A new Statistics Canada report shows that police-reported violent crime is increasing in Canada even as it continues to decline in the United States, narrowing a long-standing gap between the two countries.
The analysis, covering crime trends from 1998 to 2023, found that while violent crime rates remain higher overall in the U.S., they have dropped by 37 per cent over the 25-year period. In contrast, Canada’s violent crime rate rose by 13 per cent between 1998 and 2008 and climbed another nine per cent from 2009 to 2023.
The key driver of Canada’s increase is a steady rise in police-reported major assaults, while the U.S. has experienced a decline in that category.
Despite this trend, homicide rates remain significantly higher south of the border, largely because firearm-related homicides are far more prevalent in the U.S.
Both countries have seen similar downward trends in property-related crimes such as robbery, break and enter, motor vehicle theft, and theft — continuing a long-term decline in those categories.
The findings highlight a shift in North American crime dynamics, with Canada facing a gradual but persistent rise in violent incidents as the U.S. records substantial decreases.