Montgomery, Alabama – The global trend of increasing executions continues, despite many countries around the world opting to abolish the use of capital punishment. According to Amnesty International, the number of executions rose in 2022, with China leading in the number of executions, though specific figures are not disclosed by the Chinese government.
In 2022, a total of 883 executions were recorded worldwide, marking the highest number since 2017. However, this number is lower compared to previous years such as 1988, 1989, and 2015, when over 1,500 people were executed annually. Additionally, at least 2,016 death sentences were imposed across 52 countries, with around 28,282 individuals awaiting execution by the end of 2022.
Countries like Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the US were among the top countries carrying out the most executions in 2022, with Iran even executing individuals for offenses committed when they were under 18 years old. The Amnesty International report also highlighted the persistent use of the death penalty in several countries including China, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the US, Vietnam, and Yemen.
Despite the rise in executions in the US since 2021, the numbers remain significantly lower than the peak in 1999. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia notably saw its highest number of executions in 2022 in the past 30 years. The methods of execution varied among countries, with Saudi Arabia being the only country to publicly declare beheading as the legal method in 2022. Other common methods include hanging, lethal injection, and death by shooting.
In response to drug offenses, there were 325 executions worldwide in 2022, with Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore being among the countries with the highest number of executions for drug-related crimes. On the other hand, six countries completely or partially abolished the death penalty in 2022, showing a global shift towards abolishing capital punishment. Despite these positive changes, the death penalty still persists in many countries around the world, with ongoing concerns about its usage and fairness in the justice system.