Amnesty International’s annual report revealed a record increase in executions globally in 2024, with 1,518 confirmed deaths carried out worldwide. The majority of these executions took place in Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, with the latter country alone reporting a nearly tripled number of executions from 172 to at least 345. In contrast, only 15 countries were known to have executed people in 2024, and most UN member states voted against the death penalty.
The report also found that more than two-thirds of all UN member states now support a moratorium on the death penalty, while over 40% of executions carried out in 2024 were for drug-related offences. Amnesty International’s secretary general, Agnès Callamard, stated that countries retaining the death penalty are an “isolated minority” and that the tide is turning against the punishment.
The increase in global executions can be attributed to a surge in Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, which accounted for 91% of all worldwide executions. Amnesty International urged caution when using the death penalty as a tool for public safety, citing its lack of proven effectiveness in reducing crime. The organization also emphasized that countries using the death penalty often employ it to silence dissenting voices, rather than genuinely improve public safety.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/08/executions-decade-high-2024-huge-increases-iran-iraq-saudi-arabia-amnesty-international