A new national report has ranked Ottawa as the fourth safest city in Canada for 2025, highlighting the Capital’s position as a safe and well-run city. The study, which analyzed crime statistics and public safety perceptions across the country, places Ottawa just behind Quebec City, Oakville, and Burlington.
The report draws on data from Numbeo, a crowd-sourced platform that ranks cities based on residents’ perceptions of crime and safety. Its crime index reflects how frequently people perceive crime to occur and how severe they believe it is, while the safety index gauges how secure residents feel in their surroundings.
As of October 2025, Ottawa scored 31.8 on the crime index and 68.2 on the safety index, ranking ahead of other major Canadian cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. These results suggest that many Ottawa residents perceive their city as relatively safe compared to other urban centres.
By contrast, Numbeo rated cities such as Surrey, Kelowna, and Sudbury as among the most dangerous in Canada in the 2025 data, according to resident’s perceptions.
For residents and potential newcomers, the report offers reassurance that Ottawa remains not only a vibrant cultural and political hub but also one of the safest places to live in the country.
