In 2023, the rate of police-reported violent crime continued to be lower in Canada than the United States (252 incidents per 100,000 population versus 334 incidents), though the gap between the two countries has narrowed over the last 25 years. Meanwhile, the overall rate of property crime was higher in Canada (1,995 incidents per 100,000 population versus 1,906 in the United States).
Today, Statistics Canada is releasing two new studies on the prevalence, nature and regional patterns of police-reported crime in Canada and the United States: "Trends in police-reported crime in Canada and the United States: A comparative analysis" and "Regional variations in police-reported crime: Comparing Canada and the United States."
The results are based on data from police services, namely the Uniform Crime Reporting programs in the two countries, and supplementary homicide statistics.
Police-reported violent crime and homicide remain higher in the United States than in Canada, but the gap is narrowing
Trends in police-reported violent crime in Canada and the United States have diverged over the last few decades, with rates increasing in Canada and decreasing in the United States. Largely driven by differing trends in major assault (i.e., attempted murder and level 2 and level 3 assault), the gap in violent crime between the two countries has narrowed. In 2023, the violent crime rate was 33% higher in the United States than in Canada (334 incidents per 100,000 population versus 252), compared with 2009, when the rate was 77% higher in the United States (406 per 100,000 in the United States versus 230 in Canada).
Homicide remains more common in the United States. In 2023, there were 5.7 homicides per 100,000 population in the United States, exactly three times the rate recorded in Canada (1.9 per 100,000 population). While homicide rates in both countries have increased in recent years, both are still below the peaks seen in the 1970s and 1980s. Most of the current and historical differences between the two countries are attributable to the higher rate of firearm-related homicides in the United States.
There were other similarities in patterns of police-reported violent crime in Canada and the United States in 2023. For example, the profiles of homicide victims and accused persons were alike between the two countries, with young men being overrepresented among both victims and accused. In addition, victims of homicide were most often known to the accused in both Canada (81%) and the United States (81%).
The similarity also extends to non-lethal forms of violence. In both countries, robberies were unlike other forms of violent crime, in that the target was typically a stranger. In 2023, a stranger was the perpetrator among 79% of all robbery victims in Canada and among 67% of such victims in the United States.
Property crime falling in both countries
In 2023, the property crime rate in Canada was 1,995 incidents per 100,000 population, slightly higher (+5%) than the rate recorded in the United States (1,906). This higher rate in Canada was a departure from the previous trends observed from the mid-2000s to the late 2010s, when Canada's rate was lower.
For both countries, the three comparable property offences (break and enter, motor vehicle theft, and theft) have all been generally falling over the last 25 years. The nature of these property crimes was also similar between the two countries. As an example, homes represented the target in around half of all break and enters in Canada (46%) and the United States (53%), with the remaining break and enters targeting stores, offices and other non-residential buildings.
Note to readers
Results are based on administrative data from police services, namely the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) programs in Canada and the United States, and supplementary homicide statistics.
Direct comparison of overall crime rates (including all types of criminal offences) between Canada and the United States is not possible, given the differing number of criminal offences collected (Canada collects over 100 different offence types and the United States collects about 50 offence types) and differences in the definitions, scoring rules and methodology. However, six offences are measured in similar ways: homicide, major assault, robbery, break and enter, motor vehicle theft, and theft.
Violent crime: For this comparative analysis, violent crime includes homicide, major assault and robbery. For comparison purposes, the Canadian category of major assault includes attempted murder, assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm (level 2), and aggravated assault (level 3).
Property crime: For this comparative analysis, property crime includes break and enter, motor vehicle theft, and theft.
In comparing criminal offences between two countries with unique statistical programs, it is important to highlight definitional and scoring differences. In Canada, offences recorded by the UCR Survey align with definitions in the Criminal Code. In the United States, the UCR Program is based on a set of standardized offences that was created to provide national uniformity in crime reporting, as unlike Canada, there are various state and local penal codes.
The national UCR programs have scoring rules. Both programs count only the most serious offence committed in each incident. The most serious offence classification in Canada is based on the designated maximum penalties set out in the Criminal Code, while the United States uses a hierarchical scale itemizing the different seriousness of specific offences. In most cases, the ranking is similar between the two countries.
Contact information
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).