In this global review of the death penalty and country comparison, see which nations have abolished it, which still carry it out, and where global trends are heading.
The Death Penalty Worldwide at a Glance
- 145 countries out of 199 countries and territories have scrapped the death penalty in law or practice: 113 for all crimes, 9 for ordinary crimes only, and 23 that haven't executed anyone for over ten years.
- 54 countries still keep the death penalty in law and carry it out or may do so.
- In 2025, at least 2,707 executions were recorded across 17 countries; 78 per cent more than in 2024 (1,518 cases) and the highest figure since 1981. Thousands of executions in China are not included in this total, as its statistics are kept secret.
- Iran alone executed at least 2,159 people; nearly 80 per cent of all recorded executions worldwide (excluding China). 61 of them were women.
- Around 46 per cent of recorded executions (1,257 cases) were linked to drug offences; a crime that under international law should not carry the death penalty.
Key Trends for 2025 and 2026
- Resumption of executions: Japan, Taiwan, the UAE and South Sudan resumed executions in 2025 after several years. Jordan executed six people in June 2026 after a gap of nine years. Eastern Libyan forces executed at least 31 people in 2026 following unfair military trials; the first known executions in Libya since 2010.
- Steps towards abolition: Vietnam reduced the number of offences carrying the death penalty from 18 to 10. The Gambia abolished the death penalty for murder and treason. Zimbabwe commuted all death sentences to imprisonment. Belarus had its first year on record since 1994 without any death sentences or executions being recorded.
- Expansion of the death penalty: Algeria, Kuwait, the Maldives and Myanmar expanded the range of offences punishable by death.
Full Table: Death Penalty Status Across All Countries
Colour Guide:
- 🔴 Carried out: The death penalty is in law and has been carried out in the past ten years, or the government has a policy of carrying it out.
- 🟡 In law, not carried out: At least ten years have passed without any executions (abolished in practice).
- 🟢 Abolished: The death penalty has been abolished in law. "Except for war crimes" means it remains only for exceptional offences such as those committed in wartime.
The "Recorded Executions in 2025" column is the latest complete annual data. Full 2026 figures are usually published in the spring of the following year. The "Last Execution" column has been updated up to October 2026. A plus sign means the real figure is likely higher.
| Country | Status | Recorded executions in 2025 | Last execution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iran | 🔴 Retentionist | 2159+ | 2026 |
| China | 🔴 Retentionist | Thousands (secret) | 2026 |
| Saudi Arabia | 🔴 Retentionist | 356+ | 2026 |
| Yemen | 🔴 Retentionist | 51+ | 2026 |
| United States | 🔴 Retentionist | 47 | 2026 |
| Egypt | 🔴 Retentionist | 23 | 2026 |
| Kuwait | 🔴 Retentionist | 17 | 2026 |
| Singapore | 🔴 Retentionist | 17 | 2026 |
| Somalia | 🔴 Retentionist | 17+ | 2026 |
| Afghanistan | 🔴 Retentionist | 6 | 2025 |
| United Arab Emirates | 🔴 Retentionist | 3 | 2025 |
| Japan | 🔴 Retentionist | 1 | 2026 |
| South Sudan | 🔴 Retentionist | 1 | 2025 |
| Taiwan | 🔴 Retentionist | 1 | 2025 |
| Iraq | 🔴 Retentionist | Confirmed, unknown number | 2026 |
| North Korea | 🔴 Retentionist | Confirmed, unknown number | 2025 |
| Vietnam | 🔴 Retentionist | Confirmed, unknown number | 2025 |
| Palestine | 🔴 Retentionist | Unknown | 2025 |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 1991 |
| Ethiopia | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 2007 |
| Jordan | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 2026 |
| Indonesia | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 2016 |
| Uganda | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 2005 |
| Barbados | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 1984 |
| Bahamas | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 2000 |
| Bahrain | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 2019 |
| Belarus | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 2022 |
| Belize | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 1985 |
| Bangladesh | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 2023 |
| Botswana | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 2021 |
| Pakistan | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 2019 |
| Thailand | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 2018 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 1999 |
| Jamaica | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 1988 |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 2003 |
| Dominica | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 1986 |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 2008 |
| Saint Lucia | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 1995 |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 1995 |
| Sudan | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 2021 |
| Syria | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 2024 |
| Oman | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 2024 |
| Qatar | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 2020 |
| Cuba | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 2003 |
| Comoros | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 1997 |
| Gambia | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 2012 |
| Guyana | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 1997 |
| Lebanon | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 2004 |
| Lesotho | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 1995 |
| Libya | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 2026 |
| Malaysia | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 2017 |
| Myanmar | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 2024 |
| Nigeria | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 2016 |
| India | 🔴 Retentionist | 0 | 2020 |
| Eritrea | 🟡 Abolitionist in practice | 0 | 1989 |
| Eswatini | 🟡 Abolitionist in practice | 0 | 1983 |
| Algeria | 🟡 Abolitionist in practice | 0 | 1993 |
| Brunei | 🟡 Abolitionist in practice | 0 | Never* |
| Tajikistan | 🟡 Abolitionist in practice | 0 | 2004 |
| Tanzania | 🟡 Abolitionist in practice | 0 | 1994 |
| Tunisia | 🟡 Abolitionist in practice | 0 | 1990 |
| Tonga | 🟡 Abolitionist in practice | 0 | 1982 |
| Russia | 🟡 Abolitionist in practice | 0 | 1996 |
| Sri Lanka | 🟡 Abolitionist in practice | 0 | 1976 |
| Ghana | 🟡 Abolitionist in practice | 0 | 1993 |
| Cameroon | 🟡 Abolitionist in practice | 0 | 1997 |
| South Korea | 🟡 Abolitionist in practice | 0 | 1997 |
| Kenya | 🟡 Abolitionist in practice | 0 | 1987 |
| Grenada | 🟡 Abolitionist in practice | 0 | 1978 |
| Laos | 🟡 Abolitionist in practice | 0 | 1989 |
| Liberia | 🟡 Abolitionist in practice | 0 | 2000 |
| Malawi | 🟡 Abolitionist in practice | 0 | 1992 |
| Maldives | 🟡 Abolitionist in practice | 0 | Never* |
| Mali | 🟡 Abolitionist in practice | 0 | 1980 |
| Morocco | 🟡 Abolitionist in practice | 0 | 1993 |
| Mauritania | 🟡 Abolitionist in practice | 0 | 1987 |
| Niger | 🟡 Abolitionist in practice | 0 | 1976 |
| Israel | 🟢 Abolitionist for ordinary crimes only | – | 1962 |
| El Salvador | 🟢 Abolitionist for ordinary crimes only | – | 1973 |
| Brazil | 🟢 Abolitionist for ordinary crimes only | – | 1876 |
| Burkina Faso | 🟢 Abolitionist for ordinary crimes only | – | 1988 |
| Peru | 🟢 Abolitionist for ordinary crimes only | – | 1979 |
| Zimbabwe | 🟢 Abolitionist for ordinary crimes only | – | 2005 |
| Chile | 🟢 Abolitionist for ordinary crimes only | – | 1985 |
| Guatemala | 🟢 Abolitionist for ordinary crimes only | – | 2000 |
| Equatorial Guinea | 🟢 Abolitionist for ordinary crimes only | – | 2014 |
| Azerbaijan | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1993 |
| Argentina | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1956 |
| South Africa | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1989 |
| Albania | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1995 |
| Germany | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1981 |
| Andorra | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1943 |
| Angola | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1977 |
| Austria | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1950 |
| Armenia | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| Uruguay | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1902 |
| Uzbekistan | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 2005 |
| Spain | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1975 |
| Australia | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1967 |
| Estonia | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1991 |
| Slovakia | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1989 |
| Slovenia | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1959 |
| Ecuador | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1884 |
| Ukraine | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1997 |
| Italy | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1947 |
| Ireland | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1954 |
| Iceland | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| United Kingdom | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1964 |
| Belgium | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1950 |
| Bulgaria | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1989 |
| Benin | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1987 |
| Bhutan | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1964 |
| Burundi | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 2000 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| Bolivia | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1973 |
| Papua New Guinea | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| Paraguay | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1917 |
| Palau | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| Panama | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1903 |
| Portugal | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1917 |
| Turkmenistan | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1997 |
| Turkey | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1984 |
| Togo | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1978 |
| Tuvalu | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| East Timor | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| Solomon Islands | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| Cook Islands | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| Marshall Islands | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| Central African Republic | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1981 |
| Czech Republic | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| Dominican Republic | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1966 |
| Republic of the Congo | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1982 |
| Djibouti | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| Chad | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 2015 |
| Denmark | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1950 |
| Rwanda | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1998 |
| Romania | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1989 |
| Zambia | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1997 |
| Ivory Coast | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| Samoa | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| San Marino | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1468 |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| Senegal | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1967 |
| Suriname | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1982 |
| Sweden | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1910 |
| Switzerland | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1944 |
| Sierra Leone | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1998 |
| Seychelles | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| Serbia | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1992 |
| France | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1977 |
| Finland | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1944 |
| Fiji | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| Philippines | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 2000 |
| Cyprus | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1962 |
| Kyrgyzstan | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| Kazakhstan | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 2003 |
| Costa Rica | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1859 |
| Cambodia | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1989 |
| Canada | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1962 |
| Croatia | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| Colombia | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1907 |
| Kosovo | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| Cape Verde | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| Kiribati | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| Gabon | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1985 |
| Georgia | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1995 |
| Guinea | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 2001 |
| Guinea-Bissau | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1986 |
| Latvia | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1996 |
| Luxembourg | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1949 |
| Poland | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1988 |
| Lithuania | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1995 |
| Liechtenstein | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1785 |
| Madagascar | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| Malta | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| Hungary | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1988 |
| Mongolia | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 2008 |
| North Macedonia | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| Mexico | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1961 |
| Mauritius | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1987 |
| Mozambique | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1986 |
| Moldova | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| Monaco | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1847 |
| Montenegro | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| Micronesia | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| Namibia | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| Nauru | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| Nepal | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1979 |
| Norway | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1948 |
| Nicaragua | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1930 |
| New Zealand | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1957 |
| Niue | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| Vatican City | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| Vanuatu | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| Venezuela | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | Never* |
| Haiti | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1972 |
| Netherlands | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1952 |
| Honduras | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1940 |
| Greece | 🟢 Abolitionist | – | 1972 |
* Never = No executions have been carried out since the country's independence or establishment.
Sources
- Amnesty International: Death penalty figures for 2025 (May 2026)
- List of abolitionist and retentionist countries, based on Amnesty International data up to 31 December 2025
- Wikipedia: Capital punishment by country (year of last execution)
- Human Rights Watch: Executions in Jordan, June 2026
If you spot any mistakes or have trouble viewing the table, please let us know via the contact us section.
For more information on this type of punishment and its history, check out the Wikipedia page.
