 2026.
The split between the two indexes explains the mixed picture: Alberta’s violent CSI (102.0) is about 4% higher than B.C.’s (98.0), while B.C.’s non-violent CSI (90.9) is about 5% higher than Alberta’s (86.8) (our calculation). For all ten provinces, see our crime rate by province ranking.
Has BC overtaken Alberta?
Yes, on the Crime Severity Index: in 2025 British Columbia’s CSI (92.4) was above Alberta’s (90.6) for the first time in Statistics Canada’s 2015–2025 series. Alberta’s index has fallen faster, by about 25% from its 2019 peak of 120.3, against about 11% for B.C. from its 2023 high of 104.6 (our calculations).
| Year | Alberta CSI | British Columbia CSI | Gap (points) | Canada CSI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 104.5 | 92.7 | 11.8 | 70.4 |
| 2017 | 112.2 | 87.1 | 25.1 | 73.6 |
| 2019 | 120.3 | 104.0 | 16.4 | 79.7 |
| 2021 | 101.6 | 96.4 | 5.1 | 74.9 |
| 2022 | 105.2 | 100.3 | 4.9 | 78.7 |
| 2023 | 104.8 | 104.6 | 0.2 | 81.3 |
| 2024 | 97.0 | 93.9 | 3.1 | 78.8 |
| 2025 | 90.6 | 92.4 | −1.8 | 75.0 |
Gap = Alberta CSI minus B.C. CSI, our calculation (negative = B.C. higher). Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0026-01.
The two provinces were almost level in 2023. The difference in 2025 is small, and a single year can reverse it, so it is better read as “about the same” than as a clear ranking.
How do violent crime and homicide compare?
Violent crime rates are almost identical in the two provinces: Alberta recorded 1,541 violent incidents per 100,000 people in 2025 and British Columbia 1,531, both slightly above the national 1,443, according to Statistics Canada. Alberta’s violent CSI is higher, at 102.0 against 98.0, and Alberta’s fell about 5% in 2025 while B.C.’s rose about 2%.
| Violent offence, rate per 100,000 (2025) | Alberta | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| All violent crime | 1,541 | 1,531 | 1,443 |
| Homicide (victims) | 1.77 (89) | 1.81 (103) | 1.61 |
| Assault level 1 | 576 | 522 | 528 |
| Sexual assault level 1 | 79 | 78 | 87 |
| Robbery | 63 | 49 | 55 |
| Extortion | 26 | 47 | 29 |
Rates are incidents per 100,000 people (homicide: victims per 100,000, count in brackets). Lower value in bold. Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0177-01, 2025.
Homicide rates were nearly equal in 2025. Alberta’s fell from 2.02 to 1.77, while B.C.’s rose from 1.66 to 1.81. B.C. had the highest extortion rate of any province; see extortion in Canada for the city breakdown.
Which province has more car theft and property crime?
Property crime is more common in Alberta than in British Columbia: Alberta recorded 4,400 property incidents per 100,000 people in 2025, about 15% more than B.C.’s 3,839, driven by much higher rates of car theft and break-ins (Statistics Canada; percentage our calculation).
| Offence, rate per 100,000 (2025) | Alberta | British Columbia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| All property crime | 4,400 | 3,839 | 3,141 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 317 | 138 | 201 |
| Breaking and entering | 410 | 280 | 262 |
| Shoplifting ($5,000 or under) | 781 | 733 | 502 |
| Fraud | 502 | 439 | 426 |
| Mischief | 1,113 | 989 | 739 |
| Drug violations | 122 | 322 | 144 |
Lower value in bold. Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0177-01, 2025.
- Car theft: Alberta’s rate was the third-highest of any province in 2025, after Saskatchewan and Manitoba, although it fell about 16% from 2024. Tips are in our car theft protection guide.
- Break-ins: Alberta’s rate fell about 10% in 2025 and B.C.’s about 4%; both remain above the national rate.
- Shoplifting: up sharply in both, by about 31% in Alberta and 12% in B.C.
- Drug offences: B.C.’s rate rose about 27% in 2025. Police-reported drug offences depend heavily on enforcement and provincial policy, so the gap is not a direct measure of drug use.
Which cities drive crime in Alberta and BC?
The provincial figures hide large differences between cities. In Alberta, the Calgary metro area had a 2025 CSI of 61.7, well below the provincial 90.6, while Red Deer (114.4), Lethbridge (107.7) and Edmonton (95.6) were above it. In British Columbia, Victoria (74.6) and Vancouver (83.5) were below the provincial 92.4, while Chilliwack (134.3), Kamloops (126.2), Nanaimo (106.0) and Kelowna (103.7) were above it (Statistics Canada).
| Alberta metro (CMA) | CSI (2025) | British Columbia metro (CMA) | CSI (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Deer | 114.4 | Chilliwack | 134.3 |
| Lethbridge | 107.7 | Kamloops | 126.2 |
| Edmonton | 95.6 | Nanaimo | 106.0 |
| Calgary | 61.7 | Kelowna | 103.7 |
| — | — | Abbotsford–Mission | 95.5 |
| — | — | Vancouver | 83.5 |
| — | — | Victoria | 74.6 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0026-01. Alberta 90.6; British Columbia 92.4.
Calgary had the lowest CSI of any metro in either province. For head-to-head city comparisons, see Vancouver vs Calgary crime and Calgary vs Edmonton crime; for provincial rankings, see most dangerous cities in Alberta, safest places to live in Alberta, most dangerous cities in BC and safest cities in BC.
Which province solves more crime?
Alberta solves a larger share of crime than British Columbia: Alberta’s weighted clearance rate was 34.9 in 2025, against 23.0 in B.C., the lowest of any province, according to Statistics Canada. Seven of the eight lowest metro clearance rates in Canada were in B.C. Our guide how many crimes are solved in Canada explains the measure.
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.
Alberta vs BC crime FAQ
Is Alberta safer than BC?
They are very close. In 2025 B.C.’s Crime Severity Index (92.4) was slightly above Alberta’s (90.6), but Alberta’s crime rate (7,390 per 100,000) was higher than B.C.’s (6,943).
Which province has more car theft, Alberta or BC?
Alberta. Its motor vehicle theft rate was 317 per 100,000 in 2025, about 2.3 times B.C.’s 138.
Is crime going down in Alberta?
Yes. Alberta’s CSI fell 7% in 2025 to 90.6, about 25% below its 2019 peak of 120.3.
Which province has the lowest crime clearance rate?
British Columbia, with a weighted clearance rate of 23.0 in 2025. Alberta’s was 34.9 and Canada’s 36.6.
Which is safer to live in, Calgary or Vancouver?
Calgary, on Statistics Canada’s 2025 data: its Crime Severity Index was 61.7, against 83.5 for the Vancouver metro area.
Related: crime rate by province · crime in Saskatchewan and Manitoba · car theft in Canada · break-ins in Canada · crime rate in Canada by city · Safest towns in Alberta · safest towns in B.C. · Is Alberta safe? · is BC safe?. In an emergency call 911.