According to Amnesty International’s Annual Death Penalty Report, 15 countries carried out 1,518 known executions in 2024, constituting the lowest number of executing countries for the second consecutive year and the highest recorded execution figure since 2015, driven by increases in Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. 46 countries imposed 2,087 new death sentences in 2024, a 14% decrease from the prior year; however, changes in the accessibility of information across countries make year-to-year comparisons difficult. The report notes “Africa remained the beacon of hope of abolition” with Zimbabwe abolishing the death penalty for ordinary crimes and Zambia, which fully repealed the death penalty in 2023, ratifying the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
