The global death penalty remains in force in a limited number of countries, but recent figures show that its use is still concentrated in a small group of states. In 2024, Amnesty International recorded 2,087 new death sentences across 46 countries and 1,518 executions in 15 countries, the highest execution total since 2015. The data shows that Iran, Saudi Arabia and Iraq accounted for the overwhelming majority of known executions, highlighting how unevenly the punishment is applied around the world.
Executions remain concentrated in a few countries
China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Yemen remain the countries most closely associated with executions. While exact reporting differs by country, the overall picture is clear: the death penalty is no longer widespread globally, but it remains actively used in a handful of jurisdictions. For U.S. readers, that contrast is important because the death penalty still exists in parts of the United States, even as its use is far lower than in the countries at the top of global execution lists.
Who gives more death sentences, India or the U.S.? India ranks much higher
India stands out in a different way. The country issues a large number of death sentences compared with many others, even though relatively few are confirmed or carried out. Courts in India handed down 1,310 death sentences from 2016 to 2025, making it one of the most active sentencing systems in the world. By comparison, recent U.S. figures are much lower, typically in the tens per year rather than the hundreds.
India and the U.S. follow different patterns
The clearest takeaway is that the global death penalty is concentrated in a few countries, and India and the United States follow very different patterns. India issues far more death sentences, while the U.S. still retains the punishment at the federal level and in some states but uses it far less often. In global terms, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Yemen remain the key countries to watch.
