🇨🇦 Canada
Visiting: Safe
For a visitor, Canada is safe. There is no conflict at all, ranking 1st, and LGBT rights are among the very strongest, at 10th. Its weakest measure is violent crime, which is moderate, placed 66th, though that is still inside the top half. Freedom is as good as it gets, road deaths are low and women's safety is good, all ranking between 16th and 40th.
Homicide
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people — lower is better.
Canada: 2.0
Ranked 66th in the world for the lowest homicide rate.
Why this rank?
Two killings per 100,000 people a year is low but twice the one-per-100,000 mark where the safest countries sit.
Is it safe to visit?
Fine for a visitor. Strangers are rarely involved.
Road Fatalities
Road-traffic deaths per 100,000 people per year — lower is better.
Canada: 5.0
Ranked 29th in the world for the safest roads.
Why this rank?
Five deaths per 100,000 people a year is above the EU average of four and a half but well under half the world average of fifteen.
Is it safe to visit?
Safe by world standards, though the newest count was its worst in a decade.
Why we updated the score?
The WHO's 2021 figure was Canada's own count. Transport Canada's newest full year is 2023, so we've used it.
Conflict — world number one
Conflict deaths inside the country in the last twelve months, as recorded by the Uppsala conflict database, civilians killed on purpose, and any UN sanctions or court order over a war. The worst of those sets the colour. Lower is better.
Canada: 1.00
Ranked 1st least conflict-affected country in the world.
Why this rank?
Nothing on record. The Uppsala conflict database has never recorded a conflict death in Canada since its records began in 1989.
Is it safe to visit?
Safe. Nothing is recorded in five years where the state was fighting. Anything between armed groups is a crime story for the Homicide column.
Freedom
Six freedoms rated 0–4 by Freedom House — protest, speech, press, religion, movement and due process. The weakest rating sets the colour, and the total places the country inside it — higher is better.
Canada: 8.99
Ranked 16th freest country in the world.
Why this rank?
In Canada the lowest is religion at 3. Total 23 of 24.
Is it safe to visit?
A strong record on political rights and civil liberties. Religion is rated one step from the top. Freedom House notes restrictions on public-sector employees wearing religious symbols. A visitor meets no restriction.
LGBT Rights
LGBT equality in law and daily life — higher is better.
Canada: 7.8
Ranked 10th most equal in the world for LGBT people.
Why this rank?
Marriage nationwide since 2005, conversion therapy banned in 2022, protections comprehensive. The law index scores 95, public opinion 61.
Is it safe to visit?
Fine. Among the world's most accepting countries. Toronto and Montreal Prides are city institutions.
Women's Safety
Women's safety — feeling safe out at night, political violence against women, a fair hearing in court, and how normal violence at home is, with the night figure setting a floor on the colour — higher is better.
Canada: 8.19
Ranked 40th safest country in the world for women.
Why this rank?
Violence at home is rare and the courts rate fairly. Sixty-three percent of women feel safe out alone at night, and the court rating is what keeps it from higher.
Is it safe to visit?
Canada is safe for a woman travelling alone.