As of 2025, only 20 countries still retain the death penalty, a significant decline from the 56 countries that had it in 1977. This represents a major victory for human rights activists, who have long argued that the death penalty is a cruel and inhumane punishment that has no place in a civilized society.
Reasons for the Decline
There are a number of reasons for the decline in the use of the death penalty. One is the growing recognition that it is not a deterrent to crime. Studies have shown that states with the death penalty do not have lower murder rates than states without it. In fact, some studies have even found that the death penalty may actually increase the risk of murder.
Another reason for the decline in the use of the death penalty is the increasing awareness of the risk of executing innocent people. Since 1973, over 160 people have been exonerated from death row in the United States, and there is no reason to believe that this number is not higher in other countries. The risk of executing an innocent person is simply too great to justify the use of the death penalty.
The Future of the Death Penalty
The decline in the use of the death penalty is expected to continue in the coming years. More and more countries are recognizing the cruelty and inhumanity of this punishment, and the risk of executing innocent people. It is likely that within the next few decades, the death penalty will be abolished in all but a handful of countries.
The following is a list of the 20 countries that still have the death penalty as of 2025:
| Country | Number of Executions in 2024 |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 100 |
| Bangladesh | 150 |
| Belarus | 50 |
| Botswana | 25 |
| China | 1,000+ |
| Democratic Republic of Congo | 50 |
| Egypt | 100 |
| Equatorial Guinea | 25 |
| India | 100 |
| Indonesia | 50 |
| Iran | 250 |
| Iraq | 100 |
| Japan | 50 |
| Kuwait | 25 |
| Libya | 50 |
| Malaysia | 25 |
| North Korea | 100+ |
| Saudi Arabia | 250 |
| Singapore | 25 |
| Somalia | 50 |
| South Sudan | 25 |
| Sudan | 100 |
| Thailand | 50 |
| United States | 25 |
| Vietnam | 100 |
| Yemen | 50 |
It is important to note that the number of executions in each country can vary greatly from year to year. For example, China executed over 1,000 people in 2024, but this number is likely to decline in the coming years as the country moves towards abolishing the death penalty.
There are a number of compelling arguments against the death penalty. These include:
- The death penalty is cruel and inhumane. The death penalty is a form of torture that can cause extreme pain and suffering. It is also a form of capital punishment that is irreversible, meaning that there is no way to correct a mistake if an innocent person is executed.
- The death penalty is not a deterrent to crime. Studies have shown that states with the death penalty do not have lower murder rates than states without it. In fact, some studies have even found that the death penalty may actually increase the risk of murder.
- The death penalty is racially biased. In the United States, for example, African Americans are more likely to be sentenced to death than white people for the same crimes. This is because the death penalty is often applied in a discriminatory manner, with poor people and people of color being more likely to be executed than wealthy white people.
- The death penalty is expensive. The death penalty is more expensive than life in prison without parole. This is because of the costs of trials, appeals, and executions.
The death penalty is a cruel and inhumane punishment that has no place in a civilized society. It is not a deterrent to crime, it is racially biased, and it is expensive. The decline in the use of the death penalty is a positive step forward, and it is likely that within the next few decades, the death penalty will be abolished in all but a handful of countries.
