Death penalty: Death sentences and executions in 2006

During 2006, at least 1,591 people were executed in 25 countries. At least 3,861 people were sentenced to death in 55 countries. These were only minimum figures; the true figures were certainly higher.

Executions are known to have been carried out in the following countries in 2006:

Bahrain, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan. Korea (North), Kuwait, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Uganda, USA, Viet Nam, Yemen

Death sentences are known to have been imposed in the following countries and territories in 2006:

Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Burundi, China, Congo (Democratic Republic), Egypt, Guinea, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea (North), Korea (South), Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Libya, Malaysia, Mali, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad And Tobago, Uganda, United States Of America, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia

As in previous years, the vast majority of executions worldwide were carried out in a small handful of countries. In 2006, 91 per cent of all known executions took place in six countries: China, Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Sudan and the USA.

Based on public reports available, Amnesty International estimated that at least 1,010 people were executed in China during the year, although these figures are only the tip of the iceberg. Credible sources suggest that between 7,500 to 8,000 people were executed in 2006. The official statistics remain a state secret, making monitoring and analysis problematic.

Iran executed 177 people, Pakistan 82 and Iraq and Sudan each at least 65. There were 53 executions in 12 states in the USA.

The worldwide figure for those currently condemned to death and awaiting execution is difficult to assess. The estimated number at the end of 2006 was between 19,185 and 24,646 based on information from human rights groups, media reports and the limited official figures available. (These figures are updated regularly at http://www3.sympatico.ca/aiwarren/global.htm)