Amnesty International reported that there was a 53% increase in known executions worldwide in 2022 compared to 2021, with at least 883 executions in 20 countries.
However, the actual number may be higher due to secrecy in some countries like China, North Korea, and Vietnam.
The report also stated that 90% of known executions were carried out in Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
The number of recorded executions in Iran rose from 314 in 2021 to 576 in 2022, it said.
In Saudi Arabia, the number tripled from 65 in 2021 to 196 last year – the highest figure recorded by Amnesty for the country in 30 years.
Six countries abolished the death penalty completely or partially last year, according to the report.
However, executions resumed in five countries during 2022 – Afghanistan, Kuwait, Myanmar, the State of Palestine, and Singapore, the report said.
More than a third of the world’s recorded executions in 2022 were for drugs offences, a clear breach of international law, Amnesty said.
