States With No Recent Executions

Updated September 20, 2024

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—35 out of 50—have either abolished the death penalty or have not carried out an execution in at least 10 years. An additional 3 states have not had an execution in at least 5 years, for a total of 38 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.

Note: A botched execution where the prisoner survives is not included in determining when a state last carried out an execution.

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

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