Previous Year Question
According to survey conducted by London based Human Rights Organization, which one of the following countries is world's biggest state executioner?
Iran
Iraq
China
Pakistan
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Solution
The London-based human rights organization referred to in the question is Amnesty International.
According to Amnesty International's report on death sentences and executions in 2013, China was the country carrying out the highest number of executions in the world.
The actual number of executions in China was not publicly disclosed because death-penalty data were treated as a state secret. Therefore, Amnesty International did not publish a definite figure for China, but estimated that thousands of people were executed every year.
Excluding China, at least 778 executions were recorded worldwide in 2013. Iran and Iraq were also among the major executing countries, but China's estimated number was far higher.
Current Status
The latest available Amnesty International report, “Death Sentences and Executions 2025”, was published in May 2026. According to it, China continues to be considered the world's leading executioner.
However, the actual number of executions in China still remains a state secret. Amnesty International estimates that thousands of executions continued to take place in China in 2025, and therefore these executions were not included in the recorded global total.