|
Overview of the death penalty worldwide
in 2023. |
The reported use of the death penalty worldwide
increased during 2023, there being at least 1117 executions in 11 countries (up
from 831 executions in 16 countries in 2022).
These are reported and verifiable judicial executions, but there will
have been unreported ones in China, Iran, North Korea and Vietnam. Details of
executions are very hard to verify in these countries because of the official
secrecy surrounding them.
Iran hanged at least 807 people during 2023,
including 24 women. Although the
mandatory death penalty for drug trafficking was abolished, Iranian executions
for drug crime have risen sharply again during this year. A lot of executions in Iran are not reported
in the official (State run) media so other sources have to be relied on. The
reliable Hengaw News Agency recorded 829 hangings.
Figures of up to 850 executions have been claimed.
Saudi Arabia publicly beheaded 166 men and 6 women during this year.
Bangladesh hanged 4 men for
murder in 2023.
19 executions were reported in the Chinese media during 2023, including
those of two women. The true figure is
unknown and is a state secret.
USA : 24 men were put to death in 5 states during 2023 all by lethal
injection. 8 were executed in Texas, 6
in Florida, 4 in Oklahoma, 4 in Missouri and 2 in Alabama.
18 men were executed in 6 states during 2022.
Egypt hanged 4 men and 1 woman during 2023 for civilian murders and terrorist
attacks.
Iraq hanged 20 men for terrorist offences
Japan had no executions in 2023.
Singapore hanged 4 men and 1 woman for drug trafficking.
Somalia and Somaliland carried out 42 executions by firing squad during
2023, for civilian murders and terrorist attacks.
Vietnam published just 1 execution by lethal injection during this year.
Yemen carried out 13 civilian executions in 2023 by shooting with an
AR15 rifle at close range into the prisoner’s back.
The countries in which verifiable judicial executions took place during
2022 are below. (method in brackets)
|
Country |
Totals |
|
24 |
|
|
Bangladesh (H) |
4 |
|
China (LI) |
19 |
|
Egypt (H) |
5 |
|
Iran (H) |
807+ |
|
Iraq (H) |
20 |
|
Kuwait (H) |
5 |
|
Saudi Arabia
(B) |
172 |
|
Singapore (H) |
5 |
|
Somalia (S) |
42 |
|
Vietnam (LI) |
1 |
|
Yemen (S) |
13 |
|
Total |
1117 |
Beheading accounted for 172 executions, all in Saudi Arabia. At least 833 hangings were carried out in 17
countries. Only 19 of them used the long drop.
The short drop was used in Iran and Iraq.
There were 24 lethal injections in the USA + unknown in China and Vietnam, and
55 were executed by shooting in Somalia and Yemen.
For the monthly update of the names, dates and
crimes of those executed click
here.
Women.
34 women were executed in 5 countries during 2023. 24 women were hanged
in Iran. Egypt hanged 1 woman for murder.
Singapore hanged 1 woman for drug trafficking. China executed 2 women by
lethal injection. 6 women were beheaded in Saudi Arabia, for murder.
Click here for details
of females executed in 2023.