US Capital Punishment Cases Skyrocketed in the Past Year to Peak in Over a Decade and a Half.
The number of state-sanctioned killings in the United States has sharply risen in 2025, hitting a level not seen in 16 years. This sharp uptick is linked to a focused campaign to revive judicial killings, combined with a notable shift in the approach of the US Supreme Court toward last-minute appeals.
A Grim Tally: 47 Executions in a Single Year
A total of 47 men—each one were male—were put to death by states maintaining the death penalty this year. This number represents nearly twice the count from 2024, marking the highest annual total for executions in the country in 16 years.
"Data indicates that the death penalty in 2025 is growing less popular with the public even as elected officials carry out death sentences in search of diminishing political benefits."
An International Exception
This sharp increase further separates the US from nearly all other developed nations, almost none of which continue the practice. In recent years, just Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan have carried out capital punishment among peer countries.
A Public Opinion Divide
The resurgence of state killings stands in stark contrast with broader patterns and modern public opinion. For years, the use of the death penalty had been in gradual decline. At the same time, polling indicate approval of capital punishment for those convicted of murder has fallen to a 50-year low, with 52% of respondents in favor. A majority of citizens under the age of 55 now are against it.
Executive Action Sets the Tone
On his first day back in office, the sitting President issued an executive order titled "Reinstating Capital Punishment." This order aimed to ensure that laws authorizing capital punishment were "respected and faithfully implemented," marking a clear change from the previous presidency.
"The tone is set, the national dialogue sent down from the top—the idea is to use harsh measures to solve social problems," remarked a prominent activist against executions.
State-Level Frenzy
The federal push was mirrored and amplified at the state level. The state of Florida became a particular extreme case, conducting 19 executions in 2025—a dramatic increase from just one the year before. This shattered the state's prior annual record.
Together with Alabama, South Carolina, and Texas, these four states were the source of almost three-quarters of all deaths this year. Overall, a dozen states employed their death chambers, up from nine states in 2024.
More Extreme Execution Protocols
As more executions occurred, some states turned to increasingly extreme methods. One state ended a 15-year hiatus and followed another state's lead to employ nitrogen gas as an execution method. Witnesses reported the prisoner visibly shook for multiple minutes during the process.
In another development, a different state performed the first execution by firing squad in the US since 2010, deploying this approach for three of its five executions this year. Reports suggested that in one case, imprecise aim may have prolonged suffering for the individual.
A Changed Judicial Landscape
The increase in death sentences carried out is also linked to the posture of the US Supreme Court. The court's conservative majority rejected all applications to halt an execution in 2025, a notable demonstration of judicial disengagement.
This represents a shift from the court's traditional function as a last resort for appeals based on innocence claims, rights-based arguments, or allegations of cruel punishment. "We’re now operating lacking a crucial backup," commented a law professor. "The judiciary are meant to act as a final check, but that safeguard has been removed."
