Yes, Saguenay is one of the safest metro areas in Canada: the Saguenay census metropolitan area had the lowest crime rate of Canada’s 41 metro areas in 2025, 2,973 police-reported incidents per 100,000 people, according to Statistics Canada. Its Crime Severity Index fell 13% to 49.3, the second-lowest in Canada after Barrie and about 34% below 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, ratios and percentage gaps are our own calculation. Police services checked on the Service de police de Saguenay website on 13 October 2026. Updated 13 October 2026.
Key facts
- The Saguenay CMA had a Crime Severity Index of 49.3 in 2025, down 13% from 56.4 in 2024 (Statistics Canada, released 22 July 2026).
- Saguenay had the lowest crime rate of Canada’s 41 metro areas in 2025: 2,973 incidents per 100,000 people, about 47% below the national 5,585 (our calculation from Statistics Canada data).
- The 13% drop in Saguenay’s Crime Severity Index was the largest decline of the 41 metro areas in 2025, ahead of Regina and Windsor (−12% each) (our calculation).
- The Saguenay CMA recorded no homicides in 2025, according to Statistics Canada.
- Saguenay’s violent crime rate was 1,327 per 100,000 in 2025, about 8% below the national 1,443 (our calculation).
Is Saguenay safe?
Saguenay is safer than both the Canadian and Quebec averages: its 2025 Crime Severity Index of 49.3 was about 34% below the national 75.0 and about 20% below Quebec’s 61.6, according to Statistics Canada (ratios are our calculation). Saguenay’s crime rate of 2,973 per 100,000 was about 47% below Canada’s 5,585 and about 19% below Quebec’s 3,673.
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. The Saguenay census metropolitan area (CMA) covers the City of Saguenay, with its Chicoutimi, Jonquière and La Baie boroughs, plus neighbouring municipalities, about 177,000 people in 2025 (our estimate from the incident count and rate). Our Crime Severity Index explainer covers the method.
| Measure (2025) | Saguenay CMA | Quebec | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crime Severity Index | 49.3 | 61.6 | 75.0 |
| CSI change 2024–25 | −13% | −5% | −5% |
| Crime rate per 100,000 | 2,973 | 3,673 | 5,585 |
| Crime rate change 2024–25 | −13% | −4% | −2% |
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0026-01 and The Daily, 22 July 2026.
Saguenay’s crime severity and crime rate both fell more than twice as fast as the provincial and national figures in 2025.
What is the crime rate in Saguenay?
The Saguenay CMA recorded 5,261 Criminal Code incidents in 2025, a crime rate of 2,973 per 100,000 people, according to Statistics Canada. That was down 13% from 2024 and the lowest rate of any Canadian metro area.
| Offence (Saguenay CMA, 2025) | Incidents | Rate per 100,000 | Canada rate per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Criminal Code (excl. traffic) | 5,261 | 2,973 | 5,585 |
| Violent crime | 2,348 | 1,327 | 1,443 |
| Non-violent incidents (our calculation) | 2,913 | about 1,646 | about 4,141 |
| Homicide victims | 0 | 0.00 | 1.61 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0177-01 (2025). Non-violent incidents are all Criminal Code incidents minus violent incidents (our calculation).
- Non-violent crime is very low. Saguenay’s non-violent incidents, such as theft, fraud and mischief, came to about 1,646 per 100,000 in 2025, roughly 60% below the national level of about 4,141 (our calculation). That gap is the main reason Saguenay has Canada’s lowest crime rate.
- Violent crime is close to average. Saguenay’s violent crime rate of 1,327 per 100,000 was about 8% below Canada’s 1,443 and almost identical to Trois-Rivières (1,326) and Québec City (1,312). See violent crime in Canada by city.
- Violent incidents are a large share of the total. About 45% of Saguenay’s Criminal Code incidents in 2025 were violent, compared with about 26% nationally and 33% to 39% in Sherbrooke, Québec City and Trois-Rivières (our calculation). A low overall rate does not mean violence is rare; it means other crime is unusually low.
- No homicides. The Saguenay CMA recorded zero homicide victims in 2025; Canada’s rate was 1.61 per 100,000. See homicide rate by city.
Is crime in Saguenay going up?
Crime severity in Saguenay went down in 2025: the Saguenay CMA’s Crime Severity Index fell from 56.4 in 2024, the highest level since at least 2015, to 49.3 in 2025, according to Statistics Canada. The 2025 level was about 8% below the 2015 level of 53.6, while Canada’s index rose about 7% over the same decade (our calculation).
| Year | Saguenay CSI | Canada CSI |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 53.6 | 70.4 |
| 2017 | 55.1 | 73.6 |
| 2019 | 47.9 | 79.7 |
| 2020 (low) | 44.3 | 73.9 |
| 2021 | 50.6 | 74.9 |
| 2022 | 51.9 | 78.7 |
| 2023 | 52.4 | 81.3 |
| 2024 (high) | 56.4 | 78.8 |
| 2025 | 49.3 | 75.0 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Table 35-10-0026-01.
Saguenay’s index stayed at least 16 points below the national CSI in every year from 2015 to 2025, and the gap was 25.7 points in 2025 (our calculation). Statistics Canada notes that smaller metro areas can swing more from year to year, so the 2025 drop should be read together with the longer trend.
How does Saguenay compare with other Quebec cities?
Saguenay had the lowest Crime Severity Index and the lowest crime rate of Quebec’s seven metro areas in 2025, according to Statistics Canada (ranking is our calculation).
| Quebec metro area (CMA) | CSI 2025 | CSI change 2024–25 | Crime rate per 100,000 (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drummondville | 72.3 | +4% | 4,084 |
| Montréal | 61.3 | −5% | 3,641 |
| Gatineau | 60.6 | −2% | 3,700 |
| Trois-Rivières | 56.0 | −10% | 3,417 |
| Québec | 55.0 | −1% | 3,493 |
| Sherbrooke | 50.3 | −7% | 3,134 |
| Saguenay | 49.3 | −13% | 2,973 |
Source: Statistics Canada (2025).
For the full provincial picture, see safest cities in Quebec and most dangerous cities in Quebec. Nearby city guides: is Quebec City safe?, Sherbrooke crime rate and Trois-Rivières crime rate.
How does Saguenay rank in Canada?
Saguenay had the lowest crime rate and the second-lowest Crime Severity Index of Canada’s 41 metro areas in 2025, according to Statistics Canada (our calculation). Only Barrie (46.9) had a lower index; Sherbrooke (50.3) and Ottawa (50.6) followed. See our safest cities in Canada ranking and the full crime rate in Canada by city table.
How do I report crime in Saguenay?
Saguenay has its own municipal police force, the Service de police de Saguenay, with headquarters at 2890 Place Davis in Jonquière, according to its website (checked 13 October 2026).
- Emergencies. Call 911 for any crime in progress or any threat to safety.
- Online police report. For certain crimes where an officer no longer needs to attend, residents can file a report online at no cost. An officer checks it, and the approved report and file number are sent by email for insurance claims.
- Phone. The contact page lists 418 699-6000; headquarters is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The community police offices in Chicoutimi and La Baie have no officer assigned.
- Compare areas. The Canada Crime Map gathers official figures by city, and our guide on how to check crime in your neighbourhood explains the limits of the data. See also how to report a crime in Canada.
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Saguenay crime FAQ
What is the crime rate in Saguenay?
The Saguenay CMA’s crime rate was 2,973 police-reported incidents per 100,000 people in 2025, down 13% from 2024 and the lowest of Canada’s 41 metro areas, according to Statistics Canada.
Is Saguenay the safest city in Quebec?
On the official measures, yes. In 2025 Saguenay had the lowest Crime Severity Index (49.3) and the lowest crime rate (2,973 per 100,000) of Quebec’s seven metro areas.
Is Saguenay safer than Québec City?
Yes. Saguenay’s 2025 Crime Severity Index was 49.3 against Québec City’s 55.0, and its crime rate was 2,973 per 100,000 against 3,493.
How many homicides were there in Saguenay in 2025?
None. The Saguenay CMA recorded zero homicide victims in 2025, according to Statistics Canada; the national rate was 1.61 per 100,000.
Is crime in Saguenay going down?
Yes, in 2025. Saguenay’s Crime Severity Index fell 13% to 49.3, the largest decline of Canada’s 41 metro areas, after reaching 56.4 in 2024.
Related: safest cities in Quebec · is Quebec City safe? · is Sherbrooke safe? · safest cities in Canada · crime rate in Canada by city · Canada Crime Map. In an emergency call 911.