As the capital of Canada, Ottawa carries a calm and collected reputation for anyone who has spent time in the city.
The federal buildings, embassies, universities, suburban streets, and business corridors pull together into an environment that feels steady on most days.
Even so, anyone thinking about moving to, studying in, or visiting Ottawa likely wants a clear sense of how safe the city is right now.
The most complete figures tell the story of a city that remains stable overall, yet more active on several crime indicators than it was a decade ago.
Hereโs a look at what the data shows, how Ottawa fits into the national landscape, and what that means in practical terms for the year ahead.
Highlights
Where Ottawa Stands in Canadaโs Crime Rankings
The Crime Severity Index (CSI) helps compare cities through a single weighted score that accounts for the seriousness of offences. The federal benchmark sets 100 as the national level in 2006.
According to the latest statistics, Ottawaโs 2024 CSI was 53.8, with a police-reported crime rate of 4,298 incidents per 100,000 residents.
Canada as a whole sat at 77.9 and 5,672. That places Ottawa well below the national severity level. To see how Ottawa fits alongside other urban regions, here is the federal comparison for 2024.
Crime Severity Index Comparisons for 2024
City / CMA
2024 CSI
Change vs 2023
Crime rate per 100k
Canada overall
77.9
-4%
5,672
Ottawa (Ontario part)
53.8
-1%
4,298
Toronto
59.4
1%
4,177
Vancouver
81.2
-8%
5,438
Winnipeg
124.4
-4%
7,894
Thunder Bay
107.7
8%
6,867
Barrie
48.1
-2%
3,920
A CSI near the low 50s places Ottawa on the safer end among large Canadian metropolitan areas. However, serious incidents can still occur, and knowing where to find trusted criminal defence lawyers in Ottawa adds a layer of reassurance.
Some medium-sized Ontario regions post slightly lower CSI numbers, while several western cities show figures that rise far higher. Ottawa sits comfortably in the lower severity tier for a region of its size.
Local Police Data
City-wide police data helps clarify what the on-the-ground environment looked like before 2025. Ottawa Police Service annual reports show that overall crime volumes have grown over recent years, although the city remains moderate relative to national peers.
Key Numbers from the 2023 OPS Report
The 2023 annual report highlighted several shifts:
Taken together, those figures pointed to a busier year across many categories, particularly firearms activity and property crime.
Key Numbers from the 2024 OPS Report
The 2024 report, released mid-2025, offered a slightly different picture:
Two points stand out here: crime continued to rise in several categories, yet gun violence and auto theft improved in 2024 after previous spikes.
Violent Crime
Violent crime always draws the most attention. Ottawaโs numbers show some upward pressure over the last few years, yet still sit within a moderate range relative to other Canadian urban centres.
Homicides and Shootings
Here is a short summary of the core figures for 2023 and 2024:
2023
- 15 homicide incidents
- 16 victims
- 73 shootings
- 81 guns were seized
2024
- 21 homicide incidents
- 26 victims
- 53 shootings
- 104 guns were seized
The growth in homicide victims in 2024 raised concerns. Even so, the total stays low for a metro region with more than one million residents.
Canadaโs national homicide rate in 2023 was 1.94 deaths per 100,000 residents. Ottawa stays close to that level.
Shootings fell sharply in 2024. OPS credits this to targeted operations in higher activity areas, including the ByWard Market, along with organized crime investigations and more focused patrol deployments.
How Ottawa Fits Among Other Cities on Violent Severity
Violent crime rates tend to be lower in major metropolitan areas and higher in smaller regions. Several national reports follow that theme, showing that Ottawa continues to sit in a moderate zone on violent metrics.
Independent reviewers who compare Canadian and American city data reach a similar result. Even with increases over the last decade, Ottawa remains on the lower end of violent severity among large North American urban environments.
Property Crime and Everyday Risk
For most residents, property crime shapes daily life far more than serious violent crime. Ottawa has seen clear movement across theft, fraud, vandalism, and break-and-enter.
Property Crime Trends in 2023 and 2024
From the 2023 OPS update:
- Property offences rose 13%
- Theft, shoplifting, fraud, mischief, and vehicle-related theft all moved upward.
From the 2024 OPS update:
- Property offences rose 6%
- Motor vehicle theft dropped 21% after years of growth
That shift toward smaller increases is important, but the biggest daily risks remain common targets such as unlocked cars, visible valuables, unsecured bikes, and unattended parcels.
Many Canadian cities have seen renewed property crime growth since the mid-2010s, and Ottawa fits that pattern.
Ottawaโs Property Crime in a National Context
National level comparisons put Ottawa in a favourable position. Federal figures reviewed by outside researchers show that the Ottawa-Gatineau area sits among the lower property crime regions in Canada, especially on the Quebec side of the river.
Fraser Institute reports place the property crime level in the range of roughly 1,097 incidents per 100,000 residents for that broader region. That number offers a different geographic lens than municipal OPS data, yet it reinforces the same conclusion.
Property crime is present, and it has risen in some categories, yet Ottawa remains far from the top of Canadian risk rankings.
How Safe People Feel in Ottawa
Crime statistics tell one story. Perception data adds another layer. According to Numbeo statistics, Ottawa has a Crime Index of around 31 and a Safety Index of 69 in mid-2025.
That combination points to relatively low crime and strong daytime safety. Users of those platforms tend to score violent crime concerns lower than property crime worries. They also note higher problems around drug activity or petty theft in specific districts.
Those platforms do not carry scientific sampling, yet their feedback lines up with official trends. Most residents feel secure in daily life, while still pointing to theft, breaking and entering, and disruptive behaviour in a few central areas as ongoing problems.
Neighbourhood Patterns and Hotspots
City-wide averages sometimes feel disconnected from what happens in particular districts. Ottawaโs open data tools help narrow the picture to a neighbourhood level.
What the Public Data Shows
The OPS Community Safety Data Portal maps:
- Crime calls across the city
- Incidents of shootings and firearm discharges
- Collision data
- Year-by-year comparisons for wards and neighbourhoods
Those maps confirm patterns that many residents already know. Higher activity concentrates in and around:
- The ByWard Market
- Busy downtown corridors
- Transit hubs
- Major entertainment districts
- Arterial roads with more collisions or impaired driving
Suburban and rural wards usually show lower reported crime across most categories, aside from occasional clusters of property theft or disturbances.
Police Strategies in Higher Activity Areas
OPS describes several targeted initiatives, including:
Several of those efforts match the drop in shootings and vehicle thefts in 2024.
Ottawa Within the Wider Canadian Crime Trend
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Canadaโs national crime picture shapes every local story. The most recent federal report for 2023 shows:
Independent researchers comparing Canadian and American urban regions note that Canadian cities continue to operate at lower absolute levels of violent crime, even after recent increases.
Within that landscape, Ottawaโs CSI in the mid-50s appears favourable. Crime levels are higher than a decade ago, yet still moderate relative to other large metropolitan areas.
Practical Safety Takeaways for 2025
Most residents and visitors care about what daily life feels like, not just the statistics. The data points toward several clear lessons.
What the Numbers Imply
Practical Advice for Residents and Visitors
A few steps help anyone move comfortably through the city.
1. Treat Property Crime as The Most Common Risk
- Lock vehicles at all times
- Keep valuables out of view
- Use strong locks for bicycles
- Add simple home security measures such as good exterior lighting and solid deadbolts
2. Stay Alert in Central Entertainment Areas
- Expect more activity and more unpredictable behaviour at night
- Stick with companions
- Use well lit transit stops and clear rideshare pick up points
3. Use Ottawaโs Open Data Tools
- Check the OPS Community Safety Data Portal for updates on incidents
- Review neighbourhood trends if youโre planning a move or choosing a parking area
- Look at collision maps when setting regular commuting routes
4. Pay Attention to Youth and Social Factors
- National research shows that youth support, mental health resources, addiction programs, and community programming affect long term crime trends
- Community awareness offers a practical benefit because many incidents arise from social drivers rather than organized criminal networks
5. Businesses Should Use Layered Prevention
- Combine cameras, access control, staff training, and clear incident reporting
- For retail or hospitality, prioritize theft and disorder response plans since those appear most frequently in police data
Overall Assessment
Crime near Ottawa consumption site lower than govโt said https://t.co/VyAFaQ5Jz2
โ CTV Ottawa (@ctvottawa) August 19, 2025
Ottawaโs status in 2025 presents a profile that is built on several facts:
A newcomer, student, or visitor entering the city in 2025 will find an environment that feels steady. With ordinary precautions and some awareness of central-area hotspots, daily life remains secure and predictable.
Ottawa stays firmly within the safer tier of large Canadian cities, backed by national comparison tables, municipal reports, and local perception surveys alike.
