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The death penalty, or capital punishment, is the state-enacted execution of a person as punishment for a capital crime. Historically, this form of punishment was used in almost every part of the world. But more and more nations have abolished state executions and reformed their legal systems. However, out of almost 200 countries on Earth, 53 still enforce the death penalty.
Click on to discover the countries where the state can still kill you for your crimes.
In North Korea, capital punishment is used for many offenses, including murder, drug smuggling, political dissidence, defection, and consumption of media not approved by the government. Various methods are used, including firing squad, hanging, or decapitation.
Taliban Shariah law allows capital punishment, which can be carried out secretly or publicly. The convict may be hanged or shot to death.
The death penalty is allowed for the offenses of treason and murder, as well as certain military offenses. However, no executions have occurred since 1991.
Execution in the Bahamas is still a legal form of punishment, and is conducted by hanging for the offenses of treason, piracy, or murder. The last execution in the country was on January 6, 2000.
Despite pressure from the UN and the international community, the death penalty by hanging or firing squad continues to be part of the Bahraini legal system.
Bangladesh not only retains the death penalty for a wide range of offenses, but actively carries out executions. What's more, it's a legal form of punishment for anyone over 16.
Although the last execution in Barbados occurred in 1984, the island nation still retains the death penalty for murder, terrorism, participating in a mutiny, treason, and espionage.
Capital punishment has been completely abolished in all European countries except for Belarus, where it has been applied to those convicted of murder, terrorism, or high treason.
The death penalty is mandatory for murder in Belize, except where extenuating circumstances can be proved. It may also be imposed for certain offenses against the defense ordinance and the "power of the commanding officer." The last execution to take place in Belize was in June 1985.
Capital punishment in Botswana is usually applied for murder under aggravated circumstances. Executions are carried out by hanging.
According to Amnesty International, China is the world's most active enforcer of the death penalty. It's applicable to offenses such as murder and drug trafficking. Executions are carried out by lethal injection or by shooting.
Capital punishment in this African island nation is applied to the offenses of murder, rape, and torture. The last execution in the Comoros was in 1997.
Capital punishment is legal in Cuba, however, the last executions were carried out in 2003. The typical method is execution by firing squad.
The DRC is a de facto abolitionist state, having carried out a death sentence for the last time in 2003. However, in March 2024, the government lifted the moratorium in an attempt to combat militant violence in the country.
Dominica retains the death penalty by hanging as a punishment only for the most serious cases of murder.
In Egypt, crimes punishable by death include offenses under the so-called "anti-terrorism" legislation, as well as murder, rape, and drug-related offenses.
Ethiopia maintains the death penalty as an eligible punishment for many crimes, including murder, armed robbery, espionage, treason, and economic crimes.
Capital punishment is a legal penalty in Guyana. But despite its legality, no executions have been carried out since 1997.
Hanging is the primary method of execution in India. Military offenses may be punished with a firing squad. At the end of 2024, there were 564 prisoners on death row.
Although the death penalty is normally enforced only in cases of premeditated murder, corruption in extreme cases can lead to the death penalty in Indonesia. It's also regularly applied to certain drug traffickers.
Iran is second only to China in the number of executions it carries out, executing hundreds of people every year. Secret executions are widespread in the country, so the exact numbers for each year are difficult to obtain.
Capital punishment was commonly used in Iraq by the government of Saddam Hussein. It was then temporarily halted after the US-led 2003 invasion, and reinstated in the following year by the interim government. Executions are carried out by hanging.
By the end of 2024, Japan had 106 prisoners on death row. Their most recent execution was carried out in 2022. Hanging is the sole method of execution.
Currently, the only crime punishable by death in Jamaica is aggravated murder. The method of execution is hanging.
In Jordan, the death penalty is permitted for a variety of crimes including murder, rape, drug trafficking, and political crimes.
Despite pausing executions from 2017 to 2022, Kuwait continues to carry them out. The most recent executions were in July 2023, when five people were hanged.
Lesotho has the death penalty for murder, treason, rape, and military offenses such as mutiny. Executions are carried out by hanging.
Capital punishment is a legal penalty in Libya, however, extrajudicial killings are also commonplace. The execution method is shooting.
There are 34 capital crimes in Malaysia, including murder, drug trafficking, treason, and acts of terrorism. In 2023, mandatory death penalty was abolished. A moratorium on executions remains, but execution remains legal.
Capital punishment is a legal penalty in the Maldives, but the last execution was carried out in 1952, when the country was a British colony.
Myanmar's last known execution was in 1988. But since the military coup in 2021, Amnesty International has recorded an alarming increase in the use of the death penalty, where it has become a tool for the military in the ongoing persecution and intimidation of those challenging authorities.
Capital crimes in Nigeria include murder, terrorism-related offenses, robbery, and adultery. Each of the 36 states has its own laws. Northern states, which are majority Muslim, also apply Sharia law.
Under Omani law, capital offenses include murder, drug trafficking, arson, piracy, and espionage. However, the nation's secrecy surrounding the death penalty prevents data collection on the number of executions carried out there.
Although there have been numerous amendments to the Constitution, there is yet to be a provision prohibiting the death penalty in Pakistan.
Prior to the current Israel-Hamas war, Hamas performed vigilante public executions. By law, punishment is given for offenses such as treason and crimes against Islamic law.
Qatar has the death penalty, primarily for espionage, or other threats against national security. Blasphemy and queerness are also capital punishments.
Saint Kitts and Nevis permits the use of the death penalty for crimes like treason and murder. However, individuals under the age of 18 aren't subject to execution for murder.
Although Saint Lucia hasn't reported any executions since 1995, their constitution authorizes it for violent crimes, aggravated murder, hate crimes, and drug trafficking.
Though Saint Vincent and the Grenadines also hasn't had any executions since 1995, the death penalty remains a possible punishment, including for crimes that don't involve intentional killing.
Current Islamic laws allow the use of capital punishment for many violent and nonviolent offenses. Most executions in the country are carried out by decapitation or stoning. Bodies may be put on public display.
Under Singaporean law, capital crimes include murder, drug trafficking, terrorism, use of firearms, and kidnapping. Executions are carried out by long drop hanging and usually take place at dawn.
Capital crimes in Somalia include murder, terrorism, treason, espionage, queerness, blasphemy, and adultery. Somalia is the only African state that carries out public executions by hanging, stoning, or shooting.
South Sudan allows for executions of individuals in the event of convictions for numerous crimes, including murder and terrorism.
In compliance with Sharia law, Sudan can apply both the death penalty and corporal punishment, such as amputation.
Until this day, the Syrian Penal Code allows for the death penalty. Capital crimes include treason, drug trafficking, military offenses, and insubordination. Extrajudicial killings are also commonplace in Syria.
The long list of capital offenses in Taiwan, includes murder, treason, drug trafficking, terrorism, military offenses, and war crimes.
Capital punishment in Thailand is enforced by lethal injection. However, the death penalty isn't imposed immediately. The convict can appeal to two more courts and can apply for the King's pardon.
Although Trinidad and Tobago had its last execution in 1999, the Caribbean nation retains a mandatory death penalty for murder and treason.
Uganda hasn't executed anyone since 2005, but capital punishment hasn't been abolished. Capital crimes there include murder, terrorism, kidnapping, rape, and queerness.
Under Emirati law, multiple crimes carry the death penalty, including murder and drug trafficking. Executions are carried out by firing squad.
In the US, capital punishment is a legal penalty in 27 states, as well as in American Samoa. It's usually applied only to the most serious crimes, such as aggravated murder.
In Vietnam, capital punishment is applied for 22 offenses, including murder, armed robbery, drug trafficking, and a range of economic crimes, such as graft and corruption.
Yemen retains the death penalty for a wide variety of offenses, including queerness, blasphemy, and drug trafficking. Executions are typically carried out by shooting, and occasionally take place in public.
Sources: (Amnesty International) (BBC) (Al Jazeera)
Countries that still have the death penalty
As of 2024, 53 nations maintain the death penalty in law and practice
LIFESTYLE Capital punishment
The death penalty, or capital punishment, is the state-enacted execution of a person as punishment for a capital crime. Historically, this form of punishment was used in almost every part of the world. But more and more nations have abolished state executions and reformed their legal systems. However, out of almost 200 countries on Earth, 53 still enforce the death penalty.
Click on to discover the countries where the state can still kill you for your crimes.