Amnesty International: Global execution rates have reached nearly the highest levels in the last 10 years.

Amnesty International reports that 1,518 executions were carried out worldwide in 2024, indicating a 32% increase compared to the previous year.

According to a new report published by Amnesty International, global execution rates reached nearly the highest levels seen in the past decade in 2024. The organization stated that 1,518 executions were carried out worldwide in 2024, marking a 32% increase compared to the 1,153 executions carried out the previous year. The death penalty is illegal in Europe, except for Belarus, which continues to practice executions. China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Yemen topped the report, with three of these countries—Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia—accounting for 91% of known executions. Amnesty International Secretary General Agnes Callamard stated, "Those who dared to challenge the authorities, especially in Iran and Saudi Arabia, faced the most brutal punishments used to silence those brave enough to speak out." The known figures do not include thousands believed to have been executed in China, a leading country in the application of the death penalty, as well as in North Korea and Vietnam, where the death penalty is thought to be widely used. In addition to being used to silence dissent, 40% of executions were carried out for drug-related offenses, which are illegally punished by death. According to international law, the death penalty should only be used for "the most serious crimes"—a threshold that drug-related offenses do not meet. Although global execution rates increased in 2024, only 15 countries are known to have carried out these penalties—the lowest number recorded for two consecutive years. Callamard noted, "While some countries thought to be responsible for thousands of executions continue to cover up their practices with secrecy, it is clear that states maintaining the death penalty are an individual minority." While the death penalty has been legally or practically abolished in 70% of countries, some states opposed this trend in 2024. In March, the Democratic Republic of the Congo announced plans to resume executions, while military authorities in Burkina Faso stated they were working to reinstate the death penalty for ordinary crimes in November.