Quick Hit:

More than 1,500 people were executed across 15 countries in 2024 — the highest number since 2015, according to Amnesty International. Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia were responsible for over 90% of known executions, many tied to political dissent or drug charges.

Key Details:

• 1,518 executions were recorded in 2024, marking a 10-year high.
• Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia accounted for 91% of all known executions.
• Over 40% of executions were for drug-related offenses.

Diving Deeper:

Amnesty International’s latest report on the global use of the death penalty reveals a disturbing surge in executions, with 1,518 people put to death across 15 countries in 2024. This marks the highest number since 2015, and the spike is largely driven by Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia — three regimes that have continued to use capital punishment not only for criminal offenses but also as a tool for political suppression.

While the number of countries carrying out executions remains at a record low — just 15 globally — the sheer volume of executions shows a troubling trend. Amnesty points out that China, North Korea, and Vietnam likely executed thousands more, but due to state secrecy, these numbers remain unverifiable.

Iran alone was responsible for at least 972 executions, many tied to the suppression of political dissent following the Woman Life Freedom protests. Victims included individuals with mental disabilities and those convicted through confessions reportedly obtained under torture. Saudi Arabia more than doubled its execution total to 345, including cases involving minority Shi’a demonstrators and political prisoners. Iraq also dramatically increased its executions from 16 to at least 63.

In total, the three countries were behind 91% of all documented executions.

The report highlights that more than 40% of global executions were related to drug offenses — many carried out in clear violation of international legal standards that limit capital punishment to the "most serious crimes." Nations like China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia routinely enforce these laws, despite growing global opposition. New policies in countries like the Maldives, Nigeria, and Tonga suggest a worrying direction as others consider reintroducing death penalties for drug-related crimes.

Meanwhile, nations like Zimbabwe and Malaysia made progress toward abolition, and more than two-thirds of UN member states voted in favor of a moratorium on the death penalty. Amnesty’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard condemned the trend of authoritarian governments using executions to crush dissent and push false narratives of public safety.