The ultimate punishment.

• Position: GRAPH - Capital punishment

While use of the death penalty is on the decline worldwide (see article, p. 8), it's still permitted in dozens of nations. Last year, at least 778 known executions took place in 22 countries. That figure doesn't include executions in China or North Korea, where the number of executions is a tightly held state secret. However, researchers believe that China executed thousands of people in 2013. As this graph shows, no other country comes close to that total.

This bar graph shows the 10 countries with the most recorded executions in 2013.

ANALYZE THE GRAPH

1. Which country had about 80 executions in 2013?

   a Iraq

   b Saudi Arabia

   c the U.S.

   d Somalia

2. About how many more executions took place in Iran than in Iraq?

   a 130

   b 170

   c 200

   d 280

3. The number of executions in Sudan last year was about --.

   a 15

   b 20

   c 25

   d 30

4. Experts think at least 70 executions took place in North Korea in 2013. Seventy would place North Korea between --.

   a Saudi Arabia & the U.S.

   b Somalia & Sudan

   c the U.S. & Somalia

   d Sudan & Yemen

5. According to the graph, the majority of recorded executions in 2013 took place in --.

   a the Middle East

   b the Americas

   c Southeast Asia

   d none of the above

   DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What social, political, or other factors do you think affect a country's perspective on, and use of, the death penalty?

2. Researchers were unable to assess whether Syria conducted court- ordered executions in 2013. Why do you think that was the case? Why might it also be hard to collect reliable data about executions from countries like China and North...