The United States remains the only Western democracy that still uses the death penalty. While capital punishment has declined nationwide, it is still legal in 27 states. Some states are much more active than others in carrying out executions.
Since the Supreme Court reinstated capital punishment in 1976, there have been 1,532 executions in the United States as of October 2022. However, the use of the death penalty varies widely between states. Some states aggressively pursue executions, while others have abolished capital punishment or impose moratoriums on its use.
This article will examine which U.S. states have executed the most prisoners in the modern era of capital punishment. We will look at overall execution numbers as well as executions per capita. Factors that impact a state’s use of executions, such as political orientation and murder rates, will also be analyzed.
Overall Execution Totals by State
The state that has executed the most prisoners since 1976 is Texas, with 573 executions as of October 2022. This represents over one third of the national total. The next closest states are Virginia (113), Oklahoma (112), and Florida (99).
Here is a table showing the 10 states that have conducted the most executions since 1976:
| State | Number of Executions |
|---|---|
| Texas | 573 |
| Virginia | 113 |
| Oklahoma | 112 |
| Florida | 99 |
| Missouri | 91 |
| Georgia | 76 |
| Alabama | 69 |
| North Carolina | 43 |
| South Carolina | 43 |
| Arkansas | 31 |
Clearly, Texas is in a league of its own when it comes to executions. Since the death penalty was reinstated, Texas has executed nearly five times as many people as the next closest state. The Lone Star State accounts for over a third of all U.S. executions in the modern era.
Executions Per Capita
Looking at absolute execution totals gives a limited view, since states with larger populations are expected to carry out more executions. Another useful metric is executions per capita – that is, executions per 100,000 residents.
Using the per capita approach, Oklahoma has executed the most inmates relative to its population size. Since 1976, Oklahoma has executed 112 inmates, which amounts to 2.85 executions per 100,000 residents. Other high per capita execution states include Texas (2.03), Virginia (1.32), Missouri (1.50), and Arkansas (1.04).
Here are the top 10 states by executions per capita since 1976:
| State | Executions Per 100,000 Residents |
|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 2.85 |
| Texas | 2.03 |
| Virginia | 1.32 |
| Missouri | 1.50 |
| Arkansas | 1.04 |
| Louisiana | 0.80 |
| Georgia | 0.72 |
| South Carolina | 0.85 |
| Florida | 0.46 |
| Alabama | 1.41 |
Adjusting for population size puts Oklahoma at the top. While Texas has carried out over five times as many total executions, Oklahoma’s smaller population makes its execution rate the highest in the country.
Factors Behind State Execution Rates
Why do some states execute many more prisoners than others? Here are some of the key factors that cause states to differ in their application of capital punishment:
Political Orientation
States that lean conservative and vote Republican are much more likely to execute inmates. The 10 states with the most executions per capita all voted Republican in recent presidential elections. Politically liberal states are less supportive of the death penalty.
Murder Rates
States with higher murder rates tend to execute more people. Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana have above average murder rates and high execution numbers. However, this factor does not fully explain execution rates, as conservative political orientation seems a stronger influence.
Geography
The highest executing states tend to be in the South. Cultural views on criminal justice in this region may contribute to greater support for capital punishment.
Laws and Judges
Some states have laws or judges that make executions easier to carry out. Texas and Virginia limit death row inmates’ ability to file successive habeas corpus appeals, which has facilitated executions.
Recent Trends in Death Penalty Usage
While the overall number of executions in the U.S. has declined in recent years, some states continue to aggressively pursue death sentences and executions:
- Texas executed 13 prisoners in 2021, more than any other state.
- Alabama and Oklahoma each executed three inmates in 2021.
- Arizona and Mississippi each executed two prisoners in 2021.
- Missouri executed one inmate in 2021.
Meanwhile, moratoriums imposed by governors have halted executions in California, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington. Several additional states have greatly reduced use of capital punishment in recent years or have very few inmates actually on death row.
Conclusion
Texas has carried out far more executions than any other state since 1976, with over 570 death sentences carried out. Oklahoma has the highest execution rate per capita, with nearly 3 executions for every 100,000 residents. Conservative political orientation, high murder rates, Southern culture, and restrictive laws help explain why some states execute many more prisoners. While executions have declined nationwide, states like Texas and Oklahoma continue to use the death penalty frequently as of 2021.