In the calendar year 2023, at least 1,153 people were executed globally, according to a recent report from Amnesty International. This statistic marks the highest annual number of executions since 2015, representing a 31 percent increase compared to 2022. The Secretary-General of Amnesty International Denmark, Vibe Klarup, expresses great concern about the trend. She emphasizes the importance of fair trials and independent courts, pointing out the lack of these in many countries that practice the death penalty.
In 2023, 16 countries carried out executions, the lowest number of countries to date. China is known for conducting the most executions, but exact numbers are unknown as they are treated as a state secret. However, Amnesty estimates that China executes thousands annually. Five other nations, including North Korea and Afghanistan, do not disclose the number of their executions. Iran and Saudi Arabia, ranking second and third on Amnesty’s list, account for 89 percent of the reported executions. In Iran, at least 853 people were executed in 2023, nearly doubling from 2022.
These countries often focus on drug-related crimes and political criticism. Iran has particularly targeted members of the “Women, Life, Freedom” movement, which fights against the oppression of women. The United States is the only Western country included on Amnesty’s list of countries practicing the death penalty. Vibe Klarup notes that the U.S. shows an unusual and persistent energy in maintaining and developing methods of execution.