In the past, capital punishment or the death penalty has been practiced by every society. Capital is from the Latin wordcapitalis-regarding the head; the severing of the head was the common form of carrying out the punishment.
In the 21st century only 58 nations actively carry out capital punishment and astonishingly more than 50% of the entire world population actually live in countries where such punishment still takes place. The US, Indonesia, India and the People’s Republic of China are the most populous in the world and currently retain the death penalty and are considered unlikely to abolish it in the near future.
The USA carried out 52 executions in 2009. In March 2010, New Mexico became the 15th state to end the death penalty when the state governor signed a new law.
The European Union requires that member states do not practice capital punishment.The death penalty as the ultimate punishment is unequivocally banned under International Law for persons who were under 18 years old when convicted of their crimes, although in some countries juveniles are still executed...7 in Saudia Arabia and Iran in 2009.
According to Amnesty International figures, in 2009, a total of 714 executions were carried out in 18 nations...this excludes the figure for China, which refuses to release any records, although estimates are in the thousands.
Worldwide figures:
Abolitionist- 95: these are countries where the death penalty is not used for any crime.
Abolitionist for ordinary crimes only - 9: the death penalty may be used in exceptional circumstances or crimes committed under military law.
Abolitionist in practice - 35: these are countries where the death penalty is still in place but have not undertaken any executions during the past 10 years and have a practice of not doing so. This includes some countries who have internationally committed not to use the death penalty.
Retentionist - 58:Countries and territories that retain the death penalty for ordinary crimes.
Across the world, more than 20,000 prisoners await their fate on death row.
Below is a table with our featured countries and their position with regard to capital punishment.
COUNTRY
DEATH/NO DEATH P.
DETAILS
Argentina
Abolished 2008
Australia
Abolished 1984
Last execution 1967
Belize
Death Penalty Permitted
Brazil
Abolished 1979
For ordinary crimes
Bulgaria
Abolished 1998
Last execution 1989
Cambodia
Abolished 1989
Chile
China
Murder, violent crimes and drug related offences. Estimated that between 1700 and 5000 executions were carried out in 2009. China refused to release accurate figures. Also provisions to use the death penalty for drug related crimes.
Costa Rica
Abolished 1877
Croatia
Abolished 1990
Last execution 1987
Cuba
Cyprus
Abolished 2002
Last execution 1962
Dominican Republic
Abolished 1966
Ecuador
Abolished 1906
India
At least 50 death sentence penalties were known to have been imposed in 2009. Has provision in place to use the death penalty for drug related offences but no figures show this having being used.
Malaysia
Executions carried out in 2009 but country refused to divulge the numbers. Although reports suggest at least 68. Also has the provision in place for drug related offences.
Mexico
Abolished 2005
Last execution 1961
Montenegro
Morocco
Death penalty is sanctioned by law but has not been practiced in last 10 years.
Death sentences continue to be imposed (13 in 2009) but the last execution carried out was in 1993.
New Zealand
Last execution 1957
Nicaragua
Last execution 1930
Panama
Abolished 1922
Last (known) ex. 1903
Philippines
Abolished 2006
Last execution 2000
Poland
Abolished 1997
South Africa
Last execution 1991
Turkey
Abolished 2004
Last execution 1984
United Arab Emirates
3 people sentenced to death by the courts in Dubai and Sharjah in 2009 but no reports of executions being carried out.Feb 2010 8 men sentenced to death by the courts in UAE. March 2010, 17 Indians sentenced to death in Sharjah
Uruguay
Abolished 1907