Wednesday, 12 March 2025 (London, UK) – A new report reveals a sharp rise in executions for drug-related offences, with at least 615 people executed worldwide in 2024—a staggering 32% increase from the previous year and a 1950% rise since 2020. 

The report, The Death Penalty for Drug Offences: Global Overview 2024 published by Harm Reduction International (HRI), provides a comprehensive analysis of capital punishment for drug offences, highlighting both the scale of executions and the ongoing lack of transparency surrounding these cases. The true figures are likely much higher, as state censorship in China, North Korea, and Vietnam prevents an accurate count. 

Crisis-Level Executions in a Small Group of Countries 

Executions for drug offences were confirmed or assumed to have taken place in six countries: China, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Vietnam. 

• Iran remains the world’s leading executioner for drug offences, with at least 485 executions—over half of all executions that took place in the country and 79% of all known drug-related executions. 

• Saudi Arabia recorded a 6000% increase in drug-related executions from 2023. 

• Drug-related executions accounted for 40% of all confirmed executions worldwide. 

• At least 2350 people remain on death row for drug offences across 19 countries. 

• 34 countries still retain the death penalty for drug-related offences. 

Giada Girelli, Senior Human Rights Analyst at Harm Reduction International, said: 

“The world is witnessing a catastrophic surge in executions for drug offences. Despite overwhelming evidence that capital punishment does not deter drug crimes, a handful of countries are escalating their use of this inhumane practice. These executions overwhelmingly target the most vulnerable individuals, including foreign nationals and people from marginalised communities.” She added, “The international community cannot continue to turn a blind eye—urgent, coordinated action is needed to end this brutality once and for all.” 

A Disproportionate Impact on Marginalised Groups 

Foreign nationals remain at high risk of being sentenced to death and executed for drug offences outside their home countries making up more than one in five executions (136 people) for drug offences in 2024. 

 

This is a stark reminder of the unique challenges they face both in their origin countries – where they are often tricked or coerced into carrying drugs because of economic or social vulnerability; and in the countries where they are eventually convicted, where they have to navigate foreign justice systems often without adequate legal, economic, and social support.  

 

At least 18 women were known to have been executed for drug offences, a reminder of the gendered impact of capital drug laws. 

A Global Failure to Act 

Despite these alarming figures, global institutions and governments have failed to take meaningful action against retentionist countries. While the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN experts, and multiple governments condemned these executions, no substantial diplomatic or economic consequences followed. 

At the same time, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has remained largely silent, continuing anti-narcotics collaborations with executing states. Human rights groups also have condemned Saudi Arabia’s selection as host for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, highlighting the international community’s unwillingness to hold these executing countries accountable. 

The report will be launched at the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs on Thursday, 13 March at 16:30 CET.  

Speakers:

Olga Marta Sauma Uribe, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations in Vienna (Chair)

Mr Aqeel Malik, Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan 

Mr Hilary Ogbonna, Senior Human Rights Adviser, National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria 

Ms Anis Hidayah, Commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission of Indonesia (KOMNAS Ham) 

Ms Giada Girelli, Senior Analyst – Human Rights and Justice, Harm Reduction International 

Mr Dimiter Chalev, Chief, Rule of Law, Equality and Non-Discrimination Branch of OHCHR (Closing remarks) 

Register at tinyurl.com/HRICND  

Harm Reduction International (HRI) has monitored the use of the death penalty for drug offences worldwide since our first ground-breaking publication on this issue in 2007. This report provides regular updates on legislative, policy and practical developments related to the use of capital punishment for drug offences, a practice which is a clear violation of international human rights and drug control standards.  

Harm Reduction International (HRI) is an international NGO using data and advocacy to promote harm reduction and drug policy reform. HRI shows how rights-based, evidence-informed responses to drugs contribute to healthier, safer societies, and why investing in harm reduction makes sense. 

HRI will be holding the Harm Reduction International Conference (HR25) in Bogotá, Colombia on 27-30 April 2025. The conference is the main global forum for the exchange of information at the intersection of human rights, public health and drug policy. It attracts over 1000 international delegates, including policy makers, researchers, advocates, harm reduction service providers and networks of people who use drugs, among others.