Youth crime in Canada fell again in 2025: the youth crime rate dropped 3.8% to 2,694 per 100,000, according to Statistics Canada (released 22 July 2026). That is about 63% below the 2003 level of 7,280 and about 16% below 2019, although it remains above the 2021 low of 2,163. Quebec was the only province where the youth crime rate rose in 2025.
Data: Statistics Canada, The Daily, “Police-reported crime statistics in Canada, 2025” (22 July 2026), youth crime rate from Table 35-10-0177-01; Department of Justice Canada, JustFacts “Police-reported youth crime statistics in Canada, 2024” and “Overview of selected youth criminal justice statistics, 2024”, both based on Statistics Canada data. Percentages not stated in these sources are our own arithmetic. Updated 19 October 2026.
Key facts
- Canada’s youth crime rate was 2,694 per 100,000 in 2025, down 3.8% from 2024 (Statistics Canada, 22 July 2026).
- The 2025 youth crime rate is about 63% below 2003 (7,280) and about 33% below 2014 (4,016) (our calculation from Statistics Canada and Justice Canada figures).
- Saskatchewan had the highest provincial youth crime rate in 2025 (5,074 per 100,000) and Prince Edward Island the lowest (1,859).
- Quebec was the only province with an increase in 2025 (+4.1%, to 3,364 per 100,000).
- The youth Crime Severity Index was 52.46 in 2024, down 3% from 2023, while the youth violent CSI was 83.28 (Justice Canada, based on Statistics Canada data).
- 51% of youth in contact with police in 2024 were not charged: 26% were diverted through extrajudicial measures and 25% were cleared in other ways (Justice Canada).
What is youth crime in Canada?
Youth crime in Canada is crime committed by young people aged 12 to 17, who are dealt with under the Youth Criminal Justice Act rather than the adult system. Statistics Canada counts it through the number of youth accused by police, whether they are charged or not.
The youth crime rate is the number of youth accused of a Criminal Code offence (excluding traffic) per 100,000 youth. It counts people, not incidents, so it should not be compared directly with the overall crime rate in Canada (5,585 incidents per 100,000 people in 2025), which counts incidents of every age group. The youth Crime Severity Index weights each youth accused by the seriousness of the offence, in the same way as the main index described in our Crime Severity Index explainer.
Is youth crime going up in Canada?
Youth crime in Canada is not going up: the youth crime rate fell 3.8% in 2025 to 2,694 per 100,000, the second consecutive decline after increases in 2022 (+19%) and 2023 (+13%). The long-term trend is strongly downward.
| Year | Youth crime rate per 100,000 | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 7,280 | recent peak |
| 2014 | 4,016 | |
| 2019 | 3,213 | before the pandemic |
| 2021 | 2,163 | lowest point |
| 2023 | 2,914 | after two yearly increases |
| 2024 | 2,791 | −4% |
| 2025 | 2,694 | −3.8% |
Sources: 2003–2024 from Justice Canada JustFacts (Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey); 2025 from Statistics Canada, The Daily, 22 July 2026. Earlier years may be slightly revised in later releases.
The 2025 youth crime rate is about 25% above the 2021 low but about 16% below 2019 (our calculation). The broader picture matches all-ages crime, which also declined in 2025; see is crime going up in Canada.
Which province has the highest youth crime rate?
Saskatchewan had the highest youth crime rate of any province in 2025, at 5,074 per 100,000, followed by Manitoba at 4,345, according to Statistics Canada. Prince Edward Island had the lowest rate (1,859), followed by Ontario (2,142) and British Columbia (2,164).
| Province or territory | Youth crime rate per 100,000 (2025) | Change vs 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Saskatchewan | 5,074 | −16.8% |
| Manitoba | 4,345 | −16.6% |
| Quebec | 3,364 | +4.1% |
| Nova Scotia | 2,789 | −4.0% |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 2,598 | −31.0% |
| Alberta | 2,427 | −1.5% |
| New Brunswick | 2,192 | −5.5% |
| British Columbia | 2,164 | −1.5% |
| Ontario | 2,142 | −3.9% |
| Prince Edward Island | 1,859 | −12.7% |
| Yukon | 5,849 | −15.6% |
| Northwest Territories | 5,887 | −21.7% |
| Nunavut | 10,465 | −6.2% |
| Canada | 2,694 | −3.8% |
Source: Statistics Canada, The Daily, 22 July 2026 (Table 35-10-0177-01).
Saskatchewan’s youth crime rate is about 2.7 times Prince Edward Island’s, and Quebec’s is about 57% higher than Ontario’s (our calculation). Both Prairie provinces recorded the largest provincial drops after Newfoundland and Labrador, which fell 31%. The same provinces also lead the all-ages ranking; see crime rate by province and crime in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The territories have much higher rates on small populations, as explained in crime in Yukon, NWT and Nunavut.
Why did youth crime rise in Quebec?
Quebec’s youth crime rate rose 4.1% in 2025 to 3,364 per 100,000, the only provincial increase, after a 4% increase in 2024, according to Statistics Canada and Justice Canada. The published figures do not explain the cause, and we do not speculate. Quebec’s all-ages Crime Severity Index fell 5% in 2025, to 61.6, so the youth increase runs against the province’s overall trend. For the province’s cities, see safest cities in Quebec.
What is the youth Crime Severity Index?
The youth Crime Severity Index was 52.46 in 2024, down 3% from 54.21 in 2023 and about half its 2003 value of 106.03, according to Justice Canada’s summary of Statistics Canada data. It is the latest youth CSI value published in the sources we checked; the 2025 value is in Statistics Canada Table 35-10-0026-01.
| Youth Crime Severity Index | 2021 | 2023 | 2024 | Change 2014–2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall youth CSI | 41.18 | 54.21 | 52.46 | −13% |
| Youth violent CSI | 64.32 | 86.82 | 83.28 | +28% |
| Youth non-violent CSI | 25.02 | 31.44 | 30.94 | −46% |
The table shows the main shift in youth crime over the past decade: non-violent youth crime has roughly halved, while the severity of violent youth crime is higher than in 2014. In 2024 the violent youth CSI fell 4%, with decreases in attempted murder (−40%) and sexual assault, and increases in extortion (+10%) and criminal harassment (+8%).
How many young people are charged with a crime?
In 2024, 34,895 youth were charged by police in Canada and 40,530 were not charged, according to Justice Canada’s summary of Statistics Canada data. That is about 75,400 youth accused in total, and 46% of them were charged (our calculation).
- Diversion is common. 26% of youth in contact with police were diverted through extrajudicial measures, such as warnings, cautions or referrals to community programs, and 25% were cleared in other ways.
- Charges rose slightly. The number of youth charged rose 4% in 2024, while the number not charged fell 6%.
- Fewer custodial sentences. Custody was the most serious sentence in 9% of guilty youth court cases in 2023/2024, down from 15% in 2013/2014.
For how often police solve crimes of all kinds, see our guide to how many crimes are solved in Canada and the weighted clearance rate.
How reliable are youth crime statistics?
- They count police-reported youth only. Youth who commit an offence but are never identified by police are not included.
- Small numbers move fast. In small provinces and the territories, a few cases can change the rate by double digits in one year.
- Different measures are not interchangeable. The youth crime rate counts youth accused; the overall crime rate counts incidents. Read the official Statistics Canada release and the Justice Canada youth crime fact sheet for full definitions.
For crime in your own area, the Canada Crime Map brings together official figures for every metropolitan area.
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Youth crime in Canada FAQ
What is the youth crime rate in Canada?
Canada’s youth crime rate was 2,694 per 100,000 in 2025, down 3.8% from 2024, according to Statistics Canada.
Is youth crime increasing in Canada?
No. The youth crime rate fell in both 2024 and 2025 after rising in 2022 and 2023, and the 2025 rate is about 63% below 2003.
Which province has the most youth crime?
Saskatchewan had the highest provincial youth crime rate in 2025, at 5,074 per 100,000, followed by Manitoba at 4,345.
What age is a young offender in Canada?
The Youth Criminal Justice Act applies to young people aged 12 to 17. Children under 12 cannot be charged with a criminal offence.
Are most young people accused of crime charged?
No. In 2024, 51% of youth in contact with police were not charged, and 26% were diverted through extrajudicial measures, according to Justice Canada.
Related: crime rate in Canada · is crime going up in Canada · crime rate by province · campus safety in Canada · homicide rate by city · family violence in Canada. In an emergency call 911.