|
Overview of the death penalty worldwide
in 2024. |
The reported use of the death penalty worldwide increased
markedly during 2024, there being at least 1480 in 13 countries (up from 1117
executions in 11 countries in 2023).
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 937 people, including 31
women in 2024 (up from 807 people during 2023, including 24 women). 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.
Saudi Arabia publicly beheaded 342 people including 8 women during this
year, (up from 166 men and 6 women in 2023).
Executions for drug offences and terrorism have been carried out in
2024, although murder remains the most frequent capital crime.
10 executions were reported in the Chinese media during 2023, including
that of one woman. The true figure is
unknown and is a state secret.
USA: 25 men were put to death in during 2024. 22 were executed by lethal
injection and 3 by nitrogen gas hypoxia in Alabama. Nine states carried out executions in 2024 -
Alabama 6, Florida 1, Georgia 1, Indiana 1, Missouri 4, Oklahoma 4, South
Carolina 2, Texas 5, and Utah 1.
Egypt hanged 5 men during 2024 for civilian murders and terrorist
attacks.
Iraq hanged 78 men and one woman, mainly for terrorist offences and a
few for murder.
Japan had no executions in 2024.
5 men and one woman were hanged in Kuwait in September 2024.
Myanmar had two executions this year, of a man and his wife.
Palestine also had two executions, both by hanging.
Singapore hanged 8 men for drug trafficking.
Somalia and Somaliland carried out 17 executions by firing squad during
2024, for murders and terrorist attacks.
Syria hanged one woman during 2024.
Taiwan had a single execution, by shooting during this year.
Yemen carried out 45 civilian executions including those of two women in
2024 by shooting with an AR15 rifle at close range into the prisoner’s heart.
The countries in which verifiable judicial executions took place during
2022 are below. (method in brackets)
|
Country |
Totals |
|
25 |
|
|
China (LI) |
10 |
|
Egypt (H) |
5 |
|
Iran (H) |
937 |
|
Iraq (H) |
78 |
|
Kuwait (H) |
6 |
|
Myanmar (H) |
2 |
|
Palestine (H) |
2 |
|
Saudi Arabia
(B) |
342 |
|
Singapore (H) |
8 |
|
Somalia (S) |
17 |
|
Taiwan (S) |
1 |
|
Yemen (S) |
45 |
|
Total |
1480 |
Beheading accounted for 343 executions, all in Saudi Arabia. At least 1040 hangings were carried out in 8
countries. Only 19 of them definitely used the long drop. The short drop was used in Iran and Iraq.
There were 23 lethal injections in the USA + unknown in China and Vietnam, and
63 were executed by shooting in Somalia, Taiwan and Yemen.
For the monthly update of the names, dates and
crimes of those executed click
here.
Women.
45 women were executed in 8 countries during 2024. At least 31 women
were hanged in Iran. China executed 1 woman by lethal injection. 1 woman was hanged
in Iraq for murder. 1 woman was hanged in Myanmar. 8 women were beheaded in
Saudi Arabia, for murder and drug offences. A woman was hanged in Syria for
murder. 2 women were shot in Yemen for murder.
Click here for details
of females executed in 2024.