The death penalty has been abolished in many countries, but capital punishment is still legal and used in several parts of the world. According to Amnesty International’s latest available data, 17 countries carried out executions in 2025. Among them were China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq, Yemen, the United States, North Korea, Somalia, and Vietnam.
10 Surprising Countries That Still Have the Death Penalty in 2026
These 10 countries are notable because they continued to carry out executions during the recent five-year period, although the number of executions varies significantly and some countries do not disclose complete figures.
1. China
China is believed to carry out more executions than any other country, but its exact figures remain secret. Amnesty International estimates that thousands of executions may take place annually, making China the world’s leading executioner.
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2. Iran
Iran recorded at least 2,159 executions in 2025, according to Amnesty International. This was more than double the number recorded the previous year and included executions for drug-related offences and other crimes.
3. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia recorded at least 356 executions in 2025. Amnesty said this was the country’s highest recorded annual figure, with cases involving offences including drug-related and terrorism-related crimes.
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