At least 1,634 people were executed in 2015, an increase of over 50 per cent on 2014.
Iran, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia fuelled the surge – together they are responsible for nearly 90 per cent of all recorded executions – Iran is also one of the last countries to execute juveniles.
China is believed to carry out the most executions – but data is treated as a state secret – while the US was also in the top five.
Colm O'Gorman of Amnesty International says the organisation is against the death penalty in all cases, regardless of the crime committed, the criminal's background or the method used.
