Executions surge to near decade high A total of 1,153 people were put to death worldwide in 2023, up more than 30% on 2022, with a sharp rise in Iran and the Middle East GLOBAL EXECUTIONS 2014-2023 2,000 1,500 1,634+ 1,000 1,061+ 1,032+ 993+ 883+ 1,153+ 500 690+ 657+ 483+ 579+ 2014 15 16 17 18 19 2020 21 22 2023 2023: 1,153 (31% increase compared to 883 in 2022) EXECUTING COUNTRIES IN 2023 Iran: 853 (48% rise from 576 in 2022) Accounts for 74% of global executions Saudi Arabia 172 Somalia 38+ U.S. 24 Iraq 16+ Yemen 15+ Egypt 8 Bangladesh 5 Kuwait 5 Singapore 5 Data does not include China – believed to have executed thousands in 2023 – nor Afghanistan, North Korea, Palestinian territories, Syria and Vietnam, due to insufficient information Source: Amnesty International Picture: Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS