The Shocking Numbers Behind Texas’ Death Penalty Record

It may not be a shocker to many, but Texas does lead the nation in executions resulting from the death penalty. But, do you know the exact numbers? What I can say is that Texas has nearly five times the amount of executions than the second-highest states.

What States Have the Most Executions?

U.S. News states that, in the U.S., the top five states with the most executions from the death penalty since 1977 are as follows:

• Missouri - 101 executions
• Florida - 107 executions
• Virginia - 113 executions
• Oklahoma - 127 executions

We know that Texas is number one, but you may be surprised to know that, since 1977, there have been roughly 593 executions in the Lone Star State.

On top of this, there have been 35 executions in just the past six years alone, according to U.S. News.

What Are the Most Common Methods of Execution in America?

If your morbid curiosity gets the better of you, then you may be interested in knowing that the method of execution varies greatly, but these are the most common.

Lethal injection takes the number one spot as it's responsible for about 1,428 executions since 1977. 163 were from the electric chair, 15 were executed by gas and three by hanging.

When it comes to firing squad, this form of execution has accounted for four deaths since 1977.

Why mention the year 1977 so much?

The reason 1977 is so common when discussing the death penalty is because of a Supreme Court ruling that ended at that time. This was when the Furman v. Georgia decision ended, having been enacted in 1972, placing a four-year ban on executions across the country.