REGINA — The volume and severity of police-reported crime across Canada fell for the second consecutive year in 2025, but Saskatchewan continues to grapple with the highest Crime Severity Index among the provinces.
According to the latest data in the annual Police-Reported Crime Statistics report, released Wednesday morning by Statistics Canada, the national Crime Severity Index dropped five per cent to 75.01 in 2025. The index measures both the volume and relative severity of police-reported crimes compared to the population. While the national numbers paint a picture of decreasing crime, a closer look at the data reveals persistent challenges across Saskatchewan.
Provincial comparison
Despite seeing its overall index drop to 146.64 in 2025 from 154.36 the previous year, Saskatchewan maintains the highest CSI among Canada's 10 provinces. Manitoba followed as the second-highest province with a CSI of 130.04, which was a decrease from its 2024 index of 142.66.
On the other end of the spectrum, Ontario recorded the lowest CSI in the country at 57.17, followed closely by Quebec at 61.55 and Prince Edward Island at 68.40. Alberta and British Columbia posted indexes of 90.62 and 92.37, respectively.
Cities show wide disparity in Saskatchewan
An analysis of urban centres shows a wide disparity in crime severity across Saskatchewan's cities. North Battleford recorded the highest index by a significant margin, posting a CSI of 477.10 in 2025. While exceptionally high, this does mark a decrease from 510.90 the previous year. Prince Albert followed with an index of 285.01, which was a notable increase from 267.71 in 2024.
Yorkton recorded a CSI of 172.53, while Melfort came in at 127.80. Both Saskatoon and Swift Current recorded indexes of 108.07 and 102.73, respectively, maintaining levels well above the national average.
Conversely, several southern cities fell closer to the national line. Estevan reported an index of 97.93, Moose Jaw dropped to 92.28, and Regina decreased to 91.44. Weyburn posted the lowest index among the compared cities at 70.83, making it the only highlighted city in the province to fall below the national average of 75.01.
Staggering rural rates reported by RCMP
The severity of crime becomes even more pronounced in rural and remote communities patrolled by the RCMP. Sixty-seven of the 93 Saskatchewan detachments and police forces listed reported a Crime Severity Index higher than the national average.
Northern communities faced the highest severity of crime by an overwhelming margin. The Black Lake RCMP detachment recorded an astronomical index of 2,197.58 in 2025. Pelican Narrows followed at 1,558.50, and Wollaston Lake reached 1,113.81. Other detachments exceeding the 1,000 mark included La Loche at 1,029.41 and Sandy Bay at 1,019.38. Cumberland House narrowly missed the four-digit threshold, posting a CSI of 990.38.
Even in central and southern regions, dozens of rural detachments hovered well above the national line. Watrous, Wynyard, and Humboldt all posted indexes just above 75, illustrating a widespread and systemic challenge across Saskatchewan's jurisdictions, regardless of geography.
