Global Executions in 2024 Reach Highest Level Since 2015, Amnesty Report Reveals

A record 1,518 executions were documented in 2024, driven by Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, with over 40% linked to drug offenses, raising international legal concerns.

• Amnesty International's annual report confirms 1,518 executions in 2024, marking a 32% increase from 2023 and the highest total since 2015.
• Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia accounted for 91% of all documented executions, with Iran alone responsible for 64% of the global total.
• Drug-related offenses made up over 40% of executions worldwide, despite such practices being deemed illegal under international law.
• The number of countries carrying out executions dropped to a record low of 15, highlighting a global trend toward abolition of the death penalty.
• China, North Korea, and Vietnam remain major execution hubs, but lack of transparency obscures the true scale of their practices.

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Le Nouvel Obs L'Humanité Courrier International La Croix Ouest-France