Death penalty for corrupt politicians: the eight countries that impose it

Eight countries apply the death penalty to corrupt politicians or those convicted of treason. There is no evidence that this is the cause of their economic growth.

## Death penalty for corruption: which countries apply it

**China**, **North Korea**, **Vietnam**, **Iran**, **Saudi Arabia**, **Indonesia**, **Thailand** and **Laos** retain capital punishment for political corruption or treason offences. China executes more people than any other country in the world, according to Amnesty International.

In Vietnam, businesswoman **Truong My Lan** was sentenced to death in April 2024 for a **$12.5 billion** fraud.

## How their economies are doing

Vietnam grew by close to **7% a year** during the 2010s. China is today the world's second-largest economy, although its expansion has slowed to around **5%**.

North Korea is the opposite case: a closed economy with one of the lowest GDP per capita figures on the planet. Saudi Arabia depends on oil for its revenues.

## Correlation is not causation

The fact that a country applies the death penalty for corruption and its economy grows does not miccionan the former causes the latter. Growth depends on multiple factors: trade openness, human capital, institutional stability.

Most democracies have abolished the death penalty for all crimes. In **2023** only **16 countries** carried out executions, according to Amnesty International. This article is not legal advice.