Crime rates in Nova Scotia showed a slight increase last year, despite a decrease in crime severity in the province and nationwide, as reported by Statistics Canada in July. Nova Scotia experienced a one percent rise in its crime rate, reaching 6,147 incidents per 100,000 people in 2025, the highest since 2012. This increase contrasts with the national trend, where the crime rate decreased by two percent. Nova Scotia’s crime rate surpassed the national average of 5,585 incidents per 100,000 people.
The surge in minor offenses like shoplifting and low-level assaults contributed to the overall rise in crime, according to Chris Giacomantonio, a criminologist and director of the Clairmont Centre for Community Safety Research at Dalhousie University. Shoplifting under $5,000 in Nova Scotia escalated by approximately 860 percent over the past decade, with a 23 percent increase from 2024 to 2025 attributed to inflation and high living costs.
While Nova Scotia reported a lower crime rate compared to most provinces and territories, only Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec had lower rates. Giacomantonio emphasized the concern of the provincial crime rate exceeding that of a decade ago rather than its comparison to other regions.
Despite the rise in crime rate, Nova Scotia saw a three percent drop in its crime severity index last year, measuring the number and seriousness of police-reported crimes relative to the population. This discrepancy was explained by a surge in minor crimes and a decrease in major offenses, according to Giacomantonio. He highlighted the importance of considering both the crime rate and severity index in public safety discussions.
Although the crime severity declined, the public may still feel less safe due to the prevalence of minor crimes in daily life. The Nova Scotia RCMP refrained from speculating on the factors influencing crime rate changes without a detailed analysis but emphasized their commitment to collaborating with policing and community partners to ensure public safety.
Additionally, the province’s Department of Justice expressed concern over the overall crime increase and emphasized support for community safety initiatives by bolstering policing efforts. Giacomantonio stressed that crime rates serve as indicators rather than explanations of safety, emphasizing that individual risk is influenced more by socioeconomic factors than by the overall crime rate.