Countries with the Most Recorded Executions 2024

About This Dataset

Recorded executions carried out by country in 2024, according to Amnesty International. The figures exclude China, which is believed to execute thousands each year but keeps its data a state secret, as well as North Korea and Vietnam, where reliable figures are unavailable. Global recorded executions rose 32% to 1,518, the highest since 2015.

✨ AI Insight

Among countries with reliable figures, Iran carried out by far the most executions in 2024 - at least 972, roughly 64% of the world's known total, with over half for drug-related offences. Saudi Arabia doubled its total to at least 345, and Iraq nearly quadrupled its figure to 63. Together, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Iraq accounted for about 91% of all recorded executions. Yemen (38), Somalia (34), the United States (25) and Egypt (13) make up the remainder of the disclosed data. China is omitted because its execution figures are classified, though Amnesty believes it executes more people than the rest of the world combined. The concentration of executions in just three Middle Eastern states is the report's most striking finding.

Source: Amnesty International (Death Sentences and Executions 2024)

Key Findings

Auto-computed highlights from this dataset

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Iran leads with 972 in All Time.

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Average value in All Time: 213 · median: 38.

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Gap in All Time: Iran is 74.8× larger than Egypt.