Crime rates in Nova Scotia saw a slight increase last year, despite a decrease in crime severity both provincially and nationally, according to a recent report from Statistics Canada. The crime rate, which measures the volume of crime per capita regardless of severity, rose by one percent in Nova Scotia. The rate of 6,147 incidents per 100,000 people in 2025 is the highest recorded in the province since 2012. This increase contrasts with the two percent drop in the national crime rate last year, with Nova Scotia’s rate being higher than the national average of 5,585 incidents per 100,000 people.
The surge in minor crimes such as shoplifting and low-level assault significantly contributed to the overall rise in crime rate, as highlighted by Chris Giacomantonio, a criminologist and director of the Clairmont Centre for Community Safety Research at Dalhousie University. Shoplifting under $5,000 in Nova Scotia spiked by about 860 percent over the past decade, with a 23 percent increase from 2024 to 2025. Giacomantonio attributes this surge to inflation and the increased cost of living, leading to widespread financial difficulties.
Despite the provincial increase, Nova Scotia reported a lower crime rate compared to most other provinces and territories, with only Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec having lower rates. Giacomantonio expressed more concern about the rise in Nova Scotia’s crime rate over the past decade rather than its comparison to other regions.
While the crime rate in Nova Scotia increased, the crime severity index decreased by three percent last year. This index gauges the number and seriousness of all police-reported crimes relative to the population. The discrepancy between the rising crime rate and declining severity index is due to a rise in minor crimes and a drop in major crimes, according to Giacomantonio. He emphasized the importance of considering both the crime rate and severity index in discussions about public safety.
Despite the decrease in crime severity, a sustained increase in violent incidents throughout Nova Scotia, which has risen by 34 percent since 2016, is concerning to Giacomantonio. He stressed the necessity of community-level interventions in addition to law enforcement efforts to address this issue effectively.
In response to the crime data, the Nova Scotia Department of Justice expressed concern over the overall increase in crime and emphasized their support for community safety initiatives by investing more in policing. Giacomantonio underlined that crime rates are not a definitive measure of safety and that a slight increase should not immediately trigger alarm. He emphasized that the likelihood of experiencing a crime is more closely tied to one’s living environment and socioeconomic status than the overall crime rate.