US Capital Punishment Cases Surged in the Past Year to Peak in 16 Years.

The count of state-sanctioned killings in the US has sharply risen in 2025, reaching a level not seen in since 2009. This sharp uptick is linked to a focused campaign to revive judicial killings, combined 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

Exactly 47 individuals—each one were male—were executed by states maintaining the death penalty this year. This figure represents nearly double the count from 2024, constituting the most active period for capital punishment in the country in 16 years.

"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 separates the US from most other developed nations, very few of which continue the practice. In recent years, only a handful of Asian nations have carried out capital punishment among similarly developed states.

A Public Opinion Divide

The resurgence of state killings stands in stark contrast with long-term trends and modern public opinion. For years, the use of the death penalty had been in a steady decrease. At the same time, surveys indicate approval of capital punishment for those convicted of murder has fallen to a 50-year low, with just over half of respondents in favor. A majority of adults under the age of 55 now oppose it.

Presidential Influence

On his first day back in office, the sitting President issued an executive order titled "Reinstating Capital Punishment." This order sought to guarantee that statutes permitting capital punishment were "respected and faithfully implemented," marking a clear change from the previous presidency.

"It’s in the air, it’s in the national rhetoric sent down from the top—you use violence and cruelty to solve social problems," remarked a well-known activist against executions.

State-Level Frenzy

The national initiative was echoed and amplified at the state level. Florida emerged as a notable extreme case, carrying out 19 executions in 2025—a staggering increase from just one the year before. This shattered the state's prior annual record.

Alongside Alabama, South Carolina, and Texas, these a quartet of jurisdictions were the source of almost 75% of all executions this year. Overall, a dozen states actively used their death chambers, up from nine in 2024.

Evolving Methods

As more executions occurred, some states adopted more controversial methods. Louisiana ended a 15-year hiatus and became the second state to use nitrogen gas as an means of execution. Witnesses reported the condemned individual visibly shook for several minutes during the procedure.

In another development, South Carolina carried out the initial use by firing squad in the US since 2010, deploying this approach for three of its five executions this year. Accounts suggested that in one case, faulty targeting may have prolonged suffering for the individual.

A Changed Judicial Landscape

The increase in executions is also connected to the posture of the US Supreme Court. The court's conservative majority 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 legal challenges based on claims of innocence, constitutional arguments, or allegations of cruel punishment. "The system now functions 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."