Tuesday, October 5, 2004

Homicide rate at 30-year low

THE NATIONAL homicide rate fell to its lowest level in more than three decades last year as police services reported 34 fewer homicides.

In total, 548 people were killed in 2003, producing a rate of 1.73 victims for every 100,000 population, the lowest since 1967. The homicide rate has generally been declining since the mid-1970s.

The major factor in the decline was a large reduction in the number of women killed. Fifty fewer women were killed, while there were 16 more male victims. Men accounted for 72% of all victims last year.

Provincially, there were 33 fewer homicides in British Columbia, 18 fewer in Quebec and seven fewer in Alberta. Quebec and Nova Scotia reported their lowest homicide rates since the 1960s.

Increase in two provinces

Only two provinces reported increases: Saskatchewan, where there were 14 more homicides, and Manitoba, seven more.

Data include only cases of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, manslaughter or infanticide.

One in every seven homicides involved organized crime or street gangs, according to police. There were 84 victims of gang-related homicide, nearly half of which occurred in Ontario.

In addition, 33 children under the age of 12 were killed, the lowest level in more than 25 years. Of these victims, 14 were less than one year old.

Firearms

Some 161 homicides, less than one-third of the total, were committed with a firearm, similar to previous years.

The use of rifles or shotguns to commit homicide continued to decline. They accounted for 20% of all homicides involving firearms, down from about 40% a decade ago. Handguns were used in two-thirds of firearm homicides.

You can read the report “Juristat: Homicide in Canada” on our website.

For further information, contact Information and Client Services (1‑800‑387‑2231), Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics.

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© 2004, Statistics Canada.