China, whose unofficial statistics are believed to be much higher, is followed by Iran (317 executions), Saudi Arabia (143), Pakistan (135) and the United States (42). The top five countries account for 88% of all executions in the world last year.
Amnesty said on its website: "at least 1,252 people were executed in 24 countries and at least 3,347 people were sentenced to death in 51 countries. Up to 27,500 people are estimated to be on death row across the world."
The report also notes in 2006 Iran carried out the death penalty on 177 people, Saudi Arabia - 39, and Pakistan 82, which means the number of executions significantly increased in these countries year on year.
Although Russia imposed a moratorium on the death penalty shortly after it joined the 47-nation Council of Europe in 1996, it did not formally abolish capital punishment within three years, as required by the organization.
