Is Chilliwack Safe? Chilliwack Crime Rate 2026 Explained

Mountain peaks above the Fraser Valley near Chilliwack, British Columbia

Chilliwack had the highest Crime Severity Index of Canada’s 41 metro areas in 2025, at 134.3, and the highest crime rate, 11,455 incidents per 100,000 people, according to Statistics Canada. The index fell 4% from 2024 and is 15% below its 2023 level of 158.1 (our calculation), but it remains about 1.8 times the national 75.0.

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 Chilliwack census metropolitan area (CMA) had a Crime Severity Index of 134.3 in 2025, the highest of all 41 Canadian CMAs, down 4% from 139.2 (Statistics Canada, released 22 July 2026).
  • Chilliwack’s crime rate was 11,455 incidents per 100,000 people in 2025, up 3% and about 2.1 times the national 5,585 (our calculation).
  • Chilliwack recorded 3,576 violent incidents in 2025, a rate of 2,723 per 100,000, about 1.9 times the national rate of 1,443 (our calculation).
  • Chilliwack’s CSI was 15% below its 2023 level of 158.1 (our calculation from Statistics Canada data).
  • British Columbia’s CSI was 92.4 in 2025; Chilliwack’s was about 45% higher (our calculation).

Is Chilliwack safe?

Chilliwack has the highest police-reported crime of any Canadian metro area: its 2025 Crime Severity Index of 134.3 and crime rate of 11,455 per 100,000 both ranked first of 41 CMAs, according to Statistics Canada. These are averages for the whole metro area and do not describe the risk on any particular street; 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. Small metro areas such as Chilliwack can swing more from year to year, and Statistics Canada cautions that the CSI is not a universal indicator of safety. See our Crime Severity Index explainer.

Measure (2025) Chilliwack CMA British Columbia Canada
Crime Severity Index 134.3 92.4 75.0
CSI change 2024–25 −4% −2% −5%
Crime rate per 100,000 11,455 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.

Chilliwack’s crime severity fell in 2025 even though its crime rate rose, which means police recorded more incidents but, on average, less serious ones.

What is the crime rate in Chilliwack?

The Chilliwack CMA recorded 15,042 Criminal Code incidents in 2025, a crime rate of 11,455 per 100,000 people, the highest of any Canadian metro area, according to Statistics Canada. Kamloops (10,949) and Red Deer (10,592) were the only other CMAs above 10,000.

Offence (Chilliwack CMA, 2025) Incidents Rate per 100,000 Canada rate per 100,000
All Criminal Code (excl. traffic) 15,042 11,455 5,585
Violent crime 3,576 2,723 1,443
Break and enter 545 415 262
Motor vehicle theft 297 226 201

Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0177-01 (2025).

Chilliwack’s violent crime rate (2,723) was the highest among the metro areas in our violent crime by city data, ahead of Thunder Bay (2,249) and Kamloops (2,224). Break-ins were about 1.6 times the national rate, while car theft was 13% above it (our calculation). Practical advice is in our home security tips.

Is crime in Chilliwack going down?

Crime severity in Chilliwack went down for the second year in a row in 2025, to 134.3 from 139.2 in 2024 and 158.1 in 2023, according to Statistics Canada. The 2025 figure was close to the 135.1 recorded in 2021, the first year of the comparable series.

Year Chilliwack CSI Change
2021 135.1 —
2022 126.1 −7%
2023 (peak) 158.1 +25%
2024 139.2 −12%
2025 134.3 −4%

Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0026-01. Year-to-year changes are our calculation.

How does Chilliwack compare with other B.C. cities?

Chilliwack’s 2025 Crime Severity Index of 134.3 was the highest of British Columbia’s seven metro areas, ahead of Kamloops (126.2), Nanaimo (106.0) and Kelowna (103.7), according to Statistics Canada. Neighbouring Abbotsford–Mission had 95.5 and Metro Vancouver 83.5.

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).

For more, see most dangerous cities in BC, safest cities in BC, is Kamloops safe? and is Vancouver safe?

Why is Chilliwack’s crime rate so high?

Statistics Canada does not explain differences between individual metro areas, so we do not speculate about causes. Two features of the data matter when reading Chilliwack’s numbers. First, rates are calculated per resident, so places with many visitors, highway traffic or regional shopping can record incidents involving non-residents. Second, in a metro area of Chilliwack’s size, a few hundred extra incidents move the rate noticeably. The national context is in highest crime rate in Canada.

How can I check crime near an address in Chilliwack?

  1. Check police updates. The Chilliwack RCMP detachment posts news releases on the RCMP website.
  2. Compare with the metro figures. Use the Statistics Canada numbers above as a baseline for the whole area.
  3. Visit at different times. Look at the street in the evening and on weekends before renting or buying.
  4. Read our guide. How to check crime in your neighbourhood explains the tools and their limits.

Why is Chilliwack so dangerous?

Chilliwack ranks as Canada’s most dangerous metro area on paper because it combines high violent and property crime: the Chilliwack census metropolitan area had a Crime Severity Index of 134.3 and a violent crime rate of 2,723 per 100,000 people in 2025, both the highest of Canada’s 41 metro areas, according to Statistics Canada (released 22 July 2026).

  • Violent crime: the rate of 2,723 per 100,000 was about 1.9 times the national 1,443 (our calculation).
  • Break-ins: 545 in 2025, a rate of 415 per 100,000, about 1.6 times the national 262.
  • Overall volume: 15,042 Criminal Code incidents, a crime rate of 11,455 per 100,000, about twice Canada’s 5,585.
  • Direction: the CSI fell about 4% in 2025 and is about 15% below its 2023 value of 158.09 (our calculation).

These are averages for a whole metro area and do not describe any one street or community. Chilliwack is a regional centre, so visitors and commuters add to incidents that are counted against a smaller resident population. Compare it with the rest of the province in our most dangerous cities in BC ranking.

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Chilliwack crime FAQ

What is the crime rate in Chilliwack?

The Chilliwack CMA’s crime rate was 11,455 police-reported incidents per 100,000 people in 2025, the highest of Canada’s 41 metro areas, according to Statistics Canada.

Is Chilliwack the most dangerous city in Canada?

By the official measures, Chilliwack had the highest Crime Severity Index (134.3) and crime rate of any Canadian metro area in 2025.

Is crime in Chilliwack going down?

Yes. Chilliwack’s CSI fell 4% in 2025 to 134.3, after falling 12% in 2024, according to Statistics Canada (our calculation).

Is Chilliwack safer than Abbotsford?

No. Abbotsford–Mission’s 2025 CSI was 95.5, compared with 134.3 for Chilliwack, according to Statistics Canada.

Related: most dangerous cities in BC · most dangerous cities in Canada · is Kamloops safe? · Surrey crime map · crime rate in Canada by city · Canada Crime Map · Abbotsford crime map. In an emergency call 911.

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