Reinhold Lopatka· PPE

Confirmed

China carries out more executions than any other country on the planet

Omissions

• The actual number of executions in China is a state secret; Amnesty International estimates 'thousands' rather than providing a precise figure.
• China's execution totals are excluded from official global statistics precisely because the true extent remains unknown.
• The 'more than 1,000' figure cited is likely a conservative estimate; actual numbers are believed to be significantly higher (in the thousands).
• The source cited (Amnesty International) publishes this data with a lag; the most recent available data at the time of the speech would be from 2024 (published April 2025).

Sources

• PrimaryAmnesty International - Death sentences and executions in 2024China remained the world's leading executioner in 2024. The known totals do not include the thousands of people believed to have been executed in China.
• PrimaryAmnesty International - Global: Recorded executions hit their highest figure since 2015The five countries with the highest number of recorded executions in 2024 were China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Yemen. China remained the world's leading executioner.
• SecondaryDeath Penalty Information Center - Amnesty International Global ReportRegarded as the world's leading executioner, China, which is estimated to execute thousands annually, restricts access to capital punishment data.