In 2021, an average of 233 months elapsed between sentencing and execution for inmates on death row in the United States. This is an increase from 1990, when an average of 95 months passed between sentencing and execution.
Average time between sentencing and execution for inmates on death row in the United States from 1990 to 2021
(in months)
Characteristic
Mean number of months
'21
233
'20
227
'19
264
'18
238
'17
243
'16
204
'15
195
'14
218
'13
186
'12
190
'11
198
'10
178
'09
169
75100125150175200225250275
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US Bureau of Justice Statistics. (December 31, 2023). Average time between sentencing and execution for inmates on death row in the United States from 1990 to 2021 (in months) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved June 07, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/199026/average-time-between-sentencing-and-execution-of-inmates-on-death-row-in-the-us/
US Bureau of Justice Statistics. "Average time between sentencing and execution for inmates on death row in the United States from 1990 to 2021 (in months)." Chart. December 31, 2023. Statista. Accessed June 07, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/199026/average-time-between-sentencing-and-execution-of-inmates-on-death-row-in-the-us/
US Bureau of Justice Statistics. (2023). Average time between sentencing and execution for inmates on death row in the United States from 1990 to 2021 (in months). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: June 07, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/199026/average-time-between-sentencing-and-execution-of-inmates-on-death-row-in-the-us/
US Bureau of Justice Statistics. "Average Time between Sentencing and Execution for Inmates on Death Row in The United States from 1990 to 2021 (in Months)." Statista, Statista Inc., 31 Dec 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/199026/average-time-between-sentencing-and-execution-of-inmates-on-death-row-in-the-us/
US Bureau of Justice Statistics, Average time between sentencing and execution for inmates on death row in the United States from 1990 to 2021 (in months) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/199026/average-time-between-sentencing-and-execution-of-inmates-on-death-row-in-the-us/ (last visited June 07, 2025)
Average time between sentencing and execution for inmates on death row in the United States from 1990 to 2021 (in months) [Graph], US Bureau of Justice Statistics, December 31, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/199026/average-time-between-sentencing-and-execution-of-inmates-on-death-row-in-the-us/
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