In this global review of the death penalty and country comparison, see which countries have abolished it, which ones are still carrying it out, and where global trends are heading.
The Death Penalty Worldwide at a Glance
- 145 out of 199 countries and territories have scrapped the death penalty either in law or in practice: 113 for all crimes, 9 for ordinary crimes only, and 23 that haven't executed anyone in over ten years.
- 54 countries still keep the death penalty on the books and carry it out or may do so.
- In 2025, at least 2,707 executions were recorded across 17 countries; 78 percent more than in 2024 (1,518 cases) and the highest figure since 1981. Thousands of executions in China are not included in this figure because their data is classified.
- Iran alone executed at least 2,159 people; close to 80 percent of all recorded executions worldwide (excluding China). 61 of them were women.
- About 46 percent of recorded executions (1,257 cases) were tied to drug offenses; a crime that, under international law, shouldn't carry the death penalty.
Key Trends in 2025 and 2026
- Return 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 nine-year pause. Eastern Libyan forces executed at least 31 people in 2026 following unfair military trials; the first known executions in Libya since 2010.
- Steps toward abolition: Vietnam cut the number of death penalty offenses 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 without a recorded death sentence or execution since 1994.
- Expansion of executions: Algeria, Kuwait, the Maldives, and Myanmar expanded the scope of offenses punishable by death.
Complete Table: Death Penalty Status in All Countries
Color Key:
- 🔴 Active: The death penalty is on the books and has been carried out in the past ten years, or the government has a policy of carrying it out.
- 🟡 In law, not in practice: At least ten years without an execution (abolished in practice).
- 🟢 Abolished: The death penalty has been abolished by law. "Except for war crimes" means it remains only for exceptional offenses like wartime crimes.
The "Recorded Executions in 2025" column is the latest complete annual data. Full 2026 data is usually published in the spring of the following year. The "Last Execution" column is updated through October 2026. A plus sign (+) means the actual figure is likely higher.
| Country | Status | Recorded executions in 2025 | Last execution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iran | 🔴 Retentionist | 2,159+ | 2026 |
| China | 🔴 Retentionist | Thousands (classified) | 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, number unknown | 2026 |
| North Korea | 🔴 Retentionist | Confirmed, number unknown | 2025 |
| Vietnam | 🔴 Retentionist | Confirmed, number unknown | 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 this country's independence or foundation.
Sources
- Amnesty International: Death Penalty Facts and Figures 2025 (May 2026)
- List of abolitionist and retentionist countries based on Amnesty International data as of December 31, 2025
- Wikipedia: Capital punishment by country (Year of last execution)
- Human Rights Watch: Executions in Jordan, June 2026
If you spot any errors or have trouble viewing the table, please let us know via the Contact Us page.
For more details on this type of punishment and its history, check out Wikipedia.
