Executions Hit Decade High, Amnesty International Reveals

A recent report from Amnesty International reveals that the global number of state executions hit its highest point since 2015.

In 2024, there were at least 1,500 executions worldwide, with Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia accounting for 1,380 of those. The United States executed 25 individuals.

Despite this increase, the report also highlighted a record low in the number of countries applying the death penalty, with only 15 nations enforcing it—the lowest total for the second consecutive year.

“These numbers represent the highest rates observed since 2015,” stated Amnesty, though the actual figures may be much larger due to the secrecy surrounding executions in countries like China, North Korea, and Vietnam.

China is suspected of carrying out thousands of executions each year, but specific data remains classified, as is true for Vietnam.

The report titled *Death Sentences and Executions 2024* associates the increase in executions with Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, each of which saw substantial rises. Iran’s executions rose from at least 853 in 2023 to a minimum of 972 last year.

Meanwhile, Iraq’s executions surged nearly fourfold, from 16 to 63, while Saudi Arabia’s total reached at least 345, doubling from the previous year.

Amnesty pointed out that over 40% of these executions were related to drug offenses, which it argues contravenes human rights standards. The organization also expressed concern about the growing use of the death penalty against demonstrators.

Amnesty’s Secretary General, Agnes Callamard, remarked, “The momentum is shifting away from capital punishment… It is only a matter of time before we can rid the world of the shadow of the gallows.”

While numerous countries increased their use of the death penalty, others took steps to abolish or limit it. For instance, Zimbabwe enacted legislation to eliminate capital punishment for non-violent crimes, and death row inmates in Japan and the U.S. received acquittals or clemency in 2024.

Additionally, more than two-thirds of UN member states voted for a moratorium on the death penalty last year, reflecting a growing international opposing stance against capital punishment.