It presents statistical information on the prevalence of both retentionist and abolitionist countries in the world including the United States. It analyzes death penalty on the basis of type of capital offense, methods of execution, and the death count. Surveys show that the majority of countries in the world retain executions as a form of punishment. Although there has been no change in the prevalence of retention or abolition rates, significant changes occurred in the humanitarian aspect of disposition of the death penalty. The number of capital offenses have been reduced, methods of execution humanized, due process rights respected, and death sentences commuted to life sentences. 4 tables, 2 notes and 11 references (Author abstract modified)