St. John’s is close to the Canadian average for crime: its Crime Severity Index (CSI) was 79.2 in 2025, about 6% above the national 75.0 and below the Newfoundland and Labrador figure of 88.7. The metro area’s crime rate fell 8% to 6,163 incidents per 100,000 people, about 10% above Canada’s 5,585. Both measures improved in 2025, and the city sits in the middle of Atlantic Canada’s metro areas.
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 St. John’s census metropolitan area (CMA), which includes St. John’s, Mount Pearl, Conception Bay South, Paradise and nearby communities. Comparisons and percentages that are not in the release are our own arithmetic. Updated 5 October 2026.
Is St. John’s safe compared with other Canadian cities?
St. John’s ranked 16th of Canada’s 41 metro areas by CSI in 2025 (1st being the highest), so it sits just above the middle. Within Atlantic Canada it scores higher than Halifax (68.6) and Saint John (70.0), similar to Fredericton (80.5), and well below Moncton (105.6).
| Area (2025) | Crime Severity Index | CSI change vs 2024 | Crime rate per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. John’s CMA | 79.2 | -2% | 6,163 |
| Halifax CMA | 68.6 | -6% | 6,094 |
| Moncton CMA | 105.6 | +11% | 7,561 |
| Saint John CMA | 70.0 | +20% | 4,556 |
| Fredericton CMA | 80.5 | +7% | 5,734 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 88.7 | -4% | 7,222 |
| Canada | 75.0 | -5% | 5,585 |
St. John’s was one of only two Atlantic metros in this table whose CSI fell in 2025; the three New Brunswick metros all rose.
Is crime in St. John’s going up or down?
Slightly down for two years, after a jump in 2022. The CSI dipped to 63.05 in 2020, then rose sharply to 80.03 in 2022 and peaked at 82.49 in 2023. It eased to 81.18 in 2024 and 79.22 in 2025, about 4% below that peak (our arithmetic). Compared with 2015 (73.99) it is about 7% higher, close to the national change over the same period.
| Year | St. John’s CMA CSI | Canada CSI |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 73.99 | 70.39 |
| 2016 | 78.65 | 72.01 |
| 2017 | 66.53 | 73.60 |
| 2018 | 70.80 | 75.60 |
| 2019 | 70.57 | 79.72 |
| 2020 | 63.05 | 73.92 |
| 2021 | 66.52 | 74.87 |
| 2022 | 80.03 | 78.74 |
| 2023 | 82.49 | 81.27 |
| 2024 | 81.18 | 78.84 |
| 2025 | 79.22 | 75.01 |
The bigger improvement in 2025 was in volume: total police-reported incidents per 100,000 fell from 6,712 to 6,163 (about -8%), with 14,454 incidents recorded in the year.
What kinds of crime are most common in St. John’s?
Comparing the St. John’s CMA’s 2025 rates per 100,000 people with Canada’s:
- Violent crime: 1,691 per 100,000 (3,967 incidents), about 17% above the national 1,443.
- Homicide: 8 victims, a rate of 3.41 per 100,000, compared with 1.61 nationally.
- Break-ins: 256 per 100,000, close to Canada’s 262.
- Vehicle theft: 125 per 100,000, well below Canada’s 201.
- Shoplifting: 791 per 100,000 (1,856 incidents), about 58% above the national 502.
The homicide figure needs care. Eight victims is a small number, and in a metro of this size one or two cases change the rate a great deal. A single year’s homicide rate in a smaller city is not a reliable measure of everyday risk.
Why do smaller metros swing more?
St. John’s has a fraction of the population of Toronto or Montréal, so a cluster of incidents — a series of break-ins, a few serious cases, or a change in how a large retailer reports theft — can move its rates and index noticeably in one year. That is why we show ten years of data. Statistics Canada also warns that the CSI is not a universal indicator of safety and that small areas fluctuate more from year to year.
Which parts of St. John’s record more crime?
Statistics Canada does not publish neighbourhood figures, and we do not rank neighbourhoods. The general pattern in Canadian cities is that reported incidents cluster where people gather: downtown, the nightlife strip, large shopping areas and transit stops. More incidents there largely reflect more footfall, particularly on busy weekend nights.
Is St. John’s safe to live in or visit?
By national standards, St. John’s is an average-risk city, and most residents and visitors are never affected by crime. The figures suggest the usual city precautions: plan a safe way home after a night out downtown, keep bags and phones secure in crowded places, lock vehicles and keep valuables out of sight. Bear in mind that police data only covers reported crime; in Statistics Canada’s 2019 survey, about 29% of victimizations were reported to police.
How do I check crime near a specific address in St. John’s?
- Check the local police service. Policing in the St. John’s area is provided by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary. Check its website for any crime map, statistics or open data it publishes.
- Use our map. The Canada Crime Map brings official figures together by city.
- Compare two areas. Look at the address you are considering alongside another part of the metro area, using the same period and crime types.
- Read the limits. Maps show reported incidents placed at an approximate location. They describe events, not the people who live there.
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.
St. John’s crime FAQ
What is the crime rate in St. John’s?
In 2025 the St. John’s CMA recorded 6,163 police-reported Criminal Code incidents (excluding traffic) per 100,000 people, down 8% from 2024 and about 10% above the national rate of 5,585.
Is St. John’s safer than Halifax?
Halifax had a lower CSI in 2025 (68.6 vs 79.2), meaning less serious crime on average, but the two cities’ overall crime rates were very similar (6,094 vs 6,163).
Is crime in St. John’s going down?
Modestly. The CSI has fallen two years in a row, from 82.49 in 2023 to 79.22 in 2025, and the crime rate fell 8% in 2025.
Is St. John’s safer than the rest of Newfoundland and Labrador?
On the CSI, yes: the metro area scored 79.2 against 88.7 for the province, and its crime rate (6,163) was below the provincial rate of 7,222.
How many homicides were there in St. John’s in 2025?
Statistics Canada recorded 8 homicide victims in the CMA, a rate of 3.41 per 100,000. Because the count is small, this rate can vary considerably from year to year.
Related: Crime in Atlantic Canada · Is Halifax safe? · Is Moncton safe? · Crime rate by province · Walking home at night. Official source: Statistics Canada, The Daily. In an emergency call 911.