Fact check: How many executions in the US have taken place since 1890

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, 8,776 people were executed in the United States between 1890 and 2010 ^[1]. This figure represents the most comprehensive answer to the original question found in the sources. The data indicates that of these executions, 276 (3.15%) went wrong in some way, providing insight into the reliability of execution methods over this 120-year period ^[1].

For more recent context, the sources reveal that 1,632 men and women have been executed in the United States since the 1970s ^[2], indicating a significant decrease in execution frequency in recent decades compared to earlier periods. Current execution trends show 27 people were executed in the first seven months of 2025 ^[3], with Florida leading with 9 executions, surpassing its previous record of 8 in 2014 ^[4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several important contextual elements that the analyses reveal:

• Historical execution methods and their evolution: The sources discuss various execution methods including lethal injection, firing squads, and other historical methods, but don't provide comprehensive breakdowns by method ^{[5] [6]}.
• Geographic distribution: The data shows significant variation by state, with Utah historically using firing squads for at least 144 civilian executions since 1608 ^[6], while Florida currently leads in 2025 executions ^[4].
• Declining trend in death sentences: Despite increased executions in 2025, new death sentences are down nearly 30% compared to the same period last year ^[7], suggesting a complex relationship between sentencing and actual executions.
• Post-2010 data gap: The most comprehensive figure ^{[8] [9]} only covers through 2010, leaving a 15-year gap in the total count that would need additional data to complete the picture since 1890.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself appears neutral and factual, seeking a straightforward numerical answer. However, the framing could potentially be misleading in several ways:

• Temporal scope ambiguity: By asking for executions "since 1890," the question might imply a complete dataset through the present day, when the most comprehensive data available only extends through 2010 ^[1].
• Lack of context about execution trends: The question doesn't acknowledge that execution patterns have varied dramatically over different historical periods, with the modern era (post-1970s) showing significantly different patterns than earlier decades.
• Missing acknowledgment of data limitations: The sources suggest that comprehensive execution data may not be uniformly available across all time periods and jurisdictions, particularly for historical periods and specific execution methods like firing squads ^[6].

The question's neutrality actually serves it well, as it avoids the political and ethical debates surrounding capital punishment that could introduce bias into both the asking and answering of the question.