States With No Recent Executions

Updated August 16, 2023

Although the United States is considered a death penalty country, executions are rare or non-existent in most of the nation: more than two-thirds of U.S. states—37 out of 50—have either abolished the death penalty or have not carried out an execution in at least 10 years. An additional 2 states have not had an execution in at least 5 years, for a total of 39 states with no death penalty or no executions in that time. Two additional jurisdictions (the District of Columbia and the Military) have not had an execution in at least 10 years.

The tables below list the jurisdictions with no executions in many years. The number in parentheses indicates total executions since 1976.

37 states, plus 2 jurisdictions (District of Columbia and Military), with no death penalty or no executions in at least 10 years
 

39 states, plus 2 jurisdictions, with no death penalty or no executions in at least 5 years