At least 2,707 people were executed across 17 countries in 2025, marking the highest number of recorded executions globally since 1981, according to Amnesty International’s latest Death Sentences and Executions Report.

The figures were disclosed on May 20, 2026, by the Acting Director of Amnesty International Ghana, Hannah Osei, during the launch of the report.

“In 2025, Amnesty International recorded at least 2,707 executions globally, the highest number documented since 1981. These figures, though alarming, still represent only the minimum confirmed total. The true number is likely far higher, as several states continue to shroud their use of the death penalty in secrecy, painting a deeply troubling picture. The report reveals a dangerous resurgence in the use of executions as a political tool,” she said.

Hannah Osei described the death penalty as the “ultimate cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishment,” stressing that it violates the right to life and disproportionately affects vulnerable and marginalised groups.

“At its core, this report is not simply about statistics. Behind every number is a human story communities impacted, and families affected who have lived for years in fear and anguish,” she added.

According to Amnesty International Ghana, the rise in executions comes despite a growing global trend toward abolition.

The report noted that Iran executed nearly 80 percent of the reported cases, noting that 113 countries had fully abolished the death penalty by the end of 2024.

Amnesty appeals to President Mahama to end death penalty in Ghana

Hannah Osei emphasised the need to strengthen public debate and encourage governments and policymakers to pursue lasting reforms against capital punishment.

“Our goal in releasing this report is straightforward: to catalyse public and policy momentum for abolition. Public debate is opening, and lawmakers are more willing to consider reform than in the past,” she noted.

She further argued that the death penalty has failed as an effective deterrent to crime and is often applied disproportionately against political dissidents and individuals without adequate legal representation.

“These are not abstract legal questions, but moral questions about how we as a society treat life, justice, and human dignity,” she added.

The Acting Director called on the media, civil society organisations, and the public to amplify the findings and support efforts toward a more humane justice system.

“We therefore invite you to read the full report, amplify its findings, and join this campaign for a fairer and more humane justice system,” she said.

The human rights group also noted that no executions were recorded in Ghana in 2025. The country remains abolitionist in practice, although 91 people are currently on death row.

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