In a deeply concerning trend, global executions rose sharply in 2024, reaching the highest levels recorded in nearly a decade. According to recent reports from human rights organizations, at least 1,518 people were executed around the world in 2024. This marks a dramatic 32% increase from the 1,153 executions recorded in 2023. The primary drivers behind this surge were Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, which together were responsible for approximately 91% of all known executions.
This rise in the use of the death penalty has sparked serious concern among international observers, especially given ongoing global efforts to limit or abolish capital punishment. While more countries have moved toward abolition, the data from 2024 shows that a few key nations have accelerated their use of executions, often under opaque or controversial legal systems.
Iran Tops the List with Sharp Increase in Drug-Related Executions
Iran once again topped the global list with at least 972 executions in 2024, accounting for nearly two-thirds of all recorded executions worldwide. This figure marks a 14% increase from 2023 and reflects a troubling trend of growing state violence under the country’s justice system.
More than half of the executions in Iran were for drug-related offenses. This is especially alarming because such executions violate international human rights standards, which state that the death penalty should only be used for the “most serious crimes,” typically involving intentional killing. The use of capital punishment for drug crimes is not only against international law but has also been proven to be ineffective as a deterrent.
Equally concerning is Iran’s execution of women. At least 30 women were put to death in 2024, often after trials that lacked transparency and fairness. Human rights advocates also raised alarms over the use of the death penalty against ethnic and religious minorities, including the Baluchi and Kurdish communities, who are disproportionately represented among those executed.
In several cases, confessions were reportedly extracted under torture or extreme pressure, raising questions about the legitimacy of the judicial process in capital cases. These practices not only violate basic human rights but also increase the risk of executing innocent people.
Iraq’s Fourfold Increase in Executions Raises Alarms
In Iraq, executions spiked dramatically. At least 63 people were executed in 2024, compared to just 14 the previous year. All of these executions were reportedly carried out in connection to terrorism-related offenses.
While Iraq, like many countries, faces genuine threats from extremist groups, the rapid increase in executions has raised questions about due process and fair trial standards. Many human rights organizations argue that the broad and often vague definitions of terrorism in Iraq’s legal framework create room for misuse, including the suppression of political dissent and targeting of minority groups.
There are also concerns about transparency in Iraq’s judicial system. Trials are often closed to the public, and defendants may lack adequate legal representation. With the death penalty being irreversible, these shortcomings represent major human rights violations.
Saudi Arabia Doubles Executions, Despite International Pressure
Saudi Arabia was the third-highest executioner in 2024, with at least 345 people executed—a twofold increase from the year before. The kingdom has long been criticized for its use of capital punishment, especially for non-violent crimes such as drug offenses and moral or religious infractions.
In Saudi Arabia, many executions are carried out by beheading, often in public settings. These punishments are typically announced by state media but lack the level of transparency required under international law. In some cases, executions have been conducted without even informing the families of those convicted until after the punishment is carried out.
Despite ongoing international pressure—including from Western allies and human rights groups—Saudi Arabia continues to use the death penalty at an alarming rate. The kingdom claims it is taking steps toward legal reform, but the doubling of executions in 2024 suggests otherwise.
China Remains the World’s Top Executioner—But Figures Are Hidden
Although Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia topped the list of known executions, China is widely believed to carry out more executions than all other countries combined. However, because the Chinese government keeps death penalty statistics secret, there is no official number available.
Analysts estimate that thousands of people may be executed in China every year, but without transparency or independent monitoring, it is impossible to verify these claims. The lack of openness in China’s justice system continues to be a major concern, especially in light of reports of unfair trials and forced confessions.
The U.S. Sees Highest Execution Count Since 2018
In 2024, the United States executed 25 people, the highest number since 2018. Although the U.S. has seen a gradual decline in public support for the death penalty over the last two decades, several states—including Texas, Alabama, and Florida—continued to use it aggressively last year.
Ongoing debates about the morality, legality, and effectiveness of the death penalty remain heated in the U.S. Some states have paused executions due to concerns about lethal injection protocols, wrongful convictions, and racial bias, but others have pushed ahead with new legislation that speeds up the process.
Some Nations Move Toward Abolition
While some countries increased executions in 2024, others took significant steps toward abolishing the death penalty. Zambia joined the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, committing to its abolition. Zimbabwe also removed the death penalty for ordinary crimes, joining a growing list of nations moving away from capital punishment.
As of the end of 2024, over 110 countries had fully abolished the death penalty in law, and many more had not carried out any executions in recent years. The overall number of executing countries dropped to 15—the lowest number on record.
This reflects a growing global consensus that the death penalty is a cruel, inhumane, and outdated form of punishment that has no place in modern justice systems.
Global Reaction and Human Rights Advocacy
Amnesty International and other leading human rights organizations have strongly condemned the rise in executions, particularly in Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. These organizations argue that the death penalty is often used as a tool of political repression and social control, rather than justice.
There is also growing concern about the fairness of trials in many of the countries that still carry out executions. From secret proceedings and forced confessions to limited access to legal representation, the risks of wrongful executions remain alarmingly high.
Amnesty International continues to call for a worldwide moratorium on executions as a step toward total abolition. It emphasizes that the death penalty has never been proven to deter crime more effectively than other forms of punishment and that it disproportionately affects the poor and marginalized.
Conclusion
The dramatic rise in global executions in 2024 is a sobering reminder of the continued reliance on capital punishment in parts of the world, even as the global movement toward abolition gains momentum. The actions of countries like Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia stand in sharp contrast to the broader trend of moving away from state-sanctioned killings.
With the number of countries carrying out executions at an all-time low, there is hope that international pressure and advocacy will eventually lead to the death penalty being abolished worldwide. Until then, the fight for justice, transparency, and human rights continues.
