| Country |
Death Penalty? |
Last Execution |
Number executed (2004) |
Crimes Eligible for Death Penalty |
Notes |
|
Afghanistan
|
Yes |
2004 [1]
|
1 |
Murder |
|
|
Albania
|
Yes |
1995 [2]
|
0 |
serious crimes committed in wartime or during a state of emergency [3]. For a full list see here
|
Abolished for other crimes in 2000 |
|
Algeria
|
Yes |
1993 |
0 |
|
|
|
Andorra
|
No |
1943 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1990; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Angola
|
No |
|
0 |
|
Abolished in 1992; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Antigua and Barbuda
|
Yes |
1991 [4]
|
0 |
Murder |
|
|
Argentina
|
Yes |
|
0 |
|
Abolished for other crimes in 1984; Constitution states "The penalty of death for political offences, all kinds of torture, and flogging, are forever abolished." |
|
Armenia
|
No |
1991 [5]
|
0 |
|
Abolished in 2003 |
|
Australia
|
No |
1967 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1985 |
|
Austria
|
No |
1950 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1968; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Azerbaijan
|
No |
1993 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1998 |
|
Bahamas
|
Yes |
2000 [6]
|
0 |
|
|
|
Bahrain
|
Yes |
1996 [7]
|
0 |
|
|
|
Bangladesh
|
Yes |
2004 |
7+ |
|
|
|
Barbados
|
Yes |
1984 [8] [9]
|
0 |
Murder |
|
|
Belarus
|
Yes |
2004 |
5+ |
acts of aggression; murder of a representative of a foreign state or international organization with the intention to provoke international tension or war; international terrorism; genocide; crimes against the security of humanity; murder with aggravating circumstances; terrorism; terrorist acts; treason that results in loss of life; conspiracy to seize power; sabotage; murder of a police officer; use of weapons of mass destruction; and violations of the laws and customs of war [10]
|
|
|
Belgium
|
No |
1950 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1996; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Belize
|
Yes |
1985 [11]
|
0 |
|
|
|
Benin
|
Yes |
1987 |
0 |
|
|
|
Bermuda
|
No |
1977 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 2000 |
|
Bhutan
|
No |
1974 [12]
|
0 |
|
Abolished in 2004 |
|
Bolivia
|
Yes |
1974 |
0 |
|
Abolished for other crimes in 1997 |
|
Bosnia-Herzegovina
|
No |
1997 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 2001 |
|
Botswana
|
Yes |
2003 [13]
|
0 |
Murder |
|
|
Brazil
|
Yes |
1855 |
0 |
|
Abolished for other crimes in 1979 |
|
Brunei Darussalam
|
Yes |
1957 |
0 |
|
|
|
Bulgaria
|
No |
1989 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1998 |
|
Burkina Faso
|
Yes |
1988 |
0 |
|
|
|
Burundi
|
Yes |
2000 or later [14]
|
0 |
|
|
|
Cambodia
|
No |
|
0 |
|
Abolished in 1989; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Cameroon
|
Yes |
|
0 |
|
|
|
Canada
|
No |
1962 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1998; For more information see Capital punishment in Canada
|
|
Cape Verde
|
No |
1835 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1981; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Central African Republic
|
Yes |
1981 |
0 |
|
|
|
Chad
|
Yes |
2003 [15]
|
0 |
Murder |
|
|
Chile
|
Yes |
1985 |
0 |
|
Abolished for other crimes in 2001 |
|
People's Republic of China
|
Yes |
2005 |
3,400+ |
Embezzlement [16]; Rape of children [17]; Fraud [18]; Bombing [19]; People trafficking [20]; Piracy; Theft [21]; Corruption; Arson [22];
|
Abolished in Hong Kong and Macao; For more information is Capital punishment in the People's Republic of China
|
|
Republic of China (Taiwan)
|
Yes |
2004 [23]
|
1+ |
Murder [24]
|
|
|
Colombia
|
No |
1909 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1910; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Comoros
|
Yes |
1996 or later [25]
|
0 |
|
|
|
Democratic Republic of the Congo
|
Yes |
2003 [26]
|
0 |
|
|
|
Republic of the Congo
|
Yes |
1982 |
0 |
|
|
|
Cook Islands
|
Yes |
|
0 |
Treason [27]
|
|
|
Costa Rica
|
No |
not known |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1877; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Côte d'Ivoire
|
No |
none since independence [28]
|
0 |
|
Abolished in 2000 |
|
Croatia
|
No |
1973 [29]
|
0 |
|
Abolished in 1990; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Cuba
|
Yes |
2003 |
0 |
Hijacking [30] [31]
|
|
|
Cyprus
|
No |
1962 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 2002 |
|
Czechia
|
No |
1989 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1990 as part of Czechoslovakia; Prohibited by Constitution
|
|
Denmark
|
No |
1950 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1978 |
|
Djibouti
|
No |
none since independence |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1995 |
|
Dominica
|
Yes |
|
0 |
|
|
|
Dominican Republic
|
No |
|
0 |
|
Abolished in 1966; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
East Timor
|
No |
|
0 |
|
Abolished in 1999 |
|
Ecuador
|
No |
|
0 |
|
Abolished in 1906; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Egypt
|
Yes |
2004 or later |
6+ |
Rape [32]
|
|
|
El Salvador
|
Yes |
1973 |
0 |
The death penalty may be imposed only in cases provided by military laws during a state of international war [33]
|
Abolished for other crimes in 1983 |
|
Equatorial Guinea
|
Yes |
|
0 |
|
|
|
Eritrea
|
Yes |
|
0 |
|
|
|
Estonia
|
No |
1991 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1998 |
|
Ethiopia
|
Yes |
|
0 |
|
|
|
Fiji
|
Yes |
1964 |
0 |
Only for crimes under the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Act |
Abolished for other crimes in 1979 |
|
Finland
|
No |
1944 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1972; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
France
|
No |
1977 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1981 |
|
Gabon
|
Yes |
1981 [34]
|
0 |
|
|
|
The Gambia
|
Yes |
1981 |
0 |
Treason |
Abolished in 1993 but was reinstated by Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council in August 1995 [35]
|
|
Georgia
|
No |
1995 [36]
|
0 |
|
Abolished in 1997 |
|
Germany
|
No |
none since unification |
0 |
|
Abolished in abolished in FRG in 1949 and in GDR 1987; Prohibited by the Basic Law
|
|
Ghana
|
Yes |
1993 [37]
|
0 |
Murder; Treason; Armed robbery [38]
|
|
|
Greece
|
No |
1972 |
0 |
|
Abolished completely in 2004 |
|
Grenada
|
Yes |
1978 |
0 |
|
|
|
Guatemala
|
Yes |
1998 or later [39]
|
0 |
|
|
|
Guinea-Bissau
|
No |
1986 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1993; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Guinea
|
Yes |
2001 [40]
|
0 |
Murder |
|
|
Guyana
|
Yes |
|
0 |
terrorist acts [41]
|
|
|
Haiti
|
No |
1972 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1987; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Honduras
|
No |
1940 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1956; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Hong Kong
|
No |
1966 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1993 remains so under Chinese rule |
|
Hungary
|
No |
1988 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1990 |
|
Iceland
|
No |
1830 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1928 reintroduction made unconstitutional in 1995 by unanimous vote of parliament |
|
India
|
Yes |
2004 |
1 |
murder, instigating a child's suicide, treason, acts of terrorism, or a second conviction for drug trafficking
|
For more information see Capital punishment in India
|
|
Indonesia
|
Yes |
2005 [42]
|
3 |
Drug trafficking [43]
|
|
|
Iran
|
Yes |
2005 [44]
|
≈159 [45]
|
Sodomy [46]; Armed Robbery [47]; Terrorism [48]; Drug trafficking [49]; Kidnapping & rape [50]; Murder [51]
|
|
|
Iraq
|
Yes |
2003 |
0 |
murder; endangering national security; distributing drugs; rape; attacks on transport convoys; financing and execution of terrorism [52] [53]
|
Suspended in April 2003 after 2003 invasion; reinstated August 2004
|
|
Republic of Ireland
|
No |
1954 |
0 |
|
Abolished in law in 1990; 21st Amendment to the Constitution (2001) made reintroduction unconstitutional without a further consitutional amendment (and referendum).
|
|
Israel
|
Yes |
1962 |
0 |
Crimes Against Humanity [54]
|
Abolished for other crimes in 1954; only one execution (Adolf Eichmann)
|
|
Italy
|
No |
1947 |
0 |
|
Abolished for exceptional circumstances in 1994; abolished for all other crimes in 1948 (by the Constitution) |
|
Jamaica
|
Yes |
2003 [55]
|
0 |
Murder [56]
|
|
|
Japan
|
Yes |
2004 |
2 |
Prosecutors only push for the death penalty in the case of multiple murders, or if a single murder is combined with either rape or robbery. [57]
|
Only method of capital punishment used in Japan today is hanging. A moratorium was placed on executions for 40 months from 1989 to 1993.
|
|
Jordan
|
Yes |
2004 [58]
|
1+ |
Murder [59]
|
|
|
Kazakhstan
|
Yes |
2003 [60]
|
0 |
murder with aggravating circumstances; terrorism; attempt on the life of a person administering justice or preliminary investigations; attempt on the life of the president; state treason; sabotage; planning, preparation, or conduct of aggressive war; use of prohibited means and methods of conducting war; genocide; and mercenary participation in armed conflict [61]
|
moratorium since 17 December, 2003
|
|
Kenya
|
Yes |
1984 |
0 |
murder and armed robbery [62]
|
|
|
Kiribati
|
No |
none since independence |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1979 |
|
North Korea
|
Yes |
2005 [63]
|
unknown |
Plots against national sovereignty; terrorism ; treason against the Motherland by citizens; treason against the people; murder [64]
|
|
|
South Korea
|
Yes |
1997 [65]
|
0 |
Murder [66]
|
|
|
Kuwait
|
Yes |
2005 [67]
|
9+ |
Drugs Trafficking; Rape & Murder [68]
|
|
|
Kyrgyzstan
|
Yes |
|
0 |
murder; rape of a female minor; genocide [69]
|
President Aksar Akayev extended a moratorium in January 2004 that has been in place since 1998 |
|
Laos
|
Yes |
1989 [70]
|
0 |
drugs trafficking [71]
|
|
|
Latvia
|
Yes |
1996 [72]
|
0 |
murder with aggravating circumstances if committed during wartime [73]
|
Abolished for other crimes in 1999 |
|
Lebanon
|
Yes |
2004 |
3 |
Murder [74]
|
|
|
Lesotho
|
Yes |
|
0 |
|
|
|
Liberia
|
Yes |
1995 [75]
|
0 |
atrocities committed against civilians |
|
|
Libya
|
Yes |
|
0 |
|
|
|
Liechtenstein
|
No |
1785 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1987 |
|
Lithuania
|
No |
1995 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1998 |
|
Luxembourg
|
No |
1949 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1979; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Macau
|
No |
|
0 |
|
remains so under Chinese rule |
|
Republic of Macedonia
|
No |
1988 [76]
|
0 |
|
Abolished in 1991; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Madagascar
|
Yes |
1958 |
0 |
|
|
|
Malawi
|
Yes |
1992 [77]
|
0 |
|
|
|
Malaysia
|
Yes |
2001 [78]
|
0 |
Mandatory for Trafficking in dangerous drugs; Discharging a firearm in the Commission of a scheduled offence; Accomplices in case of discharge of firearm; Accomplices in case of discharge of firearm; Offences against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s person; Murder. Discretionary for Kidnapping; Consorting with person carrying or having possession of arms or explosives; Waging or attempting to wage war or abetting the waging of war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, a Ruler or Yang di-Pertua Negeri [79]
|
|
|
Maldives
|
Yes |
1952 |
0 |
|
|
|
Mali
|
Yes |
1980 |
0 |
|
|
|
Malta
|
No |
1943 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 2000 |
|
Marshall Islands
|
No |
none since indepedence |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1986; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Mauritania
|
Yes |
1987 |
0 |
Sodomy [80]
|
|
|
Mauritius
|
No |
1987 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1995 |
|
Federated States of Micronesia
|
No |
none since independence |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1986; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Mexico
|
No |
1937 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 2005 |
|
Moldova
|
No |
1985 [81]
|
0 |
|
Abolished in 1995 |
|
Monaco
|
No |
1847 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1962; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Mongolia
|
Yes |
|
|
terrorist acts committed for political purposes; terrorist acts against representatives of a foreign State for political purposes; sabotage; premeditated murder committed with aggravating circumstances; and rape with aggravating circumstances [82]
|
According to Amnesty International, executions were carried out in secret [83]
|
|
Morocco
|
Yes |
1993 |
0 |
Terrorism [84]
|
|
|
Mozambique
|
No |
1986 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1990; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Myanmar
|
Yes |
1993 |
0 |
|
|
|
Namibia
|
No |
1988 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1990; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Nauru
|
Yes |
none since indepedence |
0 |
Treason; Piracy; Murder [85]
|
none since indepedence in 1968
|
|
Nepal
|
No |
1979 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1997; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Netherlands
|
No |
1952 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1982; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
New Zealand
|
No |
1957 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1989; For more information see Capital punishment in New Zealand
|
|
Nicaragua
|
No |
1930 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1979; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Niger
|
Yes |
1976 |
0 |
|
|
|
Nigeria
|
Yes |
2001 [86]
|
0 |
Sodomy [87]
|
Each of the 36 states have their own laws. In the north of the country the legal system used is Sharia (Islamic law) |
|
Niue
|
No |
|
0 |
|
|
|
Norway
|
No |
1948 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1979 |
|
Oman
|
Yes |
2001 [88]
|
0 |
Murder; Drug trafficking [89]
|
|
|
Pakistan
|
Yes |
2005 [90]
|
15+ |
Murder [91]; Sodomy [92]; Gang rape
|
|
|
Palau
|
No |
none since indepedence |
0 |
|
Abolished in probably 1994 |
|
Palestinian Authority
|
Yes |
2002 |
0 |
Murder; Rape; Collaborating with Israeli forces to assassinate Palestinians [93]
|
|
|
Panama
|
No |
1903 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1903; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Papua New Guinea
|
Yes |
1950 |
0 |
Treason; Piracy; Attempted piracy; wilful murder [94]
|
|
|
Paraguay
|
No |
1928 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1992; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Peru
|
Yes |
1979 |
0 |
Treason in time of war; Terrorism [95]
|
Abolished for other crimes in 1979 |
|
Philippines
|
Yes |
2000 |
0 |
Kidnapping [96]; murder; serious rape [97]
|
|
|
Poland
|
No |
1988 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1997. A criminal law reform including reintroducion of death penalty was proposed in 2004 by Prawo i Sprawiedliwość, but lost in the first reading in the Sejm (vote of 198 against to 194 for with 14 abstentions). Most of the for votes were not in support of death penalty, only for continuing work on criminal code reform. [98]
|
|
Portugal
|
No |
1849 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1976 ; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Qatar
|
Yes |
2001 |
0 |
Espionage [99]; Threat to national security [100]
|
|
|
Romania
|
No |
1989 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1990 [101]; Prohibited by Constitution
|
|
Russian Federation
|
Yes |
1999 |
0 |
murder with aggravating circumstances; assassination attempt against a state or public figure; attempt on the life of a person administering justice or preliminary investigations; attempt on the life of a law-enforcement officer; genocide [102]
|
moratorium on executions since 1996; No executions in Russian Federation August 1996, though one took place in 1999 in Chechen Republic
|
|
Rwanda
|
Yes |
1998 [103]
|
0 |
Genocide [104]
|
|
|
Saint Kitts and Nevis
|
Yes |
|
0 |
|
|
|
Saint Lucia
|
Yes |
|
0 |
|
|
|
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
|
Yes |
|
0 |
|
|
|
Samoa
|
No |
1950s |
0 |
|
Abolished 21 January, 2004 [105] [106]
|
|
San Marino
|
No |
1468 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1865 |
|
São Tomé and Príncipe
|
No |
none since independence |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1990; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Saudi Arabia
|
Yes |
2005 [107] [108]
|
33+ |
Many violent and nonviolent offenses including murder, apostasy, drug offenses, witchcraft and sexual misconduct. [109]
|
Method most often used is beheading by a sword |
|
Senegal
|
No |
1967 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 10 December, 2004
|
|
Serbia and Montenegro
|
No |
1992 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1995 on Federal level, local legislation adjusted in 2002 [110]
|
|
Seychelles
|
No |
none since independence |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1993; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Sierra Leone
|
Yes |
1998 |
0 |
Treason [111]
|
|
|
Singapore
|
Yes |
2004 or later |
6+ |
murder, kidnapping, treason, certain firearm offences, trafficking in more than 15 grams (half an ounce) of heroin, 30 grams of cocaine or 500 grams of cannabis [112]
|
|
|
Slovakia
|
No |
1989 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1990 as part of Czechoslovakia; Prohibited by Constitution
|
|
Slovenia
|
No |
1957 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1989; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Solomon Islands
|
No |
none since independence |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1978 [113]
|
|
Somalia
|
Yes |
2004 [114]
|
1+ |
|
|
|
South Africa
|
No |
1991 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1997 |
|
Spain
|
No |
1975 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1995 |
|
Sri Lanka
|
Yes |
1976 |
0 |
rape, murder and narcotics dealings [115]
|
moratorium since July 1976 |
|
Sudan
|
Yes |
2004 [116]
|
1+ |
Sodomy [117]; Waging war against the state [118]
|
|
|
Suriname
|
Yes |
1982 |
0 |
|
|
|
Swaziland
|
Yes |
1981 [119]
|
0 |
|
|
|
Sweden
|
No |
1910 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1972; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Switzerland
|
No |
1944 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1992 |
|
Syria
|
Yes |
2004 [120]
|
1+ |
|
|
|
Tajikistan
|
Yes |
2004 |
4+ |
murder with aggravating circumstances; rape with aggravating circumstances; terrorism; biocide; genocide [121]
|
Moratorium introduced 30 April, 2004 by President Emomali Rahmonov
|
|
Tanzania
|
Yes |
1995 [122]
|
0 |
Murder |
|
|
Thailand
|
Yes |
2003 [123]
|
0 |
Offenses include Regicide; Sedition or Rebellion; Offences committed against the external security of Thailand; Murder or attempted murder of a foreign head of state; Bribery; Arson; Rape; Murder with intent; Kidnapping; Robbery resulting in death. For a full list see here (PDF)
|
|
|
Togo
|
Yes |
1978 [124]
|
0 |
Premeditated murder |
|
|
Tonga
|
Yes |
1982 |
0 |
Treason; Murder [125]
|
|
|
Trinidad and Tobago
|
Yes |
1999 [126]
|
0 |
Murder |
|
|
Tunisia
|
Yes |
1991 |
0 |
|
|
|
Turkey
|
No |
1984 |
0 |
|
Abolished in 2004; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Turkmenistan
|
No |
|
0 |
|
Abolished in 1999; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Turks and Caicos Islands
|
No |
|
0 |
|
Abolished in 2002 (PDF)
|
|
Tuvalu
|
No |
none since independence |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1978 |
|
Uganda
|
Yes |
2003 [127]
|
0 |
treason; terrorism; murder [128]
|
|
|
Ukraine
|
No |
1997 [129]
|
0 |
|
Abolished in 1999 |
|
United Arab Emirates
|
Yes |
2002 [130]
|
0 |
Murder; Drug offences [131]; homosexuality [132] [133]
|
|
|
United Kingdom
|
No |
1964 |
0 |
|
Abolished completely in 1998; For more information see Capital punishment in the United Kingdom
|
|
United States
|
Yes |
2005 |
59 |
Generally only premeditated murder with aggravating circumstances. Federal death penalty for certain murders as well as treason, espionage and major drug trafficking. For a full list see here
|
Not all states have the death penalty, though federal law provides for it in all states; For more information see Capital punishment in the United States
|
|
Uruguay
|
No |
|
0 |
|
Abolished in 1907; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Uzbekistan
|
Yes |
2004 [134]
|
19 from 30 June, 2003 – 30 June, 2004
|
murder with aggravating circumstances; terrorism [135]
|
|
|
Vanuatu
|
No |
none since independence |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1980 |
|
Vatican City
|
No |
none |
0 |
|
Abolished in 1969; Last execution in the Papal States was on July 9, 1870 [136]
|
|
Venezuela
|
No |
|
0 |
|
Abolished in 1863; Prohibited by Constitution |
|
Vietnam
|
Yes |
2005 [137]
|
64+ |
treason; taking action to overthrow the government; espionage; rebellion; banditry; terrorism; sabotage; hijacking; destruction of national security projects; undermining peace; war crimes; crimes against humanity; manufacturing, concealing and trafficking in narcotic substances; murder; rape; robbery; embezzlement; fraud [138]
|
|
|
Yemen
|
Yes |
2005 [139]
|
6+ |
Murder [140]; Adultery [141]; homosexuality [142] [143]
|
|
|
Zambia
|
Yes |
1997 |
0 |
|
President Levy Mwanawasa stated in 2004 that "For as long as I remain President, I will not execute a death warrant." [144]
|
|
Zimbabwe
|
Yes |
2003 [145]
|
0 |
Treason [146]; Murder [147]
|
|
