Asian Countries Death Penalty Laws

The death penalty remains a contentious issue across Asia, with countries taking vastly different approaches to capital punishment. While global trends show a movement toward abolition, Asia presents a complex landscape where traditional legal systems, political considerations, and public safety concerns intersect to create diverse policies on the ultimate criminal sanction.

Current Landscape

Asia houses some of the world’s most active death penalty jurisdictions alongside nations that have completely abolished capital punishment. China executes more people than all other countries combined, while five countries (Afghanistan, China, North Korea, Singapore and Viet Nam) were known to have carried out executions in 2024 in the Asia-Pacific region.

The region’s approach to capital punishment often reflects broader political and social dynamics. Many Southeast Asian nations have historically used the death penalty as a cornerstone of their drug enforcement strategies, though this is gradually changing. Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore have embraced the death penalty for years as a key tenet of the war on drugs.

Recent Developments

Several Asian countries have taken steps to reform their death penalty laws. Kazakhstan and Papua New Guinea, whose laws abolishing capital punishment went into effect on 29 Dec 2021, and 22 Jan 2022 respectively, represent the most recent abolitions in the broader Asia-Pacific region. Vietnam’s amendments to reduce the scope of capital crimes also demonstrate gradual reform efforts.

Malaysia has undergone significant changes, moving away from mandatory death sentences and considering further reforms. The country has shown increasing reluctance to carry out executions, with no recorded executions in recent years despite maintaining death penalty laws.

Regional Variations

East Asian countries like Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea maintain capital punishment with varying degrees of application. Japan continues regular executions, while Taiwan and South Korea have implemented de facto moratoriums despite retaining the legal framework for capital punishment.

Southeast Asia presents the most diverse picture, with countries ranging from active execution states like Singapore and Vietnam to nations considering abolition like Malaysia and the Philippines. Of the 34 countries in the world that still retain the death penalty for drug offenders, all nine of those identified as “high application states” (China, Indonesia, Iran, Kuwait, Malaysia, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Vietnam) are found in Asia.

South Asian nations, particularly India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, impose numerous death sentences but execute relatively few. Death sentences soared in the South Asian nations of Bangladesh (at least 181), India (144), and Pakistan (at least 129) in recent years, though actual executions remain limited.

Public Opinion and Political Considerations

The retention of capital punishment in many Asian countries often correlates with public support for the death penalty, particularly for serious crimes like murder and drug trafficking. Governments frequently cite public safety and deterrence as justifications for maintaining these laws, despite limited evidence supporting the deterrent effect of capital punishment.

Table: Asian Countries and Death Penalty Status (2025)

Common Capital Offenses

Across Asia, certain crimes consistently warrant the death penalty in retentionist countries:

Murder and Violent Crimes: First-degree murder, particularly with aggravating circumstances such as multiple victims or extreme brutality, remains the most common capital offense.

Drug Trafficking: Many Asian countries impose mandatory or discretionary death sentences for large-scale drug trafficking, reflecting regional concerns about narcotics trade.

Terrorism and National Security: Acts of terrorism, treason, and crimes against state security frequently carry death sentences, especially in countries facing internal security challenges.

Corruption: Some countries, notably China and Vietnam, apply capital punishment to severe cases of government corruption, reflecting anti-corruption campaigns.

Sexual Crimes: Certain jurisdictions impose death sentences for rape, particularly involving minors or resulting in death.

The death penalty landscape in Asia continues evolving, with increasing international pressure for abolition meeting domestic political and social realities. While some countries have embraced reform and abolition, others maintain capital punishment as an essential tool of criminal justice. The trend suggests gradual movement toward restriction and abolition, though this process varies significantly across the diverse political and cultural contexts of Asian nations. Understanding these differences remains crucial for comprehending broader regional approaches to criminal justice and human rights.