American Executions Surged in the Past Year to Highest Level in Over a Decade and a Half.

The number of state-sanctioned killings in the US has sharply risen in 2025, reaching a level not seen in since 2009. This surge is attributed to a concerted push to reinvigorate judicial killings, coupled with a significant change in the approach of the US Supreme Court toward last-minute appeals.

A Sobering Count: 47 Executions in a Single Year

A total of 47 men—all of whom were male—were put to death by states maintaining the death penalty this year. This figure represents nearly double the count from 2024, marking the highest annual total for executions in the United States since 2009.

"Data indicates that the death penalty in 2025 is growing less popular with the public even as politicians carry out death sentences in search of waning political benefits."

An International Exception

This sharp increase further isolates the US from nearly all other developed nations, almost none of which still carry out executions. In recent years, only a handful of Asian nations have carried out executions among similarly developed states.

Contradictory Trends

The comeback 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 a steady decrease. Meanwhile, polling indicate approval of capital punishment for murder convictions has reached a half-century low, with 52% of respondents in favor. A majority of adults under the age of 55 now oppose it.

Executive Action Sets the Tone

On his inauguration day back in office, the President issued an executive order titled "Restoring the Death Penalty." This order sought to guarantee 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," stated a well-known anti-death penalty advocate.

State-Level Frenzy

The federal push was mirrored and intensified at the level of individual states. Florida emerged as a particular outlier, carrying out 19 executions in 2025—a dramatic increase from just one the year before. This broke the state's previous record.

Alongside several other southern states, 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 in 2024.

Evolving Methods

As activity increased, some states adopted more controversial techniques. One state ended a long period without executions and followed another state's lead to use nitrogen hypoxia as an execution method. Observers reported the condemned individual visibly shook for several minutes during the process.

Meanwhile, South Carolina carried out 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 an instance, faulty targeting may have caused extended agony for the condemned.

A Changed Judicial Landscape

The increase in executions is also linked to the posture of the nation's highest court. The majority-conservative bench rejected all applications to stay an execution in 2025, a notable demonstration of reluctance to intervene.

This marks a change from the court's traditional function as a final avenue for appeals based on claims of innocence, constitutional arguments, or charges of excessive cruelty. "We’re now operating lacking a crucial backup," commented a law professor. "The judiciary are meant to act as a final check, but that stop gap has been removed."