Last Updated On 3 July 2026, 9:51 AM EDT (Toronto Time)
New List of Most Dangerous Cities In Canada: Canada remains one of the safest countries in the world by any global measure, but that national reputation masks sharp local differences.
The newly updated mid-2026 Numbeo Crime Index dataset, with fresh user-contributed survey responses, reveals that a handful of cities still sit firmly in the high-crime perception band.
Surrey holds the top spot for the third consecutive Numbeo update, and the broader extortion crisis affecting British Columbia and Ontario has only deepened since the early 2026 ranking.
Meanwhile, the most recent Statistics Canada data shows that the national Crime Severity Index fell 4% in 2024, breaking three years of increases.
That national improvement, however, did not reach every community equally.
This article ranks the top 10 most dangerous cities in Canada using the mid-2026 Numbeo Crime Index, then layers in the latest official police-reported data for deeper context.
Whether you are a newcomer to Canada evaluating relocation options or a resident tracking neighbourhood-level safety, this guide is designed to help you make informed decisions.
Table of Contents
Understanding the Numbeo Crime Index
Numbeo’s Crime Index is built from user-contributed surveys that measure how people perceive safety and crime in their daily lives.
Responses are scaled into a 0 to 100 index that allows direct comparisons across cities and countries.
The surveys capture concerns about general crime, daytime and nighttime walking safety, mugging risk, vehicle theft, assault, vandalism, and bias-motivated incidents.
Numbeo captures perceived concerns about property crime, violent crime, drugs, vandalism, theft, discrimination, and walking safety and then converts those responses into an overall Crime Index.
The Safety Index is the mathematical inverse of the Crime Index, with higher values indicating greater perceived safety.
Crime Index category bands
- Very Low: 20 and below.
- Low: 20.01 to 40.
- Moderate: 40.01 to 60.
- High: 60.01 to 80.
- Very High: above 80.
The mid-2026 dataset incorporates survey responses collected over the past five years, with heavier weight given to recent contributions.
This approach ensures statistical reliability while capturing evolving community sentiment.
The full North America dataset is available on the Numbeo mid-2026 regional rankings page.
Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities in Canada for Mid-2026
All 10 cities below sit at or above a Crime Index of 55.6, placing them in the high or upper-moderate perception band.
Eight of them score above 60, the threshold for the high category.
Since the early 2026 list, the top three positions are unchanged, but Brantford has moved up to fifth and Winnipeg has dropped to sixth.
1) Surrey, British Columbia
Key stats
Crime Index: 64.4 | Safety Index: 35.6 | Index band: High | North America rank: 11
Surrey sits near major U.S. cities such as Chicago and Atlanta on the North American perception ranking.
The city’s safety conversation in 2026 has been dominated by an ongoing transnational extortion crisis that intensified in June 2025.
The BC government’s extortion prevention page documents provincial and federal responses including a dedicated task force, $1 million in victim support funding, and 20 additional federal RCMP officers.
Extortion cases involving shootings and arsons have targeted businesses and families, with demands ranging between $50,000 and $500,000.
The federal government listed the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code in September 2025 in direct response to this crisis.
The Vancouver CMA, which includes Surrey, recorded a police-reported CSI of 81.2 in 2024, an 8% year-over-year improvement.
That decline, however, has not yet shifted how residents perceive their daily safety.
The Surrey Police Service extortion resource page provides a dedicated tip line and a $250,000 reward fund for information leading to arrests.
Actionable safety tips
Keep vehicles locked and empty of valuables, use well-lit main corridors at night, and install motion-sensor lighting at home entry points.
Report any extortion contact immediately to police rather than complying with demands.
2) Lethbridge, Alberta
Key stats
Crime Index: 63.1 | Safety Index: 36.9 | Index band: High | North America rank: 13
Lethbridge holds steady at second in Canada, a position it has maintained since the early 2026 update.
A February 2025 Fraser Institute study identified Lethbridge as having the highest property crime rate among all Canadian census metropolitan areas of 100,000 or more people.
The rate of 5,521 property crimes per 100,000 residents was more than double the national CMA average of 2,247.
The Lethbridge CMA recorded a police-reported CSI of 105.5 in 2024, but that figure represents a 19% year-over-year improvement.
Organized retail theft has been a recurring concern, with Lethbridge Police charging multiple individuals in late 2025 for coordinated shoplifting operations across the city.
In a separate investigation, police recovered $85,000 in stolen property and firearms from a single storage facility linked to break-and-enter rings.
The Downtown Policing Unit continues targeted patrols in high-complaint areas, with a focus on theft deterrence and visible enforcement.
Actionable safety tips
Avoid leaving valuables visible in vehicles, park in well-lit areas, use secure delivery options for parcels, and lock storage sheds and garages.
3) Sudbury, Ontario
Key stats
Crime Index: 62.5 | Safety Index: 37.5 | Index band: High | North America rank: 15
Sudbury remains third in Canada, consistent with its position throughout 2025 and into 2026.
The Greater Sudbury CMA recorded a police-reported CSI of 66.4 in 2024, which represents a substantial 12% year-over-year decline.
That official improvement has not yet translated into lower public perception scores, reflecting a gap common in northern Ontario cities.
Residents report that downtown conditions, nightlife corridors, and visible social disorder shape the city’s elevated ranking.
Greater Sudbury Police have expanded community outreach and multi-agency approaches to address repeat hotspot areas.
The city’s economic profile as a mining hub means employment volatility can influence crime patterns during commodity downturns.
Actionable safety tips
Stick to well-travelled routes after dark, use secure storage for bicycles and outdoor equipment, and report suspicious activity promptly.
4) Kelowna, British Columbia
Key stats
Crime Index: 61.6 | Safety Index: 38.4 | Index band: High | North America rank: 16
Kelowna remains fourth in Canada, though its Crime Index has improved slightly from 62.1 in the early 2026 dataset to 61.6 at mid-year.
Kelowna RCMP’s 2025 year-in-review report found that mischief offences rose 15% and robbery increased 17.2% during the year.
These increases were driven primarily by social disorder linked to homelessness, mental health challenges, and addiction.
Despite that, property crimes have declined 18% over the past four years in Kelowna, with 9,201 property offences in 2025 compared to more than 11,000 in 2021.
The Kelowna CMA recorded a police-reported CSI of 108.8 in 2024, one of the highest in Canada, with a crime rate of 8,922 per 100,000 population.
A 2025 Ipsos survey for the City of Kelowna found that 68% of residents perceived a rise in property crime, even though official figures showed an 8% decline.
The city has increased RCMP staffing from 203 to 251 officers since 2019 and more than doubled its police budget to $58 million.
Actionable safety tips
Keep bags secured and items attended in tourism zones, plan late-night transportation in advance, and avoid leaving valuables visible in parked vehicles.
5) Brantford, Ontario
Key stats
Crime Index: 61.0 | Safety Index: 39.0 | Index band: High | North America rank: 17
Brantford has moved up from sixth to fifth in the mid-2026 update, overtaking Winnipeg with a Crime Index of 61.0 compared to 60.5 in early 2026.
The Brantford CMA recorded a police-reported CSI of 70.7 in 2024, only a 1% decline from the prior year.
That near-flat trajectory stands in contrast to many Ontario cities that saw more meaningful reductions in reported crime.
Downtown property crime concerns and repeated hotspot reports continue to shape the city’s overall perception.
Brantford’s crime rate of 5,404 per 100,000 population in 2024 exceeded the national CMA average significantly.
Increased downtown patrol visibility and theft prevention campaigns are part of the local policing response.
Actionable safety tips
Lock bikes and store tools securely, use motion lighting at entry points, and avoid leaving valuables in vehicles even for short stops.
6) Winnipeg, Manitoba
Key stats
Crime Index: 60.2 | Safety Index: 39.8 | Index band: High | North America rank: 19 (tied with Oshawa)
Winnipeg has dropped from fifth to sixth in the mid-2026 ranking, with its Crime Index improving from 60.8 to 60.2.
The Winnipeg Police Service’s 2025 Annual Statistical Report, released in May 2026, shows meaningful progress in several areas.
Total crime severity decreased 8.8% in 2025, with violent crime severity falling 11.2%, one of the largest reductions on record.
Homicides dropped 48.8%, robberies fell 6.6%, and firearm offences declined 24.6% in 2025.
Youth crime decreased for the first time in four years, down 11.7% overall with a 16% drop in violent youth offences.
Despite this improvement, the Winnipeg CMA’s 2024 police-reported CSI of 124.4 remains the highest among major census metropolitan areas in Canada.
The city’s historical role as what analysts have called the gang capital of Canada means that organized crime, drug trafficking, and turf-related violence remain embedded challenges.
Indigenous-led community patrols such as the Bear Clan Patrol continue to contribute to neighbourhood-level safety.
Actionable safety tips
Prioritize main corridors and well-lit routes at night, stay alert near transit stops and large parking structures, and use layered home security including lighting and secure entry points.
7) Oshawa, Ontario
Key stats
Crime Index: 60.2 | Safety Index: 39.8 | Index band: High | North America rank: 20 (tied with Winnipeg)
Oshawa ties with Winnipeg at a Crime Index of 60.2, sitting just inside the high-crime perception band.
Statistics Canada excludes the Oshawa CMA from its CSI table because of boundary incongruities between police jurisdictions and CMA boundaries.
That gap in official data may itself contribute to the perception challenge, since residents cannot easily compare Oshawa to peer cities.
Property crimes, especially theft from retail areas and vehicle theft, remain the primary resident concerns.
Proximity to the Greater Toronto Area amplifies urban crime spillover perceptions.
Durham Regional Police have maintained community policing initiatives and periodic enforcement campaigns targeting retail theft and repeat offenders.
Actionable safety tips
Stay vigilant in shopping plazas and parking areas, keep valuables out of sight while commuting, and use secure parcel delivery options.
8) Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Key stats
Crime Index: 59.9 | Safety Index: 40.1 | Index band: Moderate (upper) | North America rank: 21
Sault Ste. Marie has dipped below the 60.0 high-crime threshold from 60.3 in early 2026 to 59.9 at mid-year.
That small movement places the city technically in the moderate category, though the difference is negligible in practice.
In smaller cities, a few recurring issues such as property theft, drug-related offences, or visible disorder can dominate local sentiment.
Border proximity to Michigan introduces cross-border trafficking concerns that strain local enforcement resources.
Sault Ste. Marie Police have increased prevention-oriented community patrols and targeted enforcement along known problem corridors.
Actionable safety tips
Lock vehicles consistently including in home driveways, keep garages and sheds secured, and choose well-lit walking routes after dark.
9) Hamilton, Ontario
Key stats
Crime Index: 55.6 | Safety Index: 44.4 | Index band: Moderate | North America rank: 28 (tied with Brampton)
Hamilton’s Crime Index has improved from 56.2 in early 2026 to 55.6 at mid-year, consistent with an overall moderating trend.
The Hamilton CMA recorded a police-reported CSI of 58.3 in 2024, a 3% year-over-year decline, well below the national average of 77.9.
Official crime severity, in other words, is actually lower in Hamilton than the national benchmark.
The perception gap likely reflects downtown density, visible social disorder in certain corridors, and high-profile incidents that shape public sentiment.
Larger cities like Hamilton often have wide neighbourhood variation, meaning a few hotspot areas can pull the entire city’s perception score upward.
The new bail and sentencing reforms taking effect in July 2026 may influence how repeat offenders are managed in cities like Hamilton going forward.
Actionable safety tips
Use populated routes at night, exercise caution near ATMs and large parking areas, and keep valuables out of sight in vehicles.
10) Brampton, Ontario
Key stats
Crime Index: 55.6 | Safety Index: 44.4 | Index band: Moderate | North America rank: 29
Brampton ties with Hamilton at a Crime Index of 55.6, rounding out the top 10 for mid-2026.
Vehicle theft remains the defining crime concern in Brampton, with 4,722 vehicles stolen across Brampton and Mississauga in 2025.
In just the first 10 days of 2026, Peel Regional Police recorded 70 vehicle thefts across both cities.
The federal extortion summit held in Brampton in January 2026 addressed the intersection of organized crime, auto theft, drug trafficking, and extortion in Peel Region.
Extortion cases in Peel Region jumped from 50 impacted businesses in 2023 to 153 in 2024 and 192 in 2025.
Canada’s new measures against extortion include a $4 million Regional Integrated Drug Enforcement Team and FINTRAC financial intelligence sharing.
Ontario auto theft insurance claims reached $485 million in 2025, down from $723 million in 2024 but still 330% above 2017 levels.
Actionable safety tips
Park in locked garages where possible, use steering wheel locks and OBD2 port locks as visible deterrents, and store key fobs in Faraday pouches away from exterior walls.
Full List of Top 20 Most Dangerous Cities in Canada Mid-2026
The table below ranks the 20 Canadian cities with the highest Crime Index values in the mid-2026 Numbeo dataset.
| Rank | City | Crime Index | Safety Index | NA Rank |
| 1 | Surrey, British Columbia | 64.4 | 35.6 | 11 |
| 2 | Lethbridge, Alberta | 63.1 | 36.9 | 13 |
| 3 | Sudbury, Ontario | 62.5 | 37.5 | 15 |
| 4 | Kelowna, British Columbia | 61.6 | 38.4 | 16 |
| 5 | Brantford, Ontario | 61.0 | 39.0 | 17 |
| 6 | Winnipeg, Manitoba | 60.2 | 39.8 | 19 |
| 7 | Oshawa, Ontario | 60.2 | 39.8 | 20 |
| 8 | Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario | 59.9 | 40.1 | 21 |
| 9 | Hamilton, Ontario | 55.6 | 44.4 | 28 |
| 10 | Brampton, Ontario | 55.6 | 44.4 | 29 |
| 11 | Kamloops, British Columbia | 54.5 | 45.5 | 32 |
| 12 | London, Ontario | 53.7 | 46.3 | 35 |
| 13 | Regina, Saskatchewan | 53.5 | 46.5 | 36 |
| 14 | Nanaimo, British Columbia | 52.9 | 47.1 | 39 |
| 15 | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | 49.9 | 50.1 | 42 |
| 16 | Moncton, New Brunswick | 49.3 | 50.7 | 46 |
| 17 | St. Catharines, Ontario | 46.8 | 53.2 | 53 |
| 18 | Edmonton, Alberta | 46.8 | 53.2 | 54 |
| 19 | Windsor, Ontario | 46.4 | 53.6 | 55 |
| 20 | Mississauga, Ontario | 43.9 | 56.1 | 59 |
Notable Changes From the Early 2026 Ranking
Comparing the mid-2026 data to the early 2026 dataset reveals several shifts worth noting.
Brantford’s Crime Index rose from 60.5 to 61.0, moving it from sixth to fifth and overtaking Winnipeg.
Winnipeg’s Crime Index improved from 60.8 to 60.2, a movement consistent with the significant crime reductions documented in the Winnipeg Police Service’s 2025 annual report.
Kelowna’s index dipped from 62.1 to 61.6, a modest improvement that aligns with the 18% reduction in property crimes the city has achieved over four years.
Sault Ste. Marie’s score dropped from 60.3 to 59.9, crossing below the 60.0 high-crime threshold for the first time in recent updates.
Hamilton improved from 56.2 to 55.6, and Brampton held essentially flat at 55.6 compared to 55.5 in early 2026.
Surrey, Lethbridge, and Sudbury held steady in the top three with no meaningful movement in their Crime Index values.
For context on how Canadian immigration changes intersect with relocation decisions, population growth in cities like Surrey and Brampton is closely tied to immigration-driven demand.
Top 5 Safest Cities in Canada for Mid-2026
For balance, here are the safest cities in Canada from the mid-2026 Numbeo dataset.
| Rank | City | Crime Index | Safety Index | Band |
| 1 | Quebec City, Quebec | 22.3 | 77.7 | Low |
| 2 | Burlington, Ontario | 28.6 | 71.4 | Low |
| 3 | Ottawa, Ontario | 30.9 | 69.1 | Low |
| 4 | Montreal, Quebec | 33.0 | 67.0 | Low |
| 5 | Guelph, Ontario | 33.8 | 66.2 | Low |
Quebec City continues to hold the top safety position with a Crime Index of 22.3, the lowest in Canada and among the lowest in all of North America.
These cities demonstrate that effective policing, strong community engagement, and stable socioeconomic conditions are the common denominators in safer Canadian communities.
Why Public Perception and Official Crime Data Often Diverge
Numbeo and the Statistics Canada CSI measure fundamentally different things, and divergence between them is normal.
Numbeo captures how safe residents and visitors feel based on day-to-day experiences such as walking at night, seeing property damage, or hearing about local incidents.
The CSI captures the volume and weighted severity of offences that police actually record, which depends on reporting rates, enforcement priorities, and classification practices.
Visible low-level crimes like shoplifting, vandalism, and public disorder tend to weigh heavily on perception even when they carry low severity weight in the CSI.
Conversely, a single high-severity incident like a gang-related homicide can spike a city’s CSI without changing how most residents feel about walking downtown.
Media coverage and social media amplification can also elevate crime perception faster than policing changes can reduce it.
The 2025 Kelowna Ipsos survey illustrates this perfectly: official crime dropped 8% in 2024, yet 68% of residents believed property crime had increased.
For newcomers using these rankings to evaluate potential cities, the best approach is to pair Numbeo data with CSI figures and neighbourhood-level research.
Canada’s overall crime trajectory is improving, with the 2024 national CSI sitting 34% below its 1998 peak.
The cities on this list face localized challenges, not systemic nationwide failure.
In Surrey and Brampton, the extortion crisis has introduced a new dimension of organized crime that is driving coordinated federal, provincial, and municipal responses.
The new bail and sentencing laws coming into effect in July 2026, with over 80 targeted changes, including reverse onus provisions for violent auto theft and extortion, are directly aimed at these patterns.
In Winnipeg, the 2025 data shows the most significant crime reductions in years, suggesting that sustained enforcement and community investment can shift trajectories.
Readers planning a move to Canada should research specific neighbourhoods, consult immigration processing timelines, and use police-published crime maps alongside perception data.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What changed in the mid-2026 ranking compared to early 2026?
Brantford rose from sixth to fifth after its Crime Index increased from 60.5 to 61.0, while Winnipeg’s index improved from 60.8 to 60.2, reflecting documented crime reductions in the city’s 2025 annual police report. Sault Ste. Marie crossed below the 60.0 high-crime threshold, and Kelowna improved slightly from 62.1 to 61.6.
Why does Winnipeg rank lower on Numbeo than on the official Crime Severity Index?
The CSI weights serious crimes like homicides and aggravated assaults more heavily, and Winnipeg’s rates for those categories remain the highest among major CMAs. Numbeo surveys capture day-to-day perception, where property crime and public disorder weigh more heavily than infrequent violent incidents.
What is Canada doing about the extortion crisis affecting Surrey and Brampton?
Federal and provincial governments have deployed dedicated task forces, invested $4 million in Regional Integrated Drug Enforcement Teams, added RCMP officers and helicopter resources, listed the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity, and introduced the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act with over 80 targeted changes to bail and sentencing for extortion-related offences.
Fact-check: All Crime Index and Safety Index figures are sourced from the mid-2026 Numbeo regional rankings for North America. Winnipeg Police 2025 statistics are from the Winnipeg Police Service 2025 Annual Statistical Report released May 27, 2026. Kelowna RCMP statistics are from the 2025 Year in Review report. Peel Region auto theft figures are from Peel Regional Police data as reported by local media. Extortion crisis details are from federal and provincial government releases.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, safety, or relocation advice. Readers should consult local police resources and conduct independent neighbourhood-level research before making decisions based on crime data.
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