US Executions Surged in the Past Year to Peak in Over a Decade and a Half.

The count of executions in the US has dramatically increased in 2025, reaching a level not seen in since 2009. This sharp uptick is attributed to a concerted push to revive judicial killings, coupled with a significant change in the stance of the US Supreme Court toward last-minute appeals.

A Grim Tally: Nearly 50 Deaths in a Single Year

A total of 47 men—each one were male—were put to death by individual states that utilize the death penalty this year. This number represents nearly double the total from 2024, constituting the most active period for capital punishment in the country in 16 years.

"The evidence shows that the death penalty in 2025 is increasingly unpopular with the public even as elected officials carry out death sentences in search of waning political benefits."

An International Exception

This sharp increase further isolates the United States from most other developed nations, almost none of which still carry out executions. In recent years, only Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan have carried out executions among similarly developed states.

A Public Opinion Divide

The resurgence of state killings stands in stark contrast with long-term trends and current public sentiment. 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 reached a half-century low, with just over half of respondents in favor. Most of adults under the age of 55 now oppose 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 sought to ensure that laws authorizing capital punishment were "upheld and properly enforced," marking a clear change from the prior administration.

"The tone is set, the national dialogue sent down from the top—the idea is to use harsh measures to solve social problems," stated a prominent activist against executions.

State-Level Frenzy

The national initiative was echoed and intensified at the state level. Florida became a notable outlier, carrying out 19 executions in 2025—a dramatic increase from just one the previous year. This shattered the state's previous record.

Together with several other southern states, these four states were responsible for almost 75% of all deaths this year. In total, 12 states actively used their death chambers, up from nine states in 2024.

Evolving Methods

As more executions occurred, some states adopted increasingly extreme techniques. One state ended a long period without executions and followed another state's lead to use nitrogen gas as an means of execution. Observers reported the prisoner visibly shook for several minutes during the process.

In another development, South Carolina carried out the initial use by a squad of shooters in the US since 2010, deploying this approach for three of its total executions this year. Accounts suggested that in an instance, imprecise aim may have caused extended agony for the condemned.

The Supreme Court's Role

The surge in death sentences carried out is also linked to the posture of the nation's highest court. The majority-conservative bench rejected all applications to halt an execution in 2025, a rare display of reluctance to intervene.

This represents a shift from the court's historical role as a last resort for appeals based on claims of innocence, rights-based arguments, or allegations of cruel punishment. "The system now functions without a safety net," commented a law professor. "The judiciary are meant to act as a final check, but that safeguard has been eviscerated."