1,925 death sentences were issued by governments across the world in 2013 and this climbed to 2,466 in 2014, according to a new report from Amnesty International. Even though the number of death sentences spiked, actual executions did decline 22 percent compared to the previous year. The real number is likely to be higher, however, especially seen as China and North Korea are not included on this list as their final count cannot be confirmed.
Amnesty attributed the dramatic rise in the number of death sentences to countries seeking to tackle crime, terrorism and internal instability. Nigeria led the way, handing down 659 death sentences in 2014, followed by Egypt with 509. Pakistan rounded off the top three with 231 while the United States came in joint seventh with Vietnam, sentencing 72 people to death.
Across the world, there were 19,094 people on death row at the end of 2014. After China, Iran executed the most people last year with 249 confirmed. Saudi Arabia came second with at least 90 while Iraq came third with 61.
*Click below to enlarge (charted by Statista)
