The death penalty in Belarus is a state secret and the last in Europe, carried out by secret execution (shooting in the head) for serious crimes like terrorism and murder, with no advance notice to families, who only learn after the fact and don't receive the bodies, creating severe human rights concerns and international condemnation. Recent laws expanded its use, targeting political dissent, while efforts by democratic forces and the Council of Europe push for abolition. }
All sources generally agree, however, that the application of the death penalty has been greatly reduced since the early 2000s. While the last confirmed execution took place in 2022, the Supreme Court rejected a death row inmate's appeal in January 2024.
Number of death sentences worldwide 2024, by country
The highest number of death sentences in the world in 2024 was recorded in China, with at least 1,000 cases registered, although the actual number is likely to be significantly higher. Egypt followed behind with 365 death sentences.
Crime statistics
Official data compiled by Belstat (based on MIA reporting) for 2024 show: total registered crimes 73,270; thefts 14,654; frauds 12,774; offences against computer security 7,086; drug-related crimes 3,978; and 175 cases of homicide and attempted homicide.
The entry of firearms, military equipment, drugs, poisons, radioactive and explosive materials into the Republic of Belarus is strictly prohibited. The state also has a list of drugs, psychotropic substances and narcotics, which are subject to special control at the borders and must be disclosed.
Belarus scores 91.4% on Quality of Life when scored against the 'Income adjusted' benchmark. Compared with the other countries in Europe, Belarus is performing close to average on Quality of Life rights (this comparison is calculated using the 'Income adjusted' benchmark).
Belarus life expectancy for 2022 was 74.10, a 2.82% increase from 2021.
Capital punishment is still carried out in certain countries. The five countries with the highest number of executions in 2024 were China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Yemen. Belarus is the only country in Europe that still retains the death penalty. Executions also continue to be carried out in the United States.
On May 23, 2021, Belarusian authorities made a commercial plane land improperly. They did this to arrest an opposition journalist on board. EU airlines now avoid Belarusian airspace. On February 24, 2022, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an ongoing Advisory Notice to Airmen (NOTAM).
KAZAKHSTAN and SIERRA LEONE abolished the death penalty for all crimes. PAPUA NEW GUINEA, the CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, EQUATORIAL GUINEA, and ZAMBIA abolished the death penalty for all crimes. ZIMBABWE abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes.
The shortest time on death row before execution in modern U.S. history, particularly in Texas, is Joe Gonzales, who spent 252 days (about 8 months) before his execution in 1996, while another notable short time was Steven Renfro at 263 days; these are significantly shorter than the average of over a decade, showcasing how quickly some cases can proceed due to streamlined appeals, though many cases take decades.
Race of Defendants Executed in the U.S. Since 1976
These are China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, South Sudan, Sudan, the United States, and Yemen. In the United States, this ended in 2005 with the Supreme Court case Roper v. Simmons, in Nigeria in 2015 by law, and in Saudi Arabia in 2020 by royal decree.
Harare, Zimbabwe, January 23, 2025: Zimbabwe officially abolished the death penalty last year, making it the 30th African nation to end capital punishment.
Venezuela was the first country to abolish the death penalty for all crimes. In 1863, President Juan Crisostomo Falcon abolished the death penalty for all crimes in Venezuela. San Marino (a European country) was the first country to enact a de facto ban, which means the laws remain on the books but aren't enforced.
Are guillotines still used? Although guillotines have been used by various countries as a method of execution, they are no longer in use anywhere in the world. France held its last execution by guillotine in 1977 before abolishing capital punishment in 1981.
Australia's opposition to the death penalty is a long-standing, bipartisan policy position. All jurisdictions in Australia abolished the death penalty by 1985. In 2010, the Australian government passed legislation that prohibited the reintroduction of capital punishment.
California, Florida, Texas, and Alabama have the largest death row populations. As of December 31, 2022, 2,270 inmates were under sentence of death in the United States. There are five methods of execution in the United States: lethal injection, electrocution, lethal gas, hanging, and firing squad.
The country is characterized by high levels of corruption, particularly within state administration and procurement, while organized crime networks are closely linked to the government, complicating efforts to combat these issues.
Key statistics
Life expectancy at birth was 81.1 years for males and 85.1 years for females in 2022–2024, reflecting no change for either males or females from the previous year (2021–2023).
Belarus is among the countries that eradicated extreme poverty, as defined by the international poverty line, before the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development began. In 2023, 3.6% of the population lived below the national poverty line , which is below the 4% target set for 2030.
Christianity is the main religion in Belarus, with Eastern Orthodoxy being the largest denomination. The legacy of the state atheism of the Soviet era is apparent in the fact that a proportion of Belarusians (especially in the east part of the country) are not religious.
Belarus's education system forms the bedrock of its cognitive prowess. Rigorous academic programmes, especially in science and mathematics, lay the foundation for analytical thinking and logical reasoning.
In small towns people speak a mixture of Russian and Belarusian languages which is called Trasyanka. English language is freely spoken by 450 000 of Belarusians and German - by 138 000 people. Nevertheless in Belarus foreign languages are spoken in not all touristic areas.