What is the most unreported crime in Canada?

Asked by: Aylin Considine  |  Last update: February 20, 2026
Score: 4.3/5 (39 votes)

The most unreported crime in Canada is sexual assault, with only about 6% of incidents reported to the police, making it significantly underreported compared to other violent crimes, alongside high rates of unreported intimate partner violence (IPV) where 80% of cases go unreported.

What is the most underreported crime in Canada?

Sexual violence is the most underreported crime in Canada.

violence faite aux femmes.

What is the most commonly reported crime in Canada?

The vast majority of reported crimes in Canada are relatively minor. For example, in 2024 'violent' crimes accounted for about 20% of all crimes. But of the 590,000 violent crimes reported, more than half were assault level 1 (involving no injury) and uttering threats.

What crimes go unreported the most?

Contents

  • 1.1 Sexual violence.
  • 1.2 Anti-LGBT+ crime.
  • 1.3 Child abuse.
  • 1.4 Fraud.
  • 1.5 Murder.
  • 1.6 Car accidents.

What is the dark figure of crime in Canada?

Anything unreported — open drug dealing, vandalism, anti-social behaviour, low-value theft, online fraud — never enters the data set, creating what criminologists call the “dark figure of crime.” Statistics Canada's 2019 General Social Survey found that just 29 per cent of criminal incidents — and a meagre six per cent ...

Sexual assaults most unreported crime

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Is Canada safer than the U.S. right now?

While cities like Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto do experience gun-related crime, Canada's overall firearm homicide rate remains dramatically lower than that of the U.S. According to Statistics Canada and the CDC, Canada's firearm homicide rate is about 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to over 4 per 100,000 in the ...

What is the #1 safest city in Canada?

Which city in Canada has the lowest crime rate? If we consider the CSI a key indicator, Ste. Anne in Manitoba has the lowest crime rate in the country, though it has a population of under 5,000. Among larger cities with populations over 25,000, South Simcoe (Innisfil) is the safest, with a population of 29,464.

What is the most unrecorded crime?

Violent crimes are the least well recorded crime type. Forces need to improve their recording of conduct crimes such as harassment, stalking and controlling or coercive behaviour. These crimes disproportionately affect women and girls and account for 37.9 percent of unrecorded violent crime; and.

What is the most underreported crime in the US?

Sexual assault is one of the most under reported crimes. It is estimated that less than half of the crimes involving sexual violence go unreported. If the assailant is someone the survivor knows it is even less likely to be reported.

What is the greatest crime of all time?

9/11 Investigation. They were the most lethal terrorist attacks in history, taking the lives of 3,000 Americans and international citizens and ultimately leading to far-reaching changes in anti-terror approaches and operations in the U.S. and around the globe.

What city in Canada has the worst crime?

Surrey, British Columbia

Surrey leads the rankings with a Crime Index of 64.7 and a Safety Index of 35.3. Police logged 32,053 service calls per 100,000 residents in 2023 and noted a 14 percent rise in violent offences in 2025. Assault remains the biggest category with 777 files, and robbery climbed to 85.

Who is the most wanted criminal in Canada?

On Wednesday, Toronto Police Chief Superintendent Joe Matthews announced that Bryan Fuentes-Gramajo is at the top of the new BOLO (Be On the Look Out) list of Canada's 25 most wanted suspects.

Is Canada a low crime country?

Canada has been ranked the 5th safest country in the world — and 2nd safest globally when it comes to violent crime, just behind Japan. The new ranking highlights Canada's strong social stability, low homicide rate, and high quality of life.

Which Canadian province has the most murders?

This statistic shows the homicide rate in Canada in 2023, by province. In 2023, the highest homicide rate was in the Northwest Territories with 13.34 murders per 100,000 residents.

Where in Canada is it the safest?

Saguenay, Quebec

With a crime rate of 3,305 incidents per 100,000 and a crime severity score of 51.0, Saguenay tops our list. Local police report low violent-crime filings—assaults and robberies combined sit under 600 cases a year for a city of 145,000.

Where does the US rank in crime rates?

The U.S. crime rate varies significantly by state, with Alaska, New Mexico, and Tennessee often ranking high in violent crime, while Maine, New Hampshire, and Connecticut consistently have lower rates, according to 2024 data. Cities like St. Louis, Detroit, and Baltimore frequently appear among those with the highest violent crime rates, contrasting with generally safer states like those in New England. Rankings depend on whether violent or property crime is measured, and data sources (FBI, USAFacts, World Population Review) may show slight variations. 

What state is #1 in crime in the USA?

Alaska often ranks #1 for violent crime rates per capita, followed closely by New Mexico, while Louisiana frequently tops lists for overall danger or homicide rates, though figures vary slightly by source and specific metrics (violent vs. property crime) for 2024/2025 data. 

Which state is safest in the USA?

Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire consistently rank as the safest states in the U.S., according to recent studies by WalletHub and others, often due to low violent crime rates, strong financial stability, and good road safety, with Maine and Utah also frequently appearing in the top five. These rankings consider multiple factors, including personal safety (crime), financial security (unemployment, poverty), road safety (fatalities), workplace safety, and emergency preparedness. 

What crime is the most unreported?

The most underreported crimes are generally sexual assault and rape, with estimates suggesting a vast majority (around 65% or more) are never reported to police, often due to fear, shame, or belief that authorities can't or won't help. Household theft and other property crimes also have high underreporting rates, while violent crimes like simple assault are less often unreported, though significant percentages still go unreported. 

Which country has the highest crime in the world?

While pinpointing a single "most crime" country is complex due to varying metrics, Venezuela consistently ranks highest for overall crime perception, with high violent crime, corruption, and instability, according to indices like Numbeo and Global Guardian. Other nations facing extreme conflict, like Yemen, Sudan, South Sudan, and Syria, also appear as highly dangerous due to active warfare and political crises, while South Africa often leads in specific violent crimes like murder.
 

What's the hardest crime to prove?

A: Crimes against minors, white collar crimes, and first-degree murder are sometimes the hardest cases to defend. Due to the intricacy of the evidence, emotional prejudice, public opinion, and the seriousness of the possible penalties, these cases pose substantial obstacles.

What is the biggest crime in Britain?

List of major crimes in the United Kingdom

  • 1 Child/teenage killings.
  • 2 Individual murders.
  • 3 Spree killings.
  • 4 Serial killings.
  • 5 Sex crimes.
  • 6 Organised crime, corporate crime, employment related crime, corruption, criminal conspiracies and terrorism.
  • 7 See also.
  • 8 References.

Is Canada more safer than the USA?

No, the Canada crime rate is generally lower than in the U.S., especially for violent crimes such as homicide and gun-related offenses. What are the safest cities in Canada for expats?

What is the #1 safest city in the world?

While rankings vary by source, Abu Dhabi is frequently cited as the #1 safest city globally in early 2026 by databases like Numbeo (10th year in a row), while other reports highlight Copenhagen, Zurich, and Tokyo as top contenders, often based on different criteria like digital security, health, or personal safety for travelers. 

Where do most Americans live in Canada?

Most Americans in Canada tend to settle in major metropolitan areas like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, drawn by job opportunities, cultural diversity, and proximity to the U.S., with significant numbers also found in Alberta (Calgary, Edmonton) for the energy sector, and British Columbia (Vancouver) for its lifestyle and economy. While large cities are common, Alberta's resource-rich areas also attract many due to the oil and gas industry, say sources like.