World Safety Map

Safest cities in Canada

33 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04

US 1/4 Exercise normal precautions

What official travel advice warns about

Terrorism

  • Terrorism in CanadaTerrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Canada.

Crime

  • Take precautions to protect yourself from petty crime, including:

Laws and cultural differences

  • Illegal drugs and cannabisIllegal drugs carry severe penalties. You should expect a long jail sentence and heavy fines for possessing, using or smuggling illegal drugs, including when transiting through the airport.
  • WildlifeIf you are hiking or camping, be considerate and cautious of local wildlife. You should:

Outdoor activities and adventure tourism

  • See advice on visitor safety when planning outdoor activities and adventure tourism in Canada, and on preparing for winter sports abroad.

Transport risks

  • Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Canada, see information on driving abroad.
  • Driving in winterIn winter, highways are often closed because of snowstorms and avalanches in Alberta, British Columbia and other provinces. Check local weather conditions on The Weather Network.

Extreme weather and natural disasters

  • HurricanesFrom July to November, hurricanes can affect coastal areas. Check the US National Hurricane Center, Environment Canada and The Weather Network websites for the latest weather conditions.
  • AvalanchesAvalanches can happen in mountainous regions, including Alberta and British Columbia. Always follow avalanche advice and stay away from closed trails. Follow the directions of local guides or instructors. For more information and avalanche news, see the Canadian Avalanche Foundation website.
  • Earthquakes and tsunamisFamiliarise yourself with safety procedures in the event of an earthquake or tsunami. The Canadian government has information about emergency preparedness.
  • ThunderstormsSummer thunderstorms are frequent in most parts of Canada, particularly between April and September. They can damage property and threaten lives.
  • Winter stormsWinter storms, including freezing rain, blizzards and hail, are frequent in many parts of Canada, particularly from November to April. They can make driving conditions dangerous, damage property and threaten lives. Follow local warnings or news for details.
  • TornadoesTornadoes can happen anywhere in Canada from May to September, but June to July is the peak season in:
  • WildfiresWildfires can start at any time, whatever the season, although there is particular risk of fire in the grasslands and forests of western Canada, as well as in forested areas of Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia, during the summer months.

Arctic travel

  • Parts of Canada are in the Arctic Circle, including some very remote areas of land and sea. Emergency medical assistance and search and rescue are limited in these areas. See Arctic travel safety advice.

Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Canada, updated 2026-06-02 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →

Country figures

Homicide rate
1.98 /100k2024
Income inequality
Gini 31.52022
Human development
HDI 0.9392023
Income
$66,820/yrGNI per capita PPP
Road deaths
5.3 /100kWHO, 2019
Political stability
76/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
Rule of law
82/100WGI, 2024
Corruption perceptions
75/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
Natural-hazard risk
2.6/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Women, Peace & Security
0.89GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
Air quality
6.6 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
Safe drinking water
97%of population, 2024 · WHO/UNICEF JMP
Healthcare capacity
2.8 doctors /1k2.5 hospital beds per 1,000

Natural hazards

Flood
7.1/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Tsunami
5.7/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Earthquake
4.8/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Cyclone
2.3/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Drought
1.7/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier

Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.

Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Canada (as of 2025).

How Canada compares

Canada against the median of all 180 countries in the dataset. Green means better than the median.
MeasureCanadaWorld medianDifference
Homicide rate2.0 /100k2.4 /100k−0.4 /100k — better for Canada
Income inequality (Gini)31.535.2−3.7 — better for Canada
Human development (HDI)0.9390.763+0.176 — better for Canada
Road deaths5.3 /100k15.4 /100k−10.1 /100k — better for Canada
Rule of law82/10052/100+30/100 — better for Canada
Corruption perceptions75/10039/100+36/100 — better for Canada
Air quality (PM2.5)6.6 µg/m³19.7 µg/m³−13.1 µg/m³ — better for Canada
Natural-hazard risk2.6/103.8/10−1.2/10 — better for Canada
And against its own region — often the more useful comparison, since North America shares much of the context a global median averages away.
MeasureCanadaNorth America medianDifference
Homicide rate2.0 /100k17 /100k−15 /100k — better for Canada
Income inequality (Gini)31.541.8−10.3 — better for Canada
Human development (HDI)0.9390.776+0.163 — better for Canada
Road deaths5.3 /100k14.8 /100k−9.5 /100k — better for Canada
Rule of law82/10052/100+31/100 — better for Canada
Corruption perceptions75/10037/100+38/100 — better for Canada
Air quality (PM2.5)6.6 µg/m³15.4 µg/m³−8.8 µg/m³ — better for Canada
Natural-hazard risk2.6/104.0/10−1.4/10 — better for Canada

Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.

All 33 cities, safest first

  1. Quebec City85.3 · #223 worldwide
  2. Oshawa85.3 · #224 worldwide
  3. Pickering85.3 · #225 worldwide
  4. Windsor83.3 · #462 worldwide
  5. Kitchener81.0 · #1801 worldwide
  6. Guelph81.0 · #1802 worldwide
  7. London80.4 · #1840 worldwide
  8. Victoria80.4 · #1841 worldwide
  9. Ottawa79.9 · #1850 worldwide
  10. Hamilton79.9 · #1851 worldwide
  11. Oakville79.9 · #1852 worldwide
  12. Burlington79.9 · #1853 worldwide
  13. Gatineau79.9 · #1854 worldwide
  14. Orléans79.9 · #1855 worldwide
  15. Montreal78.9 · #1998 worldwide
  16. Longueuil78.9 · #1999 worldwide
  17. Barrie78.9 · #2000 worldwide
  18. St. Catharines78.4 · #2033 worldwide
  19. Calgary77.6 · #2081 worldwide
  20. Erin Woods77.6 · #2082 worldwide
  21. Abbotsford76.9 · #2130 worldwide
  22. Red Deer76.9 · #2131 worldwide
  23. Toronto76.5 · #2160 worldwide
  24. Halifax76.5 · #2161 worldwide
  25. Edmonton75.6 · #2209 worldwide
  26. Mill Woods75.6 · #2210 worldwide
  27. Vancouver75.0 · #2823 worldwide
  28. Surrey75.0 · #2824 worldwide
  29. Langley City75.0 · #2825 worldwide
  30. Regina74.0 · #2965 worldwide
  31. Brantford73.1 · #3097 worldwide
  32. Saskatoon71.0 · #3321 worldwide
  33. Winnipeg69.0 · #3533 worldwide