BJS has released Capital Punishment, 2022 – Statistical Tables. This report presents statistics on prisoners under sentence of death in 2022 and historical trends in executions. It describes which jurisdictions carried out an execution in 2022 and includes advance counts of 2023 executions.
The report also presents the demographics (including sex, race and ethnicity, age, education, and marital status) and criminal history of persons under sentence of death. A summary of changes to state and federal death penalty laws during 2022 and tables showing state and federal capital offences accompany the report as separate attachments. BJS collects information about capital punishment each year through the National Prisoner Statistics program.
This report presents statistics on persons who were under sentence of death in 2022 and historical trends in executions. It describes which jurisdictions carried out an execution in 2022 and includes advance counts of 2023 executions. The report also presents demographics (including sex, race and ethnicity, age, education, and marital status) and the criminal history of persons under sentence of death.
A summary of state and federal death penalty laws and lists of federal and state capital offences accompany the report as separate attachments. BJS collects information about capital punishment each year through the National Prisoner Statistics program.
Highlights
- At year end 2022, a total of 26 states and the Federal Bureau of Prisons held 2,270 prisoners under sentence of death, which was 86 (4%) fewer than at yearend 2021.
- On December 31, 2022, 30 states and the federal government had death penalty statutes. In December 2022, the governor of Oregon commuted the death sentences of 17 inmates, leaving no inmates under sentence of death in Oregon at yearend.
- Six states (Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, Missouri, Alabama, and Mississippi) executed a total of 18 prisoners in 2022. All executed prisoners were male.
The report “Capital Punishment, 2022 – Statistical Tables” provides a comprehensive overview of the state of capital punishment in the United States for that year. Here are the main highlights, facts, and figures:
Key Statistics
- Death Row Population: As of the end of 2022, there were 2,364 men and 50 women on death row across 27 states and two federal jurisdictions, totalling 2,414 individuals. This reflects a decline from approximately 3,500 individuals in 1999.
- New Death Sentences: In 2022, only 20 new death sentences were imposed, marking a continuation of the trend with fewer than 30 executions and 50 new death sentences for the eighth consecutive year.
- Executions: There were 18 executions carried out in the U.S. in 2022, the lowest number since 1991. This figure is just two higher than the record lows observed in the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021.
Trends and Observations
- Long-term Decline: The overall trend shows a sustained decline in both the number of death sentences and executions over the past two decades. The total number of prisoners under sentence of death has decreased for 21 consecutive years, with a notable decrease of over 1,200 individuals since its peak in 2000.
- Demographics: The demographic composition of death row remains predominantly male (over 95%), with racial disparities evident. As of recent reports, about 56% of those on death row are white, while 42% are Black.
Global Context
- International Death Sentences: Globally, at least 2,016 new death sentences were recorded across 52 countries in 2022. By year-end, approximately 28,282 people were under sentence of death worldwide, indicating a slight decrease from previous years.
- Abolitions: Several countries abolished the death penalty in 2022, including Kazakhstan and Papua New Guinea, bringing the total number of countries that have abolished it for all crimes to 112.
The “Capital Punishment, 2022 – Statistical Tables” report illustrates a significant decline in capital punishment practices within the U.S., reflecting broader trends toward abolition and reduced public support for the death penalty. The data highlights ongoing demographic disparities and suggests that while some regions continue to impose death sentences and carry out executions, many states are moving away from capital punishment altogether.
Capital Punishment, 2022 – Statistical Tables (NCJ 309498) was written by BJS Statistician Tracy L. Snell. The report, related documents, and additional information about BJS’s statistical publications and programs are available on the BJS website at bjs.ojp.gov.
The Bureau of Justice Statistics of the U.S. Department of Justice is the principal federal agency responsible for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating reliable statistics on crime and criminal justice in the United States. Kevin M. Scott, PhD, is the acting director.
