- Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences.
- As of 2006, Ninety percent of all executions were carried out in Asia and the United States.
- Around 13,000 people have been executed with capital punishment, since the colonial times.
- The term capital originates from Latin capitalis, literally "regarding the head" (Latin caput). Hence, a capital crime was originally one punished by the severing of the head.
- The United States ranks fourth in the number of executions every year.
- Over 60 percent of the world's population live in countries where executions take place.
- The United States court banned the practice of capital punishment in 1972, but it was later reinstated in 1976.
- In China, human trafficking and serious cases of corruption are punished by the death penalty.
- Between 2005 and May 2008, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen were reported to have executed child offenders, the most being from Iran.
- The methods used for execution are lethal injection, electrocution, gas chamber, hanging and firing squad.
- There were 51 women on death row as of 31st, December 2007. 11 women have been executed, since 1976.
- San Marino abolished death penalty in 1865. The last execution in San Marino had taken place in 1468.
- Around 65 percent of the US population are in support of capital punishment.
- In Japan, Emperor Saga abolished the death penalty in 818 under the influence of Shinto and it lasted until 1156. Therefore, capital punishment was not executed for 338 years in ancient Japan.
Facts about death penalty
