The Chilliwack Crime Severity Index has landed the fast-growing B.C. city at the top of Canada’s crime rankings for a second straight year. Statistics Canada released its newest data this week, and once again, Chilliwack sits in an uncomfortable spot. The numbers reveal a city wrestling with growth, property crime, and public safety all at once.

Statistics Canada’s Crime Severity Index, or CSI, measures both the volume and the seriousness of police-reported crime nationwide. Last year, Chilliwack ranked highest among major Canadian cities for 2024. Now, the newly released figures for 2025 confirm the city holds that unwanted title once more.

Chilliwack Still Leads The Nation, Despite Small Improvement

Interestingly, Chilliwack actually saw a slight improvement compared to last year. However, its numbers remained far above every other city in the country. The gap between Chilliwack and the national average is still striking.

This year, the Chilliwack Crime Severity Index came in at 134.3. For context, the national average hovers around 75. Consequently, Chilliwack’s score is nearly double the countrywide figure. Property crime, along with assaults and drug offences, largely drove this outcome.

So, why does Chilliwack rank so high? One major factor is the city’s high crime volume paired with a relatively small population. As of 2025, the City of Chilliwack estimates its population at roughly 112,500, which includes First Nations communities.

Additionally, the city has grown rapidly in recent years. Between 2020 and 2025, Chilliwack added around 11,700 new residents. Therefore, rapid population growth may be contributing to the pressures reflected in the crime data.

Kamloops followed closely behind, posting a CSI of 126.2. Meanwhile, Vancouver’s index reached 83.5, which is still high compared to other major Canadian cities. For comparison, Toronto recorded a CSI of 55, Calgary sat at 61.7, and Victoria posted 74.6.

British Columbia’s Crime Numbers Show A Downward Trend

Despite Chilliwack’s standing, the province overall is trending in a more positive direction. B.C.’s CSI dropped from 93.9 in 2024 to 92.4 in 2025. Furthermore, the province has seen a steady decline since 2023, when its index stood at 104.6.

This downward trend mirrors what’s happening across the rest of Canada. In fact, national numbers offer some encouraging news this year. According to Statistics Canada, “In 2025, the CSI decreased five per cent to a value of 75.01. This marked the second consecutive annual decrease, following an upward trend beginning in 2015 that reached 81.27 in 2023.”

Meanwhile, the conventional crime rate also fell. Statistics Canada explained, “The conventional crime rate — comprising Criminal Code offences but excluding traffic offences — declined two per cent to 5,585 incidents per 100,000 population in 2025. When compared with the CSI, this suggests that the overall severity of crime declined more than the volume of crime, as there was a steeper percentage decline in the CSI.”

Even so, not every crime category is improving. Minor theft has dropped nationally, but shoplifting remains a persistent problem. As Statistics Canada noted, “For the second year in a row, shoplifting of $5,000 or under was the largest contributor to offset the decrease in the CSI.”

On a brighter note, homicide rates also declined for a third consecutive year nationwide. This suggests that, while property crime and shoplifting remain challenges, the most serious violent offences are becoming less frequent overall.

B.C. Responds With New Measures For Repeat Offenders

In light of these numbers, the B.C. Ministry of Public Safety announced fresh initiatives this week. Specifically, the province revealed plans for new “hubs” designed to address repeat offenders and street disorder. These hubs aim to tackle the root causes behind repeated criminal behaviour, rather than simply cycling offenders through the system.

Given Chilliwack’s ongoing struggles, such initiatives could prove especially relevant for the city. Local leaders will likely watch closely to see whether these new measures help lower future crime severity scores. For now, though, Chilliwack remains firmly at the top of a list no city wants to lead.

Ultimately, this year’s data paints a mixed picture for British Columbia. While the province and the country as a whole are seeing improvements, Chilliwack’s numbers highlight how growth and crime severity can be closely linked. As the city continues expanding, addressing these underlying pressures will likely remain a key priority for years to come.

Categories (Alphabetical Order)

• Cities → keywords: Chilliwack, Vancouver, Kamloops
• Crime → keywords: Crime Severity Index, shoplifting, homicide
• Data & Insights → keywords: Statistics Canada, CSI data, population growth
• Provinces → keywords: British Columbia, B.C. Ministry, province