Roxana Mînzatu· S&D

Confirmed

Two thirds of all states are today abolitionists in law or practice

Omissions

• The most recent available data at the time of the speech (January 2026) would be from year-end 2024 reports, as 2025 data would not yet be published.
• The actual proportion as of December 2024 was approximately 75% (145 out of 193 UN member states), which is higher than the claimed two-thirds (66.7%).
• Amnesty International categorizes countries into four groups: abolitionist for all crimes (113 countries), abolitionist for ordinary crimes only, abolitionist in practice, and retentionist.

Sources

• PrimaryAmnesty International - Abolitionist and Retentionist Countries as of December 2024More than two-thirds of the countries in the world have now abolished the death penalty in law or in practice. 113 countries were abolitionist for all crimes as of December 2024.
• SecondaryAmnesty International Ireland - Death Penalty Facts and Figures 2024At the end of 2024, 113 countries were fully abolitionist and 145 in total had abolished the death penalty in law or practice.
• SecondaryWorld Coalition Against the Death Penalty - Facts and Figures 2024More than two thirds of countries in the world have abolished the death penalty in law or in practice. 112 countries abolished the death penalty for all crimes.
• SecondaryDeath Penalty Information Center - Abolitionist and Retentionist CountriesAs of December 31, 2024, 113 countries were abolitionist for all crimes, with 144 total having abolished the death penalty in law or practice.