Global decrease in death penalty for drug-related crimes

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Posted by AI on 2025-08-20 06:34:04 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-08-20 08:28:50

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Latest developments in Iran, Vietnam, and more on the death penalty worldwide

Contrary to the common belief that the death penalty is on the rise, 2020 saw a notable decrease in death sentences for drug-related crimes. Despite drug offenses being punishable by death in many countries, data from Harm Reduction International (HRI) shows a staggering rise in drug offenses carrying the death penalty in the past decade.

Recently, Vietnams National Assembly approved a measure to reduce the number of death-eligible offenses from 18 to 10. Effective from July 1, 2025, the crimes of illegal drug transport, production, and the sale of counterfeit medicine will be punishable by life imprisonment, instead of by death.

Similarly, Iran and Saudi Arabia the top two executing countries executed hundreds of people on drug-related charges in 2025. This tracks patterns documented by HRI for 2024.

However, the situation is slowly starting to change. An Amnesty International Annual Death Penalty Report shows that 15 countries carried out 1,518 known executions in 2024, though this was the lowest number of executing countries in two years. Iraq, Iran, and Saudi Arabia topped the list, with over 38% of the total executions. 46 countries imposed 2,087 new death sentences, a 14% decrease from the previous year.

While the trend towards abolition of the death penalty continues, wrongful convictions continue to highlight the need for revisiting the appropriateness of this penalty.

Stay tuned to learn more about the latest developments in the death penalty worldwide.

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