TORONTO – According to new data from Statistics Canada, more young people under the age of 18 were charged with homicide in Canada in 2024 than in the previous year—an increase that occurs despite the national homicide rate declining slightly. 

The 2024 Homicide Report, released yesterday, shows that 72 young people were charged with homicide last year, compared to 65 in 2023. This brings the number of young people charged with homicide to 0.94 per 100,000 young people. Among these cases, police recorded 13 incidents involving multiple young people accused, including five homicides involving three or more young people accused. Across Canada, police reported 788 homicides in 2024, eight fewer than the previous year. The national homicide rate decreased by 1.91 (from 1.99) per 100,000 people, a 4.0% decrease from 2023. However, StatCan suggests that the decline masks persistent risks for some communities, as Indigenous peoples have been disproportionately affected. In 2024, they accounted for 30% of all homicide victims, despite representing only 5% of the population. The homicide rate among Indigenous peoples stood at 10.84 per 100,000, more than eight times higher than that of non-Indigenous Canadians.

But there’s another significant statistic. In 2024, approximately 17% of victims in Canada—about 100 people—were killed by their spouse or partner. This figure marks a substantial increase from 2023, when 72 victims were the result of intimate partner homicides. The increase was widespread: eight of Canada’s ten provinces reported more intimate partner homicides in 2024 than the previous year. In line with a consolidated trend, the vast majority of homicide victims were women, representing 81% of intimate partner homicide victims in 2024. Breaking down the data further, the number of women killed by a current or former spouse, de facto partner, or relationship partner increased dramatically, from 53 in 2023 to 81 in 2024. Femicide, therefore, is becoming an increasingly widespread crime in Canada as well, and violence against women here, too, now represents a real emergency that requires legislative and social intervention.

Canada’s homicide rates in 2024 showed stark geographic contrasts, with some provinces recording significant declines and others seeing significant spikes. Four provinces recorded lower homicide rates in 2024, led by Newfoundland and Labrador, which saw a 51% decline. British Columbia followed with a 27% decline, while Alberta and Quebec saw more modest declines of 20% and 11%, respectively. Increases in the remaining six provinces reshaped the national picture, particularly in New Brunswick, where the homicide rate nearly doubled—from 1.08 to 2.11 per 100,000 inhabitants—with the number of victims rising from nine in 2023 to 18 in 2024. Half of these victims died from firearms, doubling the number of firearm-related homicides recorded the previous year.

Prince Edward Island also saw its rate nearly double, though this was due to one homicide in 2023 and two in 2024. Nova Scotia saw one of the most significant increases in the country, rising from 1.33 to 2.32 per 100,000 residents, with homicides increasing from 14 to 25. The province saw a significant increase in drug-related homicides, with seven in 2024 compared to two the previous year, and for the first time in four years, it recorded three separate incidents involving multiple victims. Further west, the homicide rate in Manitoba increased by 22% and in Saskatchewan by 7%. According to the Regina Police Service (RPS), homicides are expected to increase in 2025 compared to last year in the city. From January to October, overall crime decreased by 15.8% compared to the same period in 2024. Ontario, finally, remained stable at 1.75 per 100,000 residents.

 Here is the whole report by Statistics Canada.

Photo by Daniel von Appen from Unsplash