Global executions hit their highest figure since 2015, as over 1,500 people were executed across 15 countries in 2024, said Amnesty International today as it released its annual report on the global use of the death penalty.
- Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia responsible for 91% of executions
- States weaponizing death penalty against protesters and ethnic groups
- Rise in drug-related executions in violation of human rights
According to the report, Death Sentences and Executions 2024, 1,518 executions were recorded in 2024 – the highest number since 2015 (at least 1,634) – with the majority in the Middle East. However, for the second year in a row, countries carrying out executions remained at the lowest point on record.
The known totals do not include the thousands of people believed to have been executed in China, which remains the world’s lead executioner, as well as North Korea and Viet Nam which are also believed to resort to the death penalty extensively. Ongoing crises in Palestine (State of) and Syria meant that Amnesty International could not confirm a figure.
The death penalty is an abhorrent practice with no place in today’s world.
Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General
Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia were responsible for the overall rise in known executions. In total, the trio accounted for a staggering 1,380 recorded executions. Iraq almost quadrupled its executions (from at least 16 to at least 63) and Saudi Arabia doubled its yearly total (from 172 to at least 345), while Iran executed 119 more individuals than last year (from at least 853 to at least 972) – accounting for 64% of all known executions.
“The death penalty is an abhorrent practice with no place in today’s world. While secrecy continued to shroud scrutiny in some countries that we believe are responsible for thousands of executions, it’s evident that states that retain the death penalty are an isolated minority. With just 15 countries carrying out executions in 2024, the lowest number on record for the second consecutive year, this signals a move away from this cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment,” said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General.
“Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia were responsible for the sharp spike in deaths last year, carrying out over 91% of known executions, violating human rights and callously taking people’s lives for drug-related and terrorism charges.”
The five countries with the highest number of recorded executions in 2024 were China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Yemen.
Authorities weaponizing death penalty
Throughout 2024, Amnesty International witnessed leaders weaponizing the death penalty under the false pretence that it would improve public safety or to instil fear among the population. In the USA, which has experienced a steady upward trend in executions since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, 25 people were executed (against 24 in 2023). Newly electedPresident Trump repeatedly invoked the death penalty as a tool to protect people “from violent rapists, murderers, and monsters”. His dehumanizing remarks promoted a false narrative that the death penalty has a unique deterrent effect on crime.
In some countries in the Middle East region, death sentences were used to silence human rights defenders, dissidents, protesters, political opponents, and ethnic minorities.
Those who dare challenge authorities have faced the most cruel of punishments, particularly in Iran and Saudi Arabia, with the death penalty used to silence those brave enough to speak out.”
Agnès Callamard
“Those who dare challenge authorities have faced the most cruel of punishments, particularly in Iran and Saudi Arabia, with the death penalty used to silence those brave enough to speak out,” said Agnès Callamard.
“In 2024, Iran persisted in their use of the death penalty to punish individuals who had challenged the Islamic Republic establishment during the Woman Life Freedom uprising. Last year saw two of those people – including a youth with a mental disability – executed in connection with the uprising following unfair trials and torture-tainted ‘confessions’, proving how far the authorities are willing to go to tighten their grip on power.”
Saudi authorities continued to weaponize the death penalty to silence political dissent and punish nationals from the country’s Shi’a minority who supported “anti-government” protests between 2011 and 2013. In August, the authorities executed Abdulmajeed al-Nimr for terrorism-related offences related to joining Al-Qaeda, despite initial court documents referring to his participation in protests.
The Democratic Republic of Congo announced its intention to resume executions while Burkina Faso’s military authorities announced plans to reintroduce the death penalty for ordinary crimes.
Rise in executions for drug-related offences
Over 40% of 2024’s executions were carried out unlawfully for drug-related offences. Under international human rights law and standards, the use of the death penalty must be restricted for the ‘most serious crimes’ – sentencing people to death for drug-related offences does not meet this threshold.
“Drug-related executions were prevalent in China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and, while no confirmation was possible, likely Viet Nam. In many contexts,sentencing people to death fordrug-related offences has been found to disproportionately impact those from disadvantaged backgrounds, while it has no proven effect in reducing drug trafficking,” said Agnès Callamard.
“Leaders who promote the death penalty for drug-related offences are proposing ineffective and unlawful solutions. States considering introducing capital punishment for drug-related offences, such as the Maldives, Nigeria and Tonga, must be called out and encouraged to put human rights at the centre of their drug policies.”
The power of campaigning
Despite a rise in executions, just 15 countries were known to have carried them out – the lowest number on record for the second consecutive year. As of today, 113 countries are fully abolitionist and 145 in total have abolished the death penalty in law or practice.
In 2024, Zimbabwe signed into law a bill that abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes. For the first time, more than two thirds of all UN member states voted in favour of the tenth General Assembly resolution on a moratorium on the use of the death penalty. Death penalty reforms in Malaysia also led to a reduction by more than 1,000 in the number of people at risk of execution.
When people prioritize campaigning for an end to the death penalty, it really does work.
Agnès Callamard
Furthermore, the world witnessed the power of campaigning. Hakamada Iwao – who spent nearly five decades on death row in Japan – was acquitted in September 2024. This has continued into 2025. In March, Rocky Myers – a Black man sentenced to death in Alabama despite serious flaws in the proceedings – was granted clemency following calls from his family and legal team, a former juror, local activists and the international community.
“When people prioritize campaigning for an end to the death penalty, it really does work,” said Agnès Callamard. “Despite the minority of leaders determined to weaponize the death penalty, the tide is turning. It’s only a matter of time until the world is free from the shadows of the gallows.”
Further background: global
Global executions
- Amnesty International recorded 1,518 executions in 2024 in 15 countries, a 32% increase from the 1,153 known executions in 2023. It is the highest figure recorded by Amnesty International since 2015 when it recorded 1,634 executions.
- China remained the world’s leading executioner, but the true extent of its use of the death penalty remains unknown as this data remains classified as a state secret. The global figure recorded by Amnesty International excludes the thousands of executions believed to have been carried out in China, as well as those carried out in Viet Nam and North Korea where Amnesty International believes the death penalty was used extensively.
- The countries with the highest number of executions were China (1000s), Iran (972+), Saudi Arabia (345+), Iraq (63+), Yemen (38+) – in that order.
- Women were known to have been executed in six countries: China (+), Egypt (2), Iran (30), Iraq (1), Saudi Arabia (9), and Yemen (2).
- Amnesty International recorded executions in 15 countries, compared to 16 countries in 2023. Due to conflict, no figure was available for Palestine (State of).
Violating international law
- 637 executions were known to have been carried out unlawfully for drug-related offences: China (+), Iran (505, 52% of its total for the year), Saudi Arabia (122, 35%) and Singapore (8, 89%). Information on Viet Nam, which is very likely to have carried out such executions, was unavailable. The total number of 637 executions for drug-related offences constituted 42% of the total globally.
- At least eight people – in Iran (4) and Somalia (4) – were executed for crimes that occurred when they were below 18 years of age.
- At least eight public executions were recorded in Afghanistan (4+) and Iran (4).
- The methods of execution used in 2024 were: beheading; hanging, lethal injection, shooting and nitrogen gas asphyxiation.
Global death sentences
- At least 2,087 new death sentences across 46 countries were known to have been imposed in 2024, compared to at least 2,428 in 52 countries in 2023.
- Amnesty International recorded commutations or pardons of death sentences in 18 countries.
- Three countries – South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda – were known to have imposed death sentences after a hiatus.
- Amnesty International recorded nine exonerations of prisoners under sentence of death in three countries: Japan (1), Malaysia (5) and USA (3).
- Globally, at least 28,085 people were under sentence of death at the end of 2024
Abolishing the death penalty
- At the end of 2024, 113 countries were fully abolitionist and 145 in total had abolished the death penalty in law or practice.
- For the first time, more than two thirds of all UN member states voted in favour of a General Assembly resolution on a moratorium on the use of the death penalty.
Further background: regional
Americas
- For the 16th consecutive year, the USA was the only country in the region to execute people.
- The total number of executions in the USA (25) represented the second highest yearly figure since 2015 (28), rising from 24 in 2023.
- Four US states resumed executions (Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina and Utah). Alabama tripled its yearly total from two in 2023 to six in 2024.
- Trinidad and Tobago and the USA were the only two countries in the Americas known to have imposed new death sentences.
Asia-Pacific
- Asia-Pacific continued to be the region with the highest number of executions in the world.
- In Asia-Pacific, five countries (Afghanistan, China, North Korea, Singapore and Viet Nam) were known to have carried out executions in 2024, a decrease from six in 2023.
- No executions were recorded in Bangladesh, for the first time since 2018.
- At least 843 new death sentences were known to have been imposed in the region during the year.
- The Federal Court and Court of Appeal of Malaysia commuted more than 1,000 death sentences.
Europe and Central Asia
- Belarus remained the only country in Europe to use the death penalty, sentencing 1 person to death on 24 June 2024. He was later pardoned on 30 July.
- Russia and Tajikistan continued to observe moratoriums on executions.
The Middle East and North Africa
- The number of recorded executions in the region grew by an alarming 34%, from 1,073 in 2023 to 1,442 in 2024. This means 369 more people were known to have been executed in the region in 2024 compared with 2023.
- In total, eight countries across the region were known to have carried out executions in 2024: Egypt Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Yemen.
- Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia were the top three executing countries in the region in 2024. These three countries alone accounted for 96% of all recorded executions in the region, with Iran accounting for 67% of them.
- Recorded executions in Yemen more than doubled compared to 2023; and almost quadrupled in Iraq compared to 2023.
- Oman carried out its first known executions since 2021.
- Courts across the Middle East and North Africa were known to have imposed at least 773 new death sentences in 2024, a decrease of 19% from 2023 (950).
Sub-Saharan Africa
- Recorded executions and death sentences each decreased by around 10%.
- For the second consecutive year, Somalia was the only country in the region known to have carried out executions – with at least 34 recorded executions.
- For the second consecutive year, death sentences were recorded in 14 countries.
- Zimbabwe and Zambia took positive steps towards abolishing and enshrining its commitment to abolition of the death penalty under international law, respectively.
- Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria took steps that could expand the use of the death penalty.
Header image: Activists attend a candlelight vigil against the impending execution of Pannir Selvam Pranthaman, sentenced to death for drug trafficking into Singapore, outside the Singaporean embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on February 19, 2025. Photo by Mohd Firdaus/NurPhoto via Getty Images.
