Though overall executions are on the decline, the number of countries imposing the death penalty increased last year to 23, according to a new report.

In the Death Sentences and Executions in 2010 report, Amnesty International officially recorded a total of 527 executions in 23 countries. Though this figure is down from at least 714 executions in 2009, the number of nations sentencing convicts to death increased by four, the Associated Press is reporting.

Unfortunately, these statistics also largely exclude China, where thousands are believed to be executed every year and authorities remain highly secretive about its use.

View more information and download the report here.

View the 10 nations with the highest number of executions below: