Police-reported crime in rural and urban areas, 2021

Release date: February 20, 2023
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Infographic: Police-reported crime in rural and urban areas, 2021
Description: Police-reported crime in rural and urban areas, 2021

Rural areas accounted for 15% of the population of the provinces, but...

  • 30% of traffic offences
  • 24% of violent crimes
  • 18% of property crimes

The Violent Crime Severity Index (CSI) measures the volume and severity of violent crimes:
Table summary
This table displays the results of The Violent Crime Severity Index (CSI) measures the volume and severity of violent crimes: 2011 and 2021, calculated using CSI units of measure (appearing as column headers).
2011 2021
CSI
Rural areas 84.8 124.1
Urban areas 84.9 85.2

In rural areas, the CSI was highest in the Prairies.
Table summary
This table displays the results of In rural areas N.L., P.E.I., N.S., N.B., Que., Ont., Man., Sask., Alta., B.C. and All provinces, calculated using CSI units of measure (appearing as column headers).
N.L. P.E.I. N.S. N.B. Que. Ont. Man. Sask. Alta. B.C. All provinces
CSI
Rural areas 84.3 55.7 75.2 94.7 58.8 60.4 152.8 187.0 144.5 90.6 91.9
Urban areas 68.7 57.6 69.8 85.0 53.4 55.8 116.2 127.8 92.4 93.1 69.3

Crime is higher in the northern part of the provinces:
Table summary
This table displays the results of Crime is higher in the northern part of the provinces: South and North, calculated using crimes per 100,000 population units of measure (appearing as column headers).
South North
crimes per 100,000 population
Rural areas 5,205 16,929
Urban areas 4,762 8,872

Intimate partner violence is almost twice as prevalent in rural areas as it is in urban areas.

There were 545 victims per 100,000 persons aged 12 and older in rural areas, compared with 296 victims in urban areas.

For more information, please consult the Juristat article “Police-reported crime in rural and urban areas in the Canadian provinces, 2021.”

Source: Statistics Canada, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey.

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Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2023

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