The number of executions recorded worldwide fell by 4% last year - but the true number of deaths may have soared, according to Amnesty International.
At least 993 people were executed in a total of 23 countries last year, compared with 1,032 in 2016. However, many countries, including China, do not release data on capital punishment.
Amnesty’s latest annual report on capital punishment, released today, says that the Asian superpower is thought to have implemented “more death sentences that the rest of the world combined”.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The human rights campaign group believes thousands of executions and death sentences may have been carried out last year in China, where data on capital punishment is “considered a state secret”, says The Guardian.
At least 2,591 death sentences were recorded in 53 countries in 2017 - down from a record high of 3,117 in 2016. At least 21,919 people are known to be under a death sentence.
“The figures compiled by the charity represent a minimum number of recorded executions, with numbers in many countries thought to in fact be much higher,” reports The Daily Telegraph.
Iran carried out the highest recorded number of executions, at 508. At least five of those killed were aged under 18 at the time of their alleged crime, and 31 of the executions were carried out in public.
“In Iran, basic fair trial guarantees were absent in death penalty cases, and the courts often relied on ‘confessions’ extracted under torture to impose death sentences,” the newspaper says.
Saudi Arabia had the second-highest number of executions, at 146, followed by Iraq (125).
The US ranks fifth with 23 executions, after Pakistan (60), Egypt (35) and Somalie (24).
A total of 142 countries have abolished the death penalty.
Infographic by www.statista.com for TheWeek.co.uk
-
Did Cop30 fulfil its promise to Indigenous Brazilians?Today’s Big Question Brazilian president approves 10 new protected territories, following ‘unprecedented’ Indigenous presence at conference, both as delegates and protesters
-
The best Christmas theatre shows across the UKThe Week Recommends Tip-top festive ballets, plays and comedies to book up now
-
Crossword: November 20, 2025The daily crossword from The Week
-
Americans traveling abroad face renewed criticism in the Trump eraThe Explainer Some of Trump’s behavior has Americans being questioned
-
Nigeria confused by Trump invasion threatSpeed Read Trump has claimed the country is persecuting Christians
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
