Amnesty International (AI) has reported that the number of executions worldwide reached its highest level in ten years in 2024, with at least 1,518 people executed across 15 countries.
This marks a 32% increase compared to the previous year, and is the highest figure recorded since 2015.
AI highlights that 90% of the documented executions took place in just three countries: Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. The report notes that the numbers do not account for the thousands of likely executions in China, North Korea, and Vietnam, where execution data remains classified. Human rights advocates estimate that China continues to lead the world in executions.
In Europe, Belarus remains the only country still applying the death penalty. However, data regarding the exact number of death sentences in the country is kept secret. The AI report mentions that in 2024, the Supreme Court of Belarus rejected an appeal from a Belarusian citizen sentenced to death. The report also highlights the case of German citizen Rick Krieger, who was convicted in Belarus for “an act of terrorism” and sentenced to death but was later pardoned by President Lukashenko and released in a large-scale prisoner exchange between Russia and the West.
