State executions around the world have reached their highest level since 2015, according to a newly released report by Amnesty International.
In 2024, at least 1,500 people were put to death, with Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia collectively responsible for 1,380 of these fatalities. The United States carried out 25 executions.
Despite this significant increase, Amnesty noted a record low in the number of countries that carried out the death penalty—only 15 nations in total, marking the lowest figure for the second consecutive year.
“These figures are the highest they have been since 2015,” Amnesty reported, although the actual number is likely considerably higher due to a lack of transparency and secrecy in countries such as China, North Korea, and Vietnam.
China is believed to carry out thousands of executions annually, but this data remains classified as a state secret, a practice also observed in Vietnam.
The report, titled Death Sentences and Executions 2024, attributes the surge in executions to Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, where the number of executions rose dramatically. Iran’s total increased from at least 853 in 2023 to at least 972 last year.
Iraq nearly quadrupled its execution figure from 16 to 63, while Saudi Arabia doubled its executions to at least 345.
Amnesty stated that over 40% of the recorded executions were for drug-related offenses, which the organization argues violates international human rights law. The report also warned about the growing trend of using the death penalty against individuals involved in protests.
Agnes Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, commented, “The tide is turning on capital punishment… it is only a matter of time until the world is free from the shadow of the gallows.”
While some countries saw an increase in executions, others took steps towards abolition or restriction of the practice. Zimbabwe passed legislation eliminating the death penalty for ordinary crimes, and individuals on death row in Japan and the US received acquittals or were granted clemency in 2024.
Furthermore, more than two-thirds of UN member states voted in favor of a moratorium on the death penalty last year, indicating a growing international opposition to capital punishment.
