The homicide rate is considered the most reliable measure in comparing crime levels among nations. The United States, which has a reputation for being more violent than Canada, generally reports a homicide rate three to four times higher. In other words, much of the difference in the homicide rates between the two countries can be explained by a much higher use of firearms in the United States. A comparison to other western countries, however, shows that Canada's homicide rate was at the higher end in the mid 1990s. There are identifiable patterns to the way in which violence is committed, with certain segments of the population reporting higher rates.
Women have higher rates of violent victimization than do men.
For women, the rate was 100 per 1,000 females and for men it was 84 per 1,000 males. The circumstances of violent events involving men and women also differ in important ways. These numbers include offenders who have convictions for several violent crimes. Twenty-five percent of Canadians also felt very or somewhat worried when alone in their homes at night. Worry is higher for women, urban dwellers and recent victims of crime.