JustFacts

Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

PDF Version

July 2017

Research and Statistics Division

Indigenous women represent 10% of the total population of missing women in Canada

According to the Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women: 2015 Update to the National Operational Overview report by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)^{Footnote 1}, Indigenous women represent 10% (174) of the total population of women in Canada missing for at least 30 days reported by the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) (1,750). Of these, 111 women were identified as missing due to “unknown” circumstances or foul play was suspected. 

Proportion of Indigenous women homicide victims increased since 1991^{Footnote 2}

Between 1980 and 2014, there were 6,849 police-reported female homicide cases in Canada. Among the total number of female victims, 16% were Indigenous women. Since 1991, the number of murdered non-Indigenous women has declined. In contrast, the number of murdered Indigenous women has remained relatively stable, thus accounting for an increasing proportion of Indigenous female homicide victims. For example, in 1980, Indigenous women accounted for 9% (18) of female homicide victims, whereas in 2014, they accounted for 21% (30) of female homicide victims. In 2014, the rate of homicide of Indigenous women (3.64 per 100,000) was almost six times higher than non-Indigenous women (0.65 per 100,000).^{Footnote 3}

Higher homicide rate of Indigenous women in the territories

Between 2001 and 2014, the territories^{Footnote 4} had a police-reported homicide rate for Indigenous women that was higher than the overall rate in Canada.^{Footnote 5} The prairies also had a higher police-reported homicide rate of Indigenous women than the overall rate in Canada.^{Footnote 6} The largest difference in police-reported homicide rates between Indigenous women and non-Indigenous women was in the Yukon (12 times higher for Indigenous women) and in Saskatchewan (11 times higher for Indigenous women). ^{Footnote 7}

Half of the homicides of Indigenous women were committed by a family member^{Footnote 8}

Of the total solved homicide cases of Indigenous women between 1980 and 2014, half (53%) were committed by a family member, a quarter (26%) by an acquaintance and 8% by strangers. The 2014 homicide survey found that fewer homicides of Indigenous women occurred in a residence (66%)^{Footnote 9} compared to non-Indigenous women (88%). In addition, 17% of homicides of Indigenous women occurred on a street, a road, or a highway compared to 1% of non-Indigenous women.

Date modified:

2018-02-15