October 31 marked Montreal’s 20th homicide of the year, after a 20-year-old man was killed following an altercation with two other men. About a month earlier, on September 22, 45-year-old Leïla Ben Salem was attacked in her apartment during a work Zoom call. Her colleague, who was also on the video call, contacted 911 to request a wellness check, but Ben Salem was pronounced dead soon after police arrived at her home. These alarming incidents have drawn heavy media attention and public concern regarding crime in the city. Yet, despite the increased attention, Montreal has recorded fewer homicides than it had at this time last year, where the number was 28. The disparity brings up an important question:
How safe is Montreal, really?
Despite the frequent coverage of violent incidents in the news, such incidents occur less often than headlines might suggest. According to the Service de police de la Ville de Montreal (SPVM), the city reported a total of 31 murders in 2025, continuing the general trend of decline in the past five years. Moreover, Statistics Canada noted that the 2025 homicide rate in Montreal and the surrounding metropolitan area was 1.12 per 100,000 residents, placing Montreal below the national average of 1.61. Compared to other large metropolitan areas, Montreal falls somewhere in the middle: Toronto recorded a rate of 0.91, and Vancouver stood at 1.52. These figures do not eliminate the concern about violent crime, but they do suggest that Montreal is not experiencing a particularly high homicide rate.
However, homicide rates alone do not accurately represent crime statistics. A more well-rounded indicator is the Crime Severity Index (CSI) used by Statistics Canada. Unlike a traditional crime rate that treats all crimes equally, the CSI accounts for both crime volume and severity, weighing each offense accordingly. For instance, a property theft is weighed significantly less than a homicide. In 2025, Montreal recorded a CSI of 61.29, a 4.87% decline from the previous year. This decrease closely mirrored the national decline of 4.86%, although Canada’s overall CSI remains considerably higher at 75.01. Compared with other large metropolitan areas, Montreal’s rate was lower than Vancouver (83.51), almost identical to Calgary (61.7), and higher than that of Toronto (54.99), positioning the city in the middle of these comparisons.
Montreal’s low crime statistics do not indicate that every resident experiences the same level of safety.
Nevertheless, crime rates have limitations that are important to consider. Homicide rates, the CSI, and other statistics are solely based on police reports, meaning that unreported crimes are excluded. Additionally, the population estimates used in calculations do not account for recent demographic shifts. It is also critical to note that these rates do not consider demographic characteristics, differences in neighbourhoods, or how harm and discrimination affect individuals’ exposure to crime. Consequently, Montreal’s low crime statistics do not indicate that every resident experiences the same level of safety.
Despite the overall decline in crime, not all offences in Montreal have followed the same trend. In 2025, break-ins and incidents of sexual assault increased by 5.8% and 5.7%, respectively. The SPVM states in its annual report that “these results highlight the complexity of criminal activity and the importance of continuing with interventions that are targeted and tailored to the diverse realities of Montreal.”
Even with the rise in certain types of offences, broader statistics show a decline in the frequency and severity of crime in Montreal. Thus, although recent violent incidents have attracted a significant amount of media attention, these cases do not reflect the overall crime trends in the city.
