Calgary is one of the safest major cities in Canada — and the data proves it. According to Statistics Canada’s July 2025 release, Calgary’s Crime Severity Index (CSI) fell 14% to 62.3 in 2024, well below the national average of 77.9 and the city’s lowest level in more than a decade.

Whether you’re a resident, business owner, or visitor, Calgary’s sense of security is real and measurable. This guide breaks down the numbers behind Calgary’s safety record, why some residents still feel unsafe, and how public and private security work together to keep it that way.

How Safe Is Calgary? The Latest Numbers

Statistics Canada reported that Calgary’s Crime Severity Index dropped to 62.3 in 2024 — a 14% decline in a single year, driven by decreases in break-and-enters, auto theft, homicides, sexual offences, and robberies. Five years earlier, Calgary sat above the national average; today it sits well below it.

The Calgary Police Service (CPS) reported for 2024:

78,163 total incidents — 5,739 incidents per 100,000 people
An 18.1% decrease in overall crime compared to 2023
A 13% reduction in robberies compared to the five-year average
A 22% decrease in firearms-related violent crimes

Calgary’s crime reduction outpaced both the Alberta provincial decrease (13%) and the Canadian national average (9.8%).

Global Recognition for Safety and Livability

In 2024, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) ranked Calgary the 5th most livable city in the world and the most livable city in North America, with a score of 96.8 out of 100 — including perfect scores for stability, healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

In the EIU’s 2025 index, Calgary ranked 18th. The drop was driven by healthcare-system scores, not safety: Calgary’s stability score — the category that measures crime and security — remained among the strongest of any city surveyed.

Why Many Calgarians Still Feel Less Safe

Even with crime falling, surveys and community forums show many residents feel less safe. Four factors explain the gap between perception and data:

Media coverage: High-profile crimes dominate headlines, making them seem more common than they are.
Visible disorder: Homelessness, drug use, and vandalism create a sense of insecurity even where crime is down.
Personal experience: A single porch theft or car break-in shapes perception more than citywide statistics do.
Online amplification: Neighbourhood social media groups often spread incidents without full context.

Feeling safe isn’t only about numbers — it’s about trust, visibility, and reassurance. That perception gap is exactly where visible, professional security makes a difference.

Which Calgary Neighbourhoods Are Safest?

Citywide averages hide real differences between communities. CPS neighbourhood-level data shows encouraging trends — Connaught (Beltline) recorded a 3% year-over-year crime drop in late 2024, and Legacy recorded a 28% reduction in the same period — while some suburbs still saw small increases in vehicle theft and porch piracy.

For the full community-by-community breakdown, see our guides to the safest neighbourhoods in Calgary and Calgary’s highest-crime neighbourhoods, both built on Calgary Police Service data.

How Calgary Businesses and Property Managers Respond

Calgary businesses and property managers protect the gains in four practical ways:

Mobile patrols — marked security vehicles make GPS-verified rounds to deter suspicious activity across multiple sites.
On-site security guards — licensed guards provide real-time response and visible protection.
Surveillance integration — cameras work best when paired with guards who can respond, not just record.
Access control — limiting entry to offices, condos, and retail spaces stops incidents before they start.

Practical Tips to Stay Safe in Calgary

Even in a safer city, prevention matters:

Install motion-sensor lights around homes and businesses.
Lock vehicles and keep valuables out of sight — vehicle theft remains the most common suburban complaint.
Report suspicious activity to CPS or your security provider.
Review our guide on protecting your home from break-ins.
Consider professional patrols or guard services for vulnerable sites.

Guard Tower Security’s Role in Calgary Safety

Guard Tower Security is a licensed, Calgary-based security company that helps bridge the gap between falling crime statistics and how safe people actually feel. Our guards complete Calgary Fire Department–supported training and work alongside CPS protocols to protect businesses, events, churches, and residential properties across the city.

Tailored security plans — free site assessments and risk analysis for every client
Mobile patrols and uniformed guards — 24/7 presence for maximum deterrence
Hands-on supervision — ensuring professional, Calgary-standard service on every shift

Want to keep your property on the right side of Calgary’s crime statistics? Contact Guard Tower Security for a free security assessment.

Calgary Safety FAQs

Q: Is Calgary one of the safest cities in the world?

A: Yes. Calgary’s Crime Severity Index of 62.3 (2024) is well below Canada’s national average of 77.9, and the EIU’s 2024 Global Liveability Index ranked Calgary 5th worldwide with perfect scores for stability. In the 2025 index Calgary ranked 18th, a drop driven by healthcare scores rather than safety.

Q: What is Calgary’s crime rate?

A: In 2024 Calgary reported 5,739 incidents per 100,000 people — an 18.1% decrease compared to 2023, outpacing both the Alberta provincial decrease of 13% and the national average of 9.8%.

Q: Why do people think crime is rising if the statistics show a decline?

A: Perception is shaped by media coverage, visible disorder, and personal experience — a single break-in affects how safe a street feels more than any citywide statistic.

Q: Which Calgary neighbourhoods are seeing crime decline?

A: Legacy and Connaught (Beltline) saw among the largest reductions in 2024, with drops of up to 28%. See our safest neighbourhoods in Calgary guide for the full ranking.

Q: Is Calgary safe for businesses?

A: Yes. Falling property crime and strong public-private security partnerships make Calgary one of Canada’s safest cities for business. Security companies like Guard Tower Security work alongside the Calgary Police Service to protect commercial properties, construction sites, and events.

Q: What makes Calgary so safe compared to other cities?

A: Community policing, data-driven enforcement by the Calgary Police Service, strong infrastructure, and active collaboration between public law enforcement and licensed private security firms.